Review: Dragons (Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus)

  
  
Dragons 

Written by Bradley Zweig
Directed by Shanda Sawyer
at All State Arena (map) and United Center (map)
thru Nov 25  |  tickets: $13-$25   |  more info
  
Check for half-price tickets 
  
  
   Read entire review
  

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East meets west in three rings

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus presents

Dragons

Review by Lawrence Bommer

The rigging is ready. The popcorn is hot. Celebrating the Year of the Dragon with as much Chinese fervor as Cirque Shanghai ever mustered, this year’s edition of the greatest show on earth pulls out the stops to dazzle and delight–even more so than in past Chicago tours of this unashamedly complete circus spectacular. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey have come to town(s)—Rosemont and Chicago to be precise. It’s Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s Eve all in one splendid setting.

Leather-lunged ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iversen presides over three rings of daunting displays of acrobatic skill, animal activity and human extremes, whether on the trapeze or in the Globe of Steel: In the heart-stopping latter, an incredible eight motorcycles driven by the Torres clan manage not to hit each other with only inches to spare.

Tying together this generous two-hour + evening of awesomeness is the search for the elusive dragon whose attributes of courage, wisdom, strength and heart are demonstrated in the acts themselves. By sheer accretion of excellence, they finally conjure up the huge, fire-breathing symbol of good luck and a happy future. You find plenty of bravery in the gravity-defying Cossack riders who maneuver around a flying horse in full motion as if they were clambering on steeds on a merry-go-round.

There’s wisdom in the unforgettable (and unforgetting) Asian elephants who strut their stuff as perfectly proud pachyderms. Along with hilarious (if separate) acts for cats and dogs, the biggest felines—lions and tigers together!—display amazing interspecies affection as British tamer Alexander Lacey defies their anger to earn their respect. No question, you’ve never seen two beautiful female tigers propping themselves up on the

shoulders of a handsome African male lion. It’s a sight that improves on nature, as good art should.

Framed by ever-changing digital panels above the action, this year’s feature act is the Shaolin Warriors whose martial arts skills (bending steel and splitting wood) date back to the 5th century. Their kung fu is very feng shui. A bad hair day means a lot to the Hair Hang Heroines who dangle from each other’s sturdy follicles some 35 feet above the stage. There’s heart—and art—in the Russian Bar Renegades and Teeterboard Titans who engage in a friendly rivalry as they slip across a 12-foot long Russian bar or launch from a teeterboard onto the shoulders of a four-man human pyramid. Clearly the gift of guts belongs to the double motorcycle high wire daredevils who completely turn around 30 feet above the awestruck audience.

This 142nd edition really is one of the most bountiful extravaganzas to play either Chicago-area venue. Even the most jaded circus-lover will find this fantasy fertile with no-nonsense derring do, clowns who are far more hilarious than irritating, and an Eastern-style packaging that makes this American genre all the more international. There’s not just something for everyone—it’s all for all. Run off to see the circus!

Rating: ★★★★

Dragons continues through November 25th at All State Arena (through Nov. 11) and United Center (Nov. 14-25).  Tickets are $13-$25, and are available online through TicketMaster.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at Ringling.com.  (Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes, includes an intermission)

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