Cirque Surreal

Cirque Surreal is not a traditional circus. But, neither is it a truely avant-garde circus, as its name might suggest. So, the traditional circus elements - master of ceremonies, animals, fire-eaters and magicians - are not there and yet the multi-cultural performers - Mexican showmaster, Spanish folk dancer, oriental trapeze artists, African tribesman etc - only go so far to give us a vibrant and energetic alternative.

High points in the 100-minute show were when the female trapeze artist swung back and forth at speed mesmerising the audience and when the oriental dancers swung and jumped from rope to rope, reminiscent of the Chinese film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

The various antics of the principle clown were also very funny. A Mr Bean-like character dressed in a black and white track suit, he endeared himself well to the audience with his tricks. When he climbed a ladder to pull down the swing for one trapeze artist, he ended up swinging out of it himself, joining the trapeze artist in a purposefully fumbling double act. But the rest was underwhelming. The individual performances by the folk dancer, the oriental dancer and the African tribesman were bland. The background music was undramatic and the stage lighting unspectacular.

The programme notes spoke of some very grandiose ambitions of Cirque Surreal mentioning how the surrealists saw the juxtaposition of the big top on an urban landscape as the ultimate expression of surrealism. And how, the circus troupe were "voyagers travelling through time and space seeking a new destination and spiritual fulfilment". However, any attempts to emphasise harmony between nations with spinning globes and smiling ethnic dancers seemed more like a watered down version of global culture in which the costumes are the only obvious difference between Spanish and African dancers.

Cirque Surreal continues at the RDS showgrounds, Simmonscourt Road, until October 21st.