Cirque Bon Bon brings together an incredible group of artists for an entertaining night of comedy, circus, and dance.
‘Authentically’ French emcee Mario takes the helm and with the help of dancers Jayden Grogan, Holly Soper, Hunter-Jai Clist and Tiara Locke, he guides the audience through a breathing array of acrobatics, aerial, juggling, skating, hula hoop, contortion, and foot archery.
Then there’s the “high-wire” acts, which feels like the only way to describe the moments of audience interaction. You discover quickly that the gasp an audience makes after witnessing a dazzling sequence on stage and the gasp they make when they realise the fourth wall is not an impenetrable barrier, are two very different sounds.
What the Athenaeum Theatre stage might lack in width it makes up for in height, which Cirque Bon Bon takes full advantage of – whether performing off the ground, hurling things into the air, or riding on Mario’s shoulders.
Cody Harrington gave a superb demonstration of his talent with juggling. Balls, hoops, and pins all took to the sky in ridiculous numbers. Ashleigh Roper’s aerial hoop routine, and Liam Drummer’s aerial straps (at one point hanging from his mouth) were stunning to watch.
Hand-to-hand and skating duo, Emma Goh and Scott Lazarevich, may not have reached the same altitude, but their performances were no less exhilarating – Emma at times a blur as Scott swung her impossibly close to the floor.
Shannon Michaela’s backbending skills in her contortion act were already thrilling and then someone walks on to give her a bow and arrow to shoot with her feet and it’s the biggest gasp of the night.
Cirque Bon Bon had just a short run in Melbourne, but hopefully will swing back around before too long. Don’t miss out!
CIRQUE BON BON
Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins Street, Melbourne
Performance: Thursday 11 July 2024
Season: 11 – 13 July 2024
Information: www.cirquebonbon.com
Image: Shannon Michaela (supplied)
Review: David Collins