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Sickly Victorian Rat Circus

 
Nicholas Abrams Review by Nicholas Abrams 3 Published: 24 Oct 2025 Sala Hernandez Show Dates: 23 Oct 2025-23 Oct 2025

There’s a charmingly ramshackle energy to Sickly Victorian Rat Circus, a two-hander from US company Small Buns Duo that blends shadow puppetry, clowning, and circus skills to tell the tale of two mice displaced from their home by monstrous humans. With its overhead projector, hand-cut silhouettes and clutter of props, it feels like a storybook come to life - albeit one stitched together from scraps and string.

Scruffy, sincere, and full of handmade charm

Performed and co-directed by Staza Stone and Jonas Whalen, the piece uses little spoken language (the mice chatter in squeaks and gibberish) and instead relies on physical comedy and visual storytelling. The premise - about finding safety, belonging and a new home - is simple but sincere. At its best, the show has moments of real warmth, particularly in its audience interactions. The opening exchange with children in the crowd sets an inclusive, playful tone and a later moment when a volunteer joins the action earns genuine laughter. It’s these stretches, where the performers connect directly with the audience, that feel most alive.

The shadow puppetry is a highlight: projected onto an old-school overhead, it’s endearingly low-tech and gives the show a handmade, slightly anarchic aesthetic. The imagery could, however, do with tighter coordination. At times the puppets’ movements lag behind the live action, diluting their impact. The circus elements are less convincing. A brief five-ball juggle and some basic balancing tricks suggest enthusiasm more than virtuosity and one can’t help but feel that the storytelling would have been stronger if the circus had been used more sparingly.

The production seems caught between audiences. Its silliness and sweetness clearly delight younger viewers, yet the title - Sickly Victorian Rat Circus - suggests something darker or more absurdist. A rebrand towards a more family-friendly identity might serve it well, as would a touch of streamlining; there’s an excellent 30-minute children’s show somewhere within this 45-minute frame.

Still, there’s much to admire here: an inventive use of minimal resources, two likable performers, and a heartfelt message about home and resilience. It’s a little rough around the edges — but that’s also part of its scruffy charm.

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The Blurb:

Two little mice lose their home. Through circus arts and shadow puppetry, they embark on a daring adventure in search of a new one — an emotional and delicate journey, rich with poetic imagery.