Big Apple Circus (From Don Covington)

7073d9_040311Circusfn01, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Like the marathon, the Big Apple Circus is a spring institution in Boston that never disappoints. But sometimes it does fall short of its own high standards. The beloved circus-in-the-round, which opened a six-week run at City Hall Plaza over the weekend, builds its show around a new theme each year. This time around, the theme — “Dance On!” — seemed like a misstep. To be sure, the audience was well entertained during the two-hour production Sunday afternoon, but returning circus-goers may be left feeling as though producers simply ran out of ideas this season. Comic Mark Gindick replaced his clown act with repetitive dance moves, and let’s be honest: Gindick can’t boogie. Best moves of the afternoon — clownwise, of course — belonged to Rob Torres, a smart comic with a sharp European sensibility. Catching applause in a box brought the entire audience into the show, and his hat and tie bits were impressive. (Alas, no Bello Nock this year, but perennial favorite Barry “Grandma” Lubin was very much present, even if under-utilized.) Torres was the marquee clown, but there were plenty of other acts to wow the crowd. Veteran Big Apple performer Regina Dobrovitskaya soared on her sky-high rope swing, while newcomers the Kenyan Boys earned their place of prominence in the big top for an energetic pole and balancing act. Five contortionists from Mongolia called X Bud Roses Troupe supplied the how-do-they-do-that? moment. The flexible females twisted their bodies into extreme positions that had the audience’s stomachs churning (back-bending all your body weight onto your chin just looks creepy). But they smiled through the body strains, a reminder of how disciplined — and otherworldly — circus performers can be.