Photo by Lionel Garcia
Reviewed by Amanda L. Andrei
Cirque Factory at the Montalban Theatre
Through December 23
Beneath the season’s tinsel and icing, there’s something precarious and preternatural about Christmas. Toys can come to life. Starlight guides the faithful to what they were searching for and more. And those elves! When they’re not crafting gifts for human delight and enjoyment, they’re frolicking through Santa’s workshop in gravity-defying feats.
At least, that’s how it is in Cirque Factory’s Santa’s Circus. Conceptualized and directed by Francisco Santos, the show parades glittery act after glittery act: Aerialists twist themselves into ribbons, pixielike clowns play bells and spoons, and an ensemble of elves catapults into three-human-tall statues. An energetic soundtrack —featuring mostly electronica instrumentals of Christmas classics —scores their holiday choreography. You’ll hear “Joy to the World,” “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” and “All I Want for Christmas is You,” and the stage gets extra sprightly with vocal tracks of “Drummer Boy” by Justin Bieber and Busta Rhymes, as well as DJ Kass’s “Scooby Doo Papa,” covered by La Tropa Estrella.
Don’t look too hard for narrative. The show itself features little dialogue, relying instead on exaggerated facial features and the performers’ athleticism. Showcasing the prowess of the human body in festive colors and lights is as crucial as the silver key Santa uses to activate the wind-up doll into her acrobatic dance. The spectacle dipped into disharmony only when the technical elements were visible, such as the audio hardware attached to an otherwise shimmering violinist.
The show shines best with vignettes and audience interaction. When the gleam of a Christmas tree star fades out, a snowman attempts to revive it, only for the light to come off in its hands and douse the stage in warm glows. Multiple Super Mario brothers jump-roping, somersaulting, and flipping onto each other’s shoulders evokes gasps and cheers, a video game journey come alive. An elf with a reindeer nose and red overalls invites audience members to dance to hilarious effect (One audience member shouted out in encouragement, “You got this!!” while children screamed with laughter).
The experience lies between carnival and theater show, so expect the audience to be eating and drinking around you, along with kids waving light-up balloons during the performance. (Feel free before the show or during intermission to grab your own beverage or popcorn.) The acts themselves are 90 minutes long, while the first 20 minutes are devoted to delivering Christmas letters to and taking pictures with Mrs. Claus and a few elves at the front of the stage. If you’ve got your own tiny tots, allow around two hours to keep their eyes aglow. It’s ample time for a twinkly trek to this nimble North Pole.
The Montalbán Theatre, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood. Opens Sat., Dec. 9; check website for schedule; thru Dec. 23. https://feverup.com/m/144144
