Mr Wonderful

Mr Wonderful!

Mr Wonderful!

24 August 2013 

Pollyanne Trapmore-Shaw| @presentdaypolly |pollyuk@live.co.uk 

It’s a number of years since I've been to a Big Top Circus show - my last was in France and contained an array of majestic wild animals ...it left a bitter and guilty feeling and I vowed never to attend a Circus containing wild animals again.

13 years on and since hearing such good reports hubby and I both decided to visit Mr Fips and his great cast currently in their 2nd Summer season in Skegness.

From the moment we drove onto site I knew we weren't going to be disappointed. The grounds were tidy, grass cut, Car parking easy (and attended! ) Dressed in fabulous "sergeant pepper-esque" Royal Blue uniforms the artistes ushered, hawked programmes, merchandise, made Candy Floss, cooked Hot Dogs, popped the popcorn (you get the picture) we were ushered ring side and then moved to 3rd row back.....(cowards maybe but I've worked enough Chuckle Brothers shows now to know that if you sit at the front you are going to get wet!)

The atmosphere was perfect, house music and lighting soft and nostalgic - no flashing strobes or bangin' choons. We were here to see a performance and I could tell it was going to be an experience.

On my way to buy the obligatory bucket of popcorn I was sidetracked by a "Character" making pancakes/crepes - I knew I had to meet him - besides I do love pancakes - lemon and sugar - heavy on the lemon!

The show is compered throughout by Ringmaster Señor Rose, an austere, Romany/Johnny Depp (camp MADD Hatter) type fella whose clipped diction and pomposity suits the role perfectly and was perfectly offset by his opposite - the lovably inept clown.

Mr Fips stole my heart immediately - always a sucker for performers with passion and this guy just oozes it. The Dressing table, powder, nose - the crude transformation a poignant moment in itself.

Each act was individual and high quality, a good balance of traditional and contemporary - from Unicyclying Jugglists to jaw dropping Arial work, spinning dexterity of the Diablo to flaming hula-hoops, eye watering contortionists and 4 delightful prancing Shetland ponies -(now these looked born to perform in my opinion!)

The use of lighting reflected the style of performances and was particularly effective by the Spider-Man shadowing on the inside of the canvas- equally the choice of soundtracks brought a modern feel to a brilliant Bollywood type HulaHoop number amongst others.

Timing and choreography throughout the 90 mins show was on -beat and slick; stage hands masterfully reinventing the performance space between acts whilst the audience were skilfully distracted by costumed characters for the sole purpose of said changes!

My highlight was Mr Fips and his plate spinning routine, so well rehearsed it was flawlessly catastrophic!

Now - back to my pancake.....turns out this "character" IS the circus - I should have guessed! Brennen Brothers (Father and son Mr Fips and Charlie the clown) did their famous slapstick routine as old as time itself and possibly the messiest I have ever seen with Foam pies, eggs, buckets of water, more foam, custard THE LOT all to soundtracks that fitted the style as early as 12th Street Rag to the famous Benny Hill music.

Clowning at its best.

This is a proper circus experience, there are thrills and spills - awe and wonder; belly laughs and fun with the audience everything you'd expect and more. This is a circus with real substance, belief and love for what they do - this comes across in so many ways but for me is summed up perfectly by the back cover image of their souvenir programme. 

I wish I had visited earlier in the season. If you were thinking about going don't leave it too late.