Watching Super Sunday makes you think you really ought to get the gym more. If six blokes from Finland can nail somersault after somersault in the kind of insane conditions that they do, then I can certainly manage a spin class or two.
From the mesmerising and dancelike, to the complicated and choreographed.
The ‘insane conditions’ consist in part of horse costumes, seesaws, trampolines covered in plastic balls and giant revolving pendulums (for the spectacular finale), and many other things besides. In fact, they took their shaming of my workout routines to the point of using exercise balls in dizzying sequences of choreographed bouncing. My reluctant press-ups and sit ups pale in comparison.
Their stunts vary enormously in tone, from the mesmerising and dancelike, to the complicated and choreographed. These are somewhat unexpected highlights, as the whole audience is there for the thrills. If anything, the calmer moments make the mega daring ones more breathtaking.
Despite these calmer interludes, the experience comes highly recommended for children. In one instance, a teddy bear onesie is used to elicit a huge amount of sympathy and adoration to raise the stakes of a human catapult. He is so cute, you can’t help but hold your breath when he appears to be manipulated into being launched into the air by the suddenly slightly devilish acrobats.
But don’t be put off by that if you were looking into an alternative date night or something to do with your parents. It really is one of those productions people call ‘family friendly fun’, ‘festive’ even, because of its simple indulgence and guaranteed entertainment.
It isn’t without its flaws. Although the only one which is really of note is the fact the director doesn’t seem to realise that his performers are perfectly able to provide a climax for themselves. Instead, the first half is finished with a violent attack of artificial smoke and strobe lighting, sure to leave you seeing stars for most of the interval. The second half similarly downplays its best moments of dizzying danger in favour of a weird climbing dance, again accompanied by the ever pulsing strobes.
If you (and your child or partner or mother or mates) can possibly bear the literally dazzling light effects, then I highly recommend Super Sunday. Its figuratively dazzling feats of physical prowess will deliver exactly what they promise on the tin.
