Free Circus in Prospect Park blends traditional with the contemporary
TROY, N.Y >> “The circus is coming to town!!” It’s a phrase that means different things to different people.
For many of a certain age, it conjures up visions of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey circus that once would barnstorm the nation. The circus would arrive by train, parade giant elephants through town, and set up a gigantic tent where performers would create magic within three rings. The comedy was slapstick, the acts death-defying and it was led by a personality-filled ringmaster, who would, on occasion, belt out a song.
For younger audiences, a circus takes place in an indoor arena and at places like Las Vegas. The experience is still dependent on individual feats of strength, dexterity, and bravery, but they tend to be dramatic and filled with mythical storylines
The leader in this type of circus attraction is Cirque du Soleil who has brought a sense of unity to the performance through storytelling. Thus, the interaction of the performers is essential to making the whole entertaining.
This week’s circus is performing in Troy’s Prospect Park at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, August-19-21, (with a rain date on Sunday). It’s a blending of the two forms.
It certainly has a Cirque feel to the presentation, but the story includes many elements of a traditional circus such as clowns, jugglers, and aerialists. There is even one moment when someone uses a crossbow to shoot an arrow into an apple that is on a woman’s head. And, yes, there is a Ringmaster.
The show, which is titled “Circus in the Park: The Stars Above” is performed by Hideaway Circus. It’s hosted by the Troy-based The Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center and the Friends of Prospect Park.
The capacity for the outdoor show is approximately 500 people, about half of which will be admitted free on a first come first serve basis. Bring a blanket or low chair for grass seating.
CCIAC is headed by Aaron Marquise who is dedicated to making Troy a hub for contemporary circuses. Trained at Montreal’s Ecole Nationale de Cirque, Marquise performed his own show in Prospect Park in 2019. This year, he and Friends of Prospect Park are bringing to town the Hideaway Circus, a respected Brooklyn-based circus.
It’s reasonable to believe that “The Stars Above” will be very theatrical in nature as the creatives all have strong backgrounds in theater and dance. Hideaway was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards for its dance piece “Beyond Babel.”
The company was founded by the husband-wife team, Josh and Lyndsay Aviner, who each have extensive theater credits. Lyndsay has an MFA in Theater Arts and Management. Josh has an MFA in Film Directing and Producing. Both have an additional MFA from Columbia University in Theater Producing and Management.
The theme of “The Stars Above” is to show a single day in the life of a traditional troupe of touring circus performers that were popular during the 19th century.
The storyline permits a blending of traditional circus acts and a display of the skills of the contemporary circus artist. There is live music throughout. The only thing missing is animals. There are no animals used in the 90-minute production.
According to the Marquise, watching circus artists performing and dramatizing their communal lives on the backlot can be seen as a metaphor for our sense of family, community, and loved ones. The loss of tradition in the circus can be read as a loss of many comforting customs throughout society.
There is another important element of the circus that makes it an indispensable art form. In an era where the entertainment industry is seeking to be more diverse and inclusive, the circus serves as a role model. Circus is the most ecumenical of entertainments — to the point that you cannot define what is a circus act. Marquise calls circus, “The art of what is humanly possible.”
Important to all concerned is that the experience is ideal for children and families. Says Marquise, “Kids might not get the themes of nostalgia, loss, and resiliency in the piece. But they will be awed by the thrilling feats of strength, skill, and dexterity.”
As he spoke, you could almost hear the Ringmasters of yore welcoming audiences by addressing them as “children of all ages.” Some things never change.
“Circus in the Park: The Stars Above” performs at Troy’s Prospect Park at 7:30 p.m. August 1921. For more information go to cciac.us