The National Institute of Circus Arts has delivered a marvelous contribution to this year's Melbourne International Arts Festival. Its Fellini-inspired circus extravaganza is a delight to behold and the third year students who put on this show have ensured the Institute's reputation will improve even further by the standards set in DiVino.

The show follows a group of circus performers thrown together in an Italian piazza on their way to the most important audition of their lives. As the artist’s dreams, memories and nightmares collide the audience is treated to a spectacle that combines comedy, pathos, acrobatics, dancing, music, fire-eating and amazing displays of strength.

Director Valeria Campa stays true to the DiVino theme of the show. A Fellini-inspired fanfare band is the first thing audience members encounter as they enter the NICA foyer. The band provides thematic stability throughout the production as well as a sense of carnival. It knows no boundary and moves into and around the theatre audible to the audience at different times, creating that circus quality of many things occurring at once. Not all the action is ever under the big top!

Upon entering the theatre the White Clown, played by Kaleb Hawkins, sits high on a trapeze, watching our entry. Unsmiling and all seeing, the white clown remains there for much of the show. Sitting in judgment over all he surveys. Is he sinister or sad? Is he evil or all knowing? It is left to us to decide how to gauge his omnipresence. Although, by the thumbs down he gives to some of the contenders, we know he is judgmental.

During the prelude before the main event begins Tully Fedorowjtsch reminds us why we really do like clowning so much with an amazing display of balance, dexterity and comic timing as he teeteringly spins seven plates at the top of seven seperate poles! He punctuates this accomplishment with discussions with the audience about which plate to spin next. His ruminations almost always continue until one plate nearly drops, ensuring audience involvement and plenty of laughs. The sotto voice he applies to his characterization further enhances the other-worldliness of the show.

Then the cast begins to astound the audience with displays of its physical prowess. Dennick Chollet and Marianne Chollet show us how to really use a Teeter Board, I would call it a see-saw, only I’ve never seen anyone flung so high from one and return to the ground in one piece. The two of them display discipline, trust and teamwork as they catapult each other through the air! Equally impressive in exactly the same sense are Christopher Zaluski and Amy Nightingale-Olsen, whose human foot juggling act needs to be seen to be properly appreciated!

Luke Ha’s Strap Act was, perhaps, the highlight of the evening in terms of its technical execution and timing. Ha combines grace, incredible strength, timing and agility as he climbs and twines around the strap with the dexterity of a Wing Chun Master. His performance was stunning and worthy of any circus anywhere.

Another highlight was the double trapeze act performed by Nami Hall and Diana Schoenholzer. These two looked as though they were having so much fun that no child watching could help but dream of being in the circus! Their joy transferred itself to the audience as they defied gravity, displayed their courage and left us laughing all at once.

Jannah Partington’s Cloud Swing and Rope Act with Josh Hoare were also deftly performed and kept the audiences hearts in their mouths.

The chorus of musicians were versatile and entertaining. They handled the score brilliantly and I enjoyed watching them singing while playing classical instruments. Teresa Blake stood out with her beautiful cello solo and singing. She also played the saw, violin and the saxophone.

Jamea Loughron gives a commendable performance for his aerial ring act. Like Ha, he shows dexterity, grace and a level of restraint during this dangerous act, without any safety net. He deserves praise for his act. As does Lisa Bickerton for her poise and guile while successfully performing a Tissu Act with a high degree of difficulty.

The difficult thing here is that I could go on and on! The entire cast deserves credit for making DiVino a success. The entire show was way beyond anything I expected from an Institute still very much in its early days. NICA has proven beyond all doubt that there is a future for the circus in this country by boldly tackling a difficult theme successfully. The show explores sadness, laughter and life and at the end we still know nothing. Sounds like life…sounds like a circus!

DiVino
Tickets: $15 - $37
Bookings & Enquiries: [03] 9214 6975
Tue 16 - Sat 20 Oct at 8pm
Sat 20 Oct at 2pm
Tue 23 - Sat 27 Oct at 8pm
Sat 27 Oct at 2pm
(Performance on Wed 24 Oct followed by a post-show Q & A)