REVIEW - Circus Under My Bed | Flying Fruit Fly Circus

Written by Gordana Andjelic-Davila

Tuesday, 15 April 2014 08:29

Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Australia’s National Youth Circus, known for its training excellence and its award-winning performing arts company, was established back in 1979, and based in the twin border towns of Albury-Wodonga, on the Murray River. Since then the company has been training and touring young circus artists up to the age of 19, with many graduating artists going on to such companies like Circus Oz, Cirque du Soleil, Circa among many others around the world. The Flying Fruit Fly Circus’ latest Circus Under My Bed, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, is a a fabulously choreographed, directed and executed little show for all ages. Circus Under My Bed is a story about a young girl,Celeste, who is in the process of moving houses with her family. This has brought Celeste’s mood down, but through the help of an imaginary circus ring leader and his troupe, she is able to get herself and her room all packed, just in time for the big move. Performed in the Fairfax Theatre, at the Arts Centre, on its intimate round stage, audiences are able to engage with the Fruit Flies on a more personal level, experiencing the show as if it were performed exclusively for each one of the attendees privately. With the story mainly revolving around Celeste’s oversized bed, the performers showcase specialty acts like the trapeze, ladder balance, hand stands, multiple hula hoops plate spinning, among others, evoking oodles of “ooohs” and “aaahs” from the diverse audience in attendance. The Flying Fruit Fly Circus may be composed of young people who are still in the process of learning the craft, but they deliver such a fine-tuned performance which promises foreseeable greatness, surely to be envied by vintage artists in the field now. Melbourne International Comedy Festival in association with Arts Centre Melbourne presents Circus Under My Bed Flying Fruit Fly Circus Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio | 100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne Dates: 9 – 19 Apr, 2014 Tickets: $27.50 – $100 Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 660 013 | artscentremelbourne.com.au Part of the 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival The above review was originally posted on Australian Stage, and can be viewed here.