El Circo Cheapo - a great and unique night out

The Circo Cheapo Girls Relaxing Between Shows

Last night proved that something more honest and hard working than a Chicago politician, more athletic than a deep dish pizza, and more entertaining than the Chicago Cubs and that seems to get less recognition than it truly deserves can come out of the much maligned city of Chicago.

El Circo Cheapo bills itself as the poor man's Cirque du Soleil, but it is in fact something more than that. Seven female acrobats and their Ringmaster Cameron Esposito put on a show that answered at least one question about Cirque du Soleil - that being, where do they find the next generation of brave young souls prepared to put their limbs on the line, around a rope and tied up in silk at 70 feet above ground for our entertainment?

They find them at Shayna Swanson's El Circo Cheapo, performing at venues like Bev Soberlman's Versatile Arts in Greenwood.

The El Circo Cheapo website says the show was designed to give emerging and professional, local and international circus artists a place to try new things out, and take risks in a supportive environment. They didn't let us down, for this was a no-frills, but plenty thrills night out with high quality artistes, prepared to do a lot for a little. An entrance fee of $20 for eight artists with a venue to hire is not going to make founder Shayna Swanson, Ringmaster Cameron, Elena Brocade, Laura Left and Helena Right, Emily Knoblauch, Amanda Crockett and Dizzy Lizzy Delicious millionaires, and from the theatrical stories Shayna told about vans in shops and living off fries, it seems they are doing this for the love of 'aerialism' - the buzz word for what they do.

That said, do not leave this review that there is anything amateurish about the acts. Emily Knoblauch, who performed with the silks - a long sheet of white sulk hung from the ceiling, reminded me of the legendary Ukrainian silk aerialist Vita Radionova who performs at Teatro ZinZanni. There was the very talented Amanda Crockett who performed a hat juggling act in Part 1, then a very funny 'new trapeze artist learner' routine after the interval, both with a very high degree of skill, comedy and star quality. The night ended with a beautiful display of swinging in the air tied to a rope from Emena Brocade.

Finally, there was the Ringmaster Cameron who kept the audience entertained between the acts with some light comedy. Given the very high ceilings needed for aerialism, the venue wasn't very kind to the spoken word, and we couldn't hear much of her routine. What we did pick up was not the worst patter form an MC we've heard this year, and Cameron possesses enough star quality to carry a show once the sound issues are sorted out. That said, every venue is different.

El Circo Cheapo perform in Seattle for one more night, tonight Saturday October 3rd. If you are looking for an entertaining and innovative night out, go and see this at 7601 Greenwood Avenue N. The venue holds 80 and you can check availability by emailing versatile.arts@gmail.com, but we are told there are plenty places available. There are shows at 7 and 10.You won't regret it. El Circo Cheapo is a great night out to see the next generation of an art form making a comeback. The future is up in the air!  
 

More information on Versatile Arts, where you too can learn to become a trapeze artist.

Also, see what Shayna Swanson says about Portland on her blog. It's hilarious. Of course, she'd better say something nice about us!