The Good Times Show definitely lives up to its name, with its entertaining combinations of death-defying stunts and hilarious acts that’ll have you on the floor laughing and gripping the edges of your seat – much like acroboy with his daredevil chair balancing act. All the performers demonstrated an easygoing dynamic which kept us engaged and enthralled within the magic of the show. As an audience, we felt as much a part of the show as the cast. The ringmaster boldly stated that everything we were watching was “real”, creating a sense of respect for the actors risking injury purely for the purpose of our entertainment. They truly do stare danger in the face. However, we were never sure which mistakes were real and which were put there solely to build the world of the circus, and as such the unpretentious and good-natured fun of the show charmed us from the beginning. This must-see spectacle encompasses a range of charismatic performers, from a world champion unicyclist with a broken leg (part of the double act “Witty Look”) to a guy who since 1984 spends his time dancing inside a balloon (“The Balloonatic”), this show truly captures the spirit of fun and happiness, that deserves to be showcased as part of the Ventnor Fringe Festival.
A deeper dive into the cast reveals the dynamic duo’s identities as former world champion unicyclists, Daiki and Cheeky; however this was not the talent they chose to share with us on the day. Instead, we were surprised to watch them perform a comedic skit as two witty companions, one of whom had received a present and was abundantly pleased with this. It was entertaining and engaging, especially for the younger within the tent (“It’s behind you!”) but did provoke laughter for all ages.
Quickly stealing our attention and wonder, was the aerial artist and hula hooping genius – Freya. She informed us that she’d been on stage since she was incredibly young, her first time when she was a mere 6 months old and rocking back and forth in a baby bouncer. From then she has only grown into a confident and enchanting performer, who earned the respect of many within the audience, me included. Upon interviewing her we discovered that her gateway into the circus was her mother, who is actually the “boss lady”, an affectionate description by Freya. It was clear that this amazing lady was born to perform and she deserves any second she has on their stage.
Since 2017, Newcastle-based Let’s Circus have been bringing their ‘comedy driven circus cabaret’ to audiences around the UK, adapting their line-up of unique acts from around the world for each specific venue. In an interview for our upcoming podcast, Ringmaster Steve Cousins describes his work as a ‘community’ he has built over the years with his wife, taking young talents under his tarpaulin wing and carrying on that whimsical tradition of running away with the circus. From his patchwork tartan jacket (that I’m told represents the various communities they’ve performed for in Scotland, a country Cousins loves) to his top hat, he and his circus family embody the fantastical and inherently hopeful act of circus – a community you can be a part of at 15:00 & 19:00 today (Thursday 28th) and 19:00 tomorrow (Friday 29th) in The Magpie tent. Book tickets here.
By the Fringe Review Team (Darcy Homan, Alex Keyse, Anya Poerscout-Edgerton)
