By Karen Bloom
According to its creative team, “Play On! is a circus symphony of astonishing acts and side-splitting laughter, propelled by a jazzy mix of classical, soul and rock & roll from the best circus band in the land!” While the title is from Shakespeare (If music be the food of love, play on!), Play On! is pure circus, featuring an international array of circus talents performing in the intimate setting of the Big Apple’s single ring
The intimacy of the Big Apple’s single ring means that the action is in your face: the acts whizzing by, the clowns – anchored by the Big Apple's star, Grandma the Clown aka Barry Lubin, an International Clown Hall of Fame inductee – who interact with audience members often bringing them onstage, and the live band that keeps the show moving along.
All in all, it’s a circus extravaganza that will keep everyone involved. There are high-spirited Colombians on the flying trapeze; an acrobatic Chinese ballerina, pirouetting on top of her partner; jazzed–up juggling twins from America; Russians springing skyward from their Russian barre; a talented troupe of Italian dogs; and the breath–taking exploits of Big Apple Circus equestrians vaulting onto galloping horses. Not to mention that incomparable paragon of love and laughter, Grandma the Clown! No seat under the Big Top is more than 50 feet from the ring, so even the smallest kids won’t miss a thing.
“We are continually looking for new approaches to present to our audiences,” said founder and artistic director Paul Binder. “It’s all about having a good time and for families to enjoy being together. That’s what’s happening here.”
For their 2009 tour, Binder and fellow director Michael Christensen have gathered a talented cast of performers from eleven countries around the globe:
• England is represented by Carrie Harvey, sensational international ringmistress – from Spain’s Circo Mundial to France’s Cirque Amar to England’s Hippodrome – who returns to host Play On!
• The award–winning Rodion Troupe hails from Russia. They amaze with startling, soaring leaps and flips from a bar that is only five inches wide in a Russian Barre act. Another Russian, the lovely Regina Dobrovitskaya swings stylishly high above the ring in a breathtaking trapeze act.
• From America, clowns Glen Heroy and Mark Gindick take audiences on a quest to reconstruct an extraordinary music box in a magical adventure full of merry mischief.
• Also from the U.S., the flashy identical juggling twins the LaSalle Brothers, Jake and Marty, add to the fun, times two.
• Renowned mime and comedian Olivier Taquin, from Belgium, is joined by company member Valdis Yanovskis, from Russia, in a whimsical, playful and endearing act that takes us back to the silent film era!
• The Nanjing Acrobats represent China, combining world–class acrobatics and classical ballet to create unforgettable images of unparalleled skills and grace. Another Chinese performer, Guiming Meng, returns to the ring with unequaled equilibrium, jauntily juggling colossal ceramic jars.
• From Colombia come The Flying Cortes, who perform an astounding, heart–stopping trapeze act.
• Sarah Schwarz, of Germany, vibrates with playfulness and elegance on her tight wire as she dances to a musical routine
Horses and dogs comprise out the Big Apple’s animal acts. A crowd-pleaser is dog performer Luciano Anastasini and his Pound Puppies, rescued from animal shelters. They perform mischievous antics that are a favorite with audiences. The horse act features Christine Zerbini and Sultan Kumisbayev, from America and Kazakhstan, who are joined by their equine partners in a vaulting display around the ring.
As always, creative consultant Barry Lubin contributes his one-of-a-kind comic genius to bump up the laugh factor.
It all comes together with the Big Apple Circus Band, under direction of Rob Slowik, who perform original music composed by award–winning Broadway composer Michael Valenti.
The Big Apple Circus presents Play On!
Now through Sunday, July 5. Tickets are $15 to $45; available at (888) 541-3750 or www.bigapplecircus.org. Tickets can be purchased at Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City.
Eisenhower Park, East Meadow.
Enter the park via Stewart Avenue/Merrick Avenue or Hempstead Turnpike/East Meadow Avenue; the Big Top is located in Parking Field 6A, with free parking at Parking Field 6. For additional information. call the Ticket Info Line at (800) 922-3772.
