Fiery theatrics and gravity-defying acrobatic stunts leave audiences gasping in awe under the Hippodrome at Crown Perth in Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular. Set to the soundtrack of 2017 blockbuster The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Zendaya, this high-energy show features a massive cast of vocal, circus and dance talent.
Des Flanagan plays the charismatic Showman, and Ruby Clark shines as Max. Olivia Carniato (the mysterious Snake Charmer), Jade Delmiguez (the Fortune Teller) and Charly Williams (Samson the Strongman) dazzle us with their vocal gymnastics, recreating all our favourite songs from the movie to perfection.
Disappointingly, the multiple award-winning soundtrack is one of the few things tying the show to the movie. The storyline is barely held together by (quite literally) a shiny ringmaster’s coat – supposedly representing the dream of the circus itself, although the costume piece was expected to carry far more narrative weight than a coat reasonably should.
That said, it is an understandable choice to veer away from the original problematic storyline of the 2017 movie. Criticised for glorifying P.T. Barnum’s real-life exploitation of minority, disabled and underage performers in his circus, The Greatest Showman no doubt had a controversial plotline. It twisted the narrative of Barnum’s abuse, portraying characters such as the Bearded Lady as finally finding acceptance in his circus, rather than vilification.
However, the lack of a more concrete, connective storyline in Come Alive! is conspicuous, which is a shame. I felt it would have just added more punch to an already amazing show.
The circus elements are where Come Alive! truly earns its“spectacular” moniker. The aerial artists move with breathtaking control, soaring fearlessly above the crowds in the Hippodrome. The hair suspension artist elicits gasps of wonder from the audience, while the teeterboard artists flip through the air with a precision that makes death-defying stunts look effortless. Special mention also goes to the jaw-dropping tightrope act, who not only incorporates the juggling of batons while balancing on a unicycle, but also manages to balance a chair on said tightrope – before promptly sitting on it.
Genuinely, if you are in the market for a light-hearted, family-friendly evening of entertainment, do not sleep on this show. It’s guaranteed to make you get up and sing and dance along (no, literally, they enforce it at one point), Come Alive! delivers exactly what it promises: a joy-filled, spectacular evening under the big top.
Come Alive! is running until 10th October at the Hippodrome at Crown Perth.