Last weekend, I took the kids to the circus.
Here’s my confession — I haven’t been to a circus since I was five. I think. I have vague recollections of a circuslike event in my hazy past, but I couldn’t tell you anything about it. So really, this was a first experience for all of us, and it was really impressive.
I had expected some animal acts, and some acrobatics and trapeze artists and clowns and things…but this was a floor show like nothing I had imagined. There was a story line involving an evil queen who tries to take over the circus (my princess-obsessed five-year old was all over that.) There was singing. There were, of course, acrobatics and trapeze artists.And there were elaborately choreographed ice skating numbers with a huge cast. They set the ice on fire. It was pretty cool.
My kids are also still trying to figure out a sketch that two performers did upside-down (“How come they didn’t fall down? How can they juggle upside down? How did they blow bubbles that float down instead of up?” These are the questions I’m now fielding.)
My daughter, who loves animals, was enthralled by the lions and tigers, but the kids were just as delighted with the performing dogs…and pig…and alpacas…and other animals who jumped hurdles and stood on hind legs and were hilarious and adorable.
But the feats of the performers were really spectacular. I think there is now less focus on the animals performing, and more emphasis on the amazing things the human performers can do.
The circus will be in town for a short while longer — definitely a show for all ages! (and — spoiler alert — my five-year old is very happy to report the evil queen does not actually take over the circus or the world.)
The Ringling Bros. Out of This World will continue this week at the Denver Coliseum on the following dates:
- Thursday, October 6: 7pm
- Friday, October 7: 11am & 7pm
- Saturday, October 8: 11am, 3pm & 7pm
- Sunday, October 9: 11am, 3pm & 7pm
disclosure: I was given tickets to the Ringling Bros circus for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are mine and honest.
