Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Circus Vargas

The circus came to town while I just happened to be in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Actually, Circus Vargas is based in Flag, but they came out to make a special appearance in Heritage Square for the hometown crowd last month.  The show is an enchanting cross between Cirque du Soleil and Buskerfest, presenting a Strong Man and a Magician, several Fire Dancers and Jugglers, an incredible Poi Artist, and a number of Stilt Walkers like the one pictured here performing on the aerial ring.  The costumes are superb, each revealing something obvious yet somehow even more intriguing about the artist and his or her act.   At the end of the show, one of the Stilt Walkers goes through the audience on all fours, a great Wraith Hound, delightful in its affable approach, eerie in its silent, unhurried passage.  The kids love it, gleefully flocking around and tagging along as the giant dog makes its mystical exit.

And all the while, the circus band plays an infectious mash-up of rocking vaudeville and worldbeat, as if Dead Can Dance were in concert at Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.  Our own Zach Huntington drives the show from behind the kit drums, setting the sonic mood with everything from sophisticated cool to wacky merriment.  Fun stuff!

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