Circus 1903 – The Golden Age of Circus
When: Opens at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and runs through Feb. 19. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19.
Where: Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles.
Tickets: $35-$255.
Information: 800-982-2787 and http://hollywoodpantages.com.
When: Opens at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and runs through Feb. 19. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19.
Where: Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles.
Tickets: $35-$255.
Information: 800-982-2787 and http://hollywoodpantages.com.
That’s a baby elephant in the lobby of the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
The pachyderm named Peanut is — don’t worry — a puppet that gets brought to life by the British actor Luke Chadwick-Jones. Peanut was created by the team at Significant Others for the theatrical extravaganza “Circus 1903 – The Golden Age of Circus.”
The production, which opens Tuesday and runs through Feb. 19, is a loving nod to the turn-of-the-century circuses popularized by P.T. Barnum. It features real-life jugglers, contortionists, knife throwers and aerialists, as well as a mother and baby elephant in puppet form that provide a glimpse at what it must have been like to see these majestic animals perform.
“This is the show I’ve always wanted to make,” says Simon Painter, the show’s creative producer.
Although he’s best known as the mastermind of “The Illusionist” magic franchise, Painter has created several large French-style circuses around the world. But his fascination with the romance and decadence of the American traveling circus giant known as Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey is the source of “Circus 1903.”
That, and Walt Disney’s “Dumbo.”
“It’s so funny, but the creative team actually sat down and watched ‘Dumbo’ because so much research went into it,” he says. “It beautifully shows how they journeyed from the train to the circus yard where they put the tents, which were like canvas cathedrals.”
Every man, woman and animal took part in putting up the tents, selling tickets and entertaining the crowds as they do in “Circus 1903.”
Magician/actor David Williamson, who stars in the production as the moustachioed, top hat-wearing ringmaster Willy Whipsnade, offers a little demonstration of the entertainment portion of the show with a dose of wry humor.
“Are you ready to meet my friend? I have a prodigious pachyderm; he’s chomping at the bit, literally,” he says, calling “Peanut!”
The elephant steps out from behind a red curtain into the lobby and gives a few trumpets to “ahs” from visitors gathered in the lobby.
Elephants were a big draw for circuses until recently.
Pressure from animal rights activists and the public in recent decades has brought an end to elephant acts, including Ringling’s “Greatest Show on Earth.” The circus is folding up its tent in May due to declining ticket sales and high operating costs.
While Painter laments the loss of this “piece of American heritage,” he says “Circus 1903” isn’t intended as a protest.
“We did it so we could bring the elephants back because they were such a huge part of the tradition,” he says, adding this is just the start of the show’s journey in the U.S.
The production launched in Australia to rave reviews — and some push back.
“From the advertising, some people thought the elephants were real,” he says. “They’d write on Facebook, ‘How dare you bring elephants back.’
“Uh, they’re actually puppets.”
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