Calling all makers, dreamers, inventors and creators! Recess Monkey and Teatro ZinZanni have a family show just for you. The high-energy kindie rock trio and Seattle’s dazzling spectacle under the big top seem made for each other, and their new kid-friendly show Curious Circus showcases the best of both.
As the rock-concert-slash-circus kicked off, Jack Forman of Recess Monkey welcomed spectators to the marvelous “exhibition of ideas and inventions.” This fall’s Big Top Rock show shares a similar theme to the band’s latest release, Wired, as it celebrates the creative and inventive spirit in all of us.
The circus featured a few songs from Wired along with some old favorites from the band’s 2010 release The Final Funktier – a definite treat for longtime fans of Recess Monkey. “Jet Pack,” one of my 5-year-old’s favorite Recess Monkey songs, paired surprisingly well with the tap-dancing Step Sisters from the Scoil Rince Slieveloughane Irish dance school.
The Step Sisters are part of the memorable cast of Curious Circus, joining zany characters like The Mother of Invention (played by Ian Green) and Professor Loco (Charly Castors). Once the players take the stage in the middle of the tent, all eyes are drawn to their exuberant personalities. My daughter especially got a kick out of seeing performers close to her own age in the show, including the dancing Step Sisters and the pint-sized prestidigitator Alexander the Amazing.
Spectators of all ages were transfixed by the charming Alexander (Jude Sack), who confidently performed illusions even under the close scrutiny of the kids near the stage. The dizzying acrobatics expertly performed by Waldo (Terry Crane) and the incredible balancing and spinning act by the wacky Professor Loco both left audience members staring with mouths agape – and even got some big laughs along the way.
Teatro ZinZanni knows their audience. The entire performance runs one hour, an ideal amount of time for children in the crowd, who are always invited to dance, sit and watch in the “mosh pit” near the stage. (The show is probably best suited for kids ages 8 and younger.) Teatro ZinZanni’s friendly staff keeps kids out of the performers’ paths and helps them find their way back to their families if they have a change of heart on the floor.
The antics of the captivating cast and Recess Monkey’s bouncy, energetic songs make Curious Circus a fun-filled hour for the entire family. Don’t forget a dollar for popcorn, and you can pick up Wired in the lobby before the show. Booth seating $19, chair seating $22.
Teatro ZinZanni
222 Mercer St.
Seattle, WA, 98019
206-802-0015
