Barnum

The Greatest Show On Earth arrived in town this week – which means the circus has arrived, courtesy of P.T. Barnum, the Prince of Humbug! For weeks the society members had been honing their circus skills, all to good effect since, from the show’s opening, their talents were all on view in this circus extravaganza! It takes a special kind of guy to play Barnum and Marcus Wylie had it all in bucket loads! He oozed confidence. His versatility was endless – in manner, acting, speech, and dynamic enthusiasm, and in all his great singing numbers such as There Is A Sucker Born Every Minute. But the highlight of his performance is the much-anticipated (and feared) tightrope walk on the high wire across the stage, suspended at some height. Marcus’s concentration was evident, as everybody momentarily hushed in awe, and the silence in the theatre was electric as he carried out this feat . . . he almost made it before slipping but, nonplussed, he immediately then climbed up a rope and, hung above the audience, in a frenetic rope spin, bringing the Act One Finale to a memorable close, and to a huge, deserved, ovation! That took nerves of steel! All-rounder and experienced Lynn MacFarlane was the perfect choice to play Charity Barnum and this she did in a refined, caring, understanding, and controlled manner putting up with the many eccentricities of her stage husband. But her two-headed coin was a great asset to her (!) and her tender Colors Of My Life was an absolute delight. Then appears one Jenni Lind, a Swedish opera singer, who brings slight turmoil to all the glitz and glamour - and to the Barnums. Claire Wallace had the singing voice (and accent) to carry off her famous “Swedish Nightingale” label and her dialogue with Barnum was hilarious as he attempted to get her to speak English! Barnum “humbugged” his audience with “the oldest woman alive”- one Joice Heth, at 160 years of age!  Brilliantly played by Marlowe Simpson, she made her mark with her Thank God I'm Old song. Also making his mark was Sam Graham’s General Tom Thumb, in an assured and poised performance, but almost overshadowed by Jumbo, the gigantic elephant! Matthew Millar was the unicycling Ringmaster showing his control on his one wheeled cycle; Graeme Neil Smith was James A. Bailey; and Rebecca Waghorn the Black And White blues singer. And to the talented ensemble of ball jugglers, stilt-walkers, ribbon wavers, and tumblers, go congratulations for their circus skills – which, I reckon, they spent over a strenuous, personal, commitment in hours to achieve! This was a big, gloriously colourful, glitzy, energetic production, with all the big stage song numbers cleverly staged throughout. And, yes, we were all “humbugged” and “suckered” in true circus fashion – and we enjoyed the experience! 

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