On entering the theatre you could already hear the “oohs” and “ahhs”, cheers and claps (just like the sounds from a big top circus crowd), as the audience were entertained by gymnasts and jugglers, who were climbing onto chairs, performing tricks and balancing acts, before the curtain had even been raised.
Cameron Mackintosh’s revised production of Barnum is based on the real life story of the great American showman Phineas Tayler Barnum and takes us through his “struggles and triumphs” (the title of Barnum’s autobiography) in life, his fierce ambitions and his failures and successes.
These ultimately lead him to create “the Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth”, the largest circus venture in American history.
Brain Conley leads the cast and is spellbinding; portraying the millionaire master of hype. There is fabulous energy and fun between him and co-star Linzi Hateley, who plays his wife Chairy Barnum.
Once again, Andrew Wright’s choreography is dazzling (Singing in the Rain, Bristol Hippodrome July 2014) executed spectacularly by the Ensemble and the leads. The costumes reflect the words of the musical number “Colors of my life”, they are “bountiful and bold, the purple glow of indigo, the gleam of green and gold”.
All in all, Barnum is a visual extravaganza that finds you not knowing where to look next … up at the ceiling to the aerial silk performers, or at the rest of the ensemble performing acrobatics up and down the stage and even next to you in the aisles.
The standing ovation at the end of the closing number speaks volumes about this outstanding production.
Barnum is showing at the Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday 27th September 2014.
By Charlie Hill
Photographs:- Johan Persson
