Reviewer: Luke Dodge
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At last! After generating quite the buzz at last year’s festival, “Cirque du Fils” proves worth the wait.
Jason DeGraff creates a one person circus inhabited by two unforgettable figures: an eager trainer and his unruly gorilla. What begins as gleeful clowning gradually becomes something far more intricate, using circus antics, audience involvement, and physical comedy to explore vulnerability without ever feeling heavy handed.
The energy arrives before the show officially begins. DeGraff’s preshow interactions immediately establish a playful relationship with the audience that carries through the entire performance. This never feels like audience participation for participation’s sake. Instead, the crowd becomes part of the circus itself, blurring the line between scripted performance and spontaneous play. Every exchange feels polished enough to inspire confidence while remaining loose enough to make it seem like absolutely anything could happen.
That balancing act carries through the entire show. Running gags become funnier with each return because the audience knows exactly what’s coming, then gets surprised anyway. Small improvised references slip naturally into the performance, making each show feel shaped by the people in the room (and what time the World Cup game was). Beneath the apparent chaos lies remarkable craftsmanship, supported by music and seamless physical storytelling.
Then, almost without realizing it, the show starts tugging at the heartstrings. As the circus peels back its layers, themes of love, regret, and learning to share vulnerable parts of ourselves emerge without abandoning its delightfully absurd spirit. Clowning has always resisted easy categorization, and “Cirque du Fils” embraces that freedom. Equal parts circus, comedy, and heartfelt theatrical ritual, it transforms playful nonsense into something surprisingly moving while never forgetting that joy is what brought everyone into the tent in the first place.
KC Fringe would like to thank the following sponsors:
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