Showing @ Underbelly Bristo Square, Edinburgh until Mon 26 Aug (not 6, 13, 20) @ 16:20
It must be intimidating to bring a circus show to the Fringe these days. Amongst so many skilled troupes, how does any single company set themselves apart? Pirates of the Carabina have found a unique selling point: They can do anything. Each member of the troupe seems to veer between comedy and grace, acrobatics and music, all with astonishing ease.
There are hints of the traditional three-ring circus in Flown, albeit in deconstructed form. The mechanics are often on view and just as fascinating to watch as the performances. Highlights include a haunting Chinese pole duet accompanied by an aching live rendition of “She Moved Through the Fair”. Silks are most associated with graceful aerial work, but here they are used to great comic effect – yet no less impressive for that. There are also magical moments throughout – the diva’s grand entrance by horse-drawn carriage, an incident with the lighting rig that may or may not be part of the show but becomes amusing in these skilled hands regardless. Yes, there’s an awful lot of excellent circus shows to be seen on the Fringe this year but this homegrown effort may well prove to be the best of the lot.
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