On November 2, the well-known and renowned Cirque-Tacular’s Circurious came to Kirkland Theater on Millikin’s campus. The show was unlike most others, presenting acrobats, contortionists, singers and many other acts in stunning variety like show. The show was approximately two hours and showcased tributes to many big names that helped to change the entertainment industry. Magic tricks were preformed with the help of a few audience members in memory of Harry Houdini and a western act full of impressive roping tricks honored Buffalo Bill. The focus of the show was to present how the industry had changed over the decades and to give the audience a sample of how it had affected the culture of future decades.

The Master of Ceremonies presented acts that mixed circus tent, concert hall and Broadway stage all of which impressed and awed the audience. There were many crowd-pleasing acts, but one, which received the most applause, was the aerial silk acrobats. Acrobats climbed, spun, wrapped around and dropped from a piece of hanging fabric. Several performers often worked around each other on the same piece of fabric to give the audience a real thrill as they dropped at high speeds and relied entirely on their partners to hold them aloft. A sword sallower also received gasps from the audience as he performed with a screwdriver and a variety of knives. The Master of Ceremonies took time out of his next introduction to assure the audience that the knives were in fact real.

The show continued into the 1960s, offering a new look at the hula-hoop fad of that decade. A single performer controlled several hula-hoops using only her body in a stunning display of flexibility and talent.

Circurious contained not only many entertaining acts, but also lots of information about the changing industry. The performers gave a show that is not often seen today with the decline of circus tents and sideshows, offering a unique opportunity to watch an old style with a new twist. The group received a standing ovation at the end of their performance, leaving many satisfied that Circurious had in fact lived up to its claim of “reigniting your belief in human potential”.