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Everybody's Talking about Circus Oz!
Last season, enthusiastic patrons helped make the 2007 Cal Performances appearance by Circus Oz a huge success, filling houses at the last minute through great word-of-mouth reviews. Here's what they had to say about last season's sold-out performances:
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30th Birthday Bash!
| Thu, Feb 5, 8 pm |  | 
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| Fri, Feb 6, 8 pm | |
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| Sat, Feb 7, 2 pm [FF] | |
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| Sat, Feb 7, 8 pm | |
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| Sun, Feb 8, 3 pm | |
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"A show as inventively funny as it is physically impressive. The acrobats and aerial artists are superb, the jugglers are amazingly deft, the ringmaster-chanteuse is brilliantly versatile, the showmanship is incessantly imaginative, and the clowns are not only hilarious, but they're also everywhere and just about everyone. Oh yes, and it literally catches fire in the end.
Oz is something almost completely different — a bit punk, undeniably in your face, refreshingly progressive, unapologetically off-color and gleefully Australian."
— San Francisco Chronicle
(Read the full review)
(gathered via email from last year's Cal Performances appearances)
"What I remember most about Circus Oz was how at the end everything got set on fire, and how they made a guy fly. It looked like he was really flying, it was funny! I remember it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. There was a woman in a big ring and a woman who was really, really strong. She was awesome. She picked up everyone in Circus Oz! People who would like this show should be silly, active, think outside the box, and ready to be surprised!"
—A review by one of our 7-year old patrons!
"Oh my where to start this circus was amazing...incredible performers lots of laughs lots of fun. The music, the mystery, I loved every minute of the show and would recommend it to everyone young and old."
"Imagine Cirque du Soleil with less euro-baloney, bigger muscles, and absolutely no respect for authority. Imagine...well, you don't have to imagine. Just check out Circus Oz... You and your family will be utterly entertained."
"We attended Circuz Oz in 2007and had so much fun! It was such a blast and one of the Friday-night highlights of our year! I brought a friend who is normally on the stoic/skeptical side (especially when it comes to live A&E), but even he couldn't help smiling, laughing and occasionally let slip the occasional amazed "Oooooh!""
"By the end of the performance the audience really had a sense of each cast member's personality. Great stage presence! Especially fun when they interacted with the audience before the show and during intermission. Not a moment of boredom! Enough to amuse both kids and adults!"
"I thought it was absolutely hilarious and a great show for people of all ages."
"An amazing surprise—incredibly creative clowning, use of lights, athletic ability and more. So creative, it's impossible to describe."
"It's impossible to pick out any one part of the show as a 'favorite'. The whole production was over the top amazing and our whole family had a blast! We hope Circus Oz comes back every year so we can have more fun!"
"It was a great show. It is kind of show for all ages. My husband and I are really enjoyed watching Circus Oz. I highly recommend it."
"Circus Oz was a wonderful, raucously Aussie approach to the circus... Everyone will have a grand time!"
"We loved Circus Oz. They are a fresh approach to circus performances, kind of a combination of Cirque du Soleil, the Crucible, acrobats, and slapstick. It is fun entertainment for the all ages."
"Circus Oz was a laugh riot from the moment we walked into Zellerbach Hall where performers walked among the gathering crowd all the way to Robo-dog, the maniacal biker, the flying musicians. We didn't stop laughing until we finally wound down at home just before we went to bed."
"My 4 year old is still talking about last year's performance. He enjoyed the whole show, but his favorite part was remote controlled dog. The laser light show was also a big hit. I preferred the stunts, so to each his own."
"I loved Circus Oz! My boyfriend and I didn't know what to expect, so I was pleased to find that their energy and sense of humor was highly entertaining and infectious..."
"I really enjoyed Circus Oz in 2007. They were funny and inventive and had a wide variety of acts. You get to see some of circus' classic crazy stunts that are fun to ooo and ahh over and there are also hysterical comedy acts as different characters come on stage to interact with each other and the audience! I love the inappropriate humor and how they incorporate it without being offending to the wee ones in the audience! Go and see this show, bring the kids and have a blast!!!"
"It was great! We loved it. Zany and wild, and fun for both children AND adults."
"It was a wild ride—one we can't wait to get back on! We bought tickets for the performance for the whole family, including our three young kids, not knowing what to expect and were surprised, amused, a little shocked, and totally engrossed. The performers appear at first to be a motley group of second-rate Cirque du soleil wannabes, but alas, that is so untrue! They are graceful, poetic, political, comical, multi-talented, inspirational, and overall delightfully entertaining! We were riveted the entire time to the show and loved the audience participation. Some of the material is probably not "appropriate" and/or politically correct, but who cares! It's equal parts performance art, ballet, comedy, trapeze arts, balancing, vocals, and cabaret. You must GO!!!"
"What's not to love? A remarkably strong strongwoman, great costumes, a snarky robot dog...As soon as I saw that they were coming back I knew I'd have to go again! Genuine entertainment!"
"We loved the show. There were abundant laughs for kids and adults. The acrobats performed stunning, unique acts. The scenes were visually beautiful and the sound effects mesmerizing. Our only regret is we didn't bring everyone we know, large and small, with us. "
"I absolutely LOVED Circus Oz. The show was the perfect mix of acrobatics, music, singing, theater, and comedy. They are such a unique group of performers and I pretty much died laughing that night—they are too funny. I would love to go again this year and I plan on bringing friends with me! Awesome show—a must see!!!"
"A great combination of Cirque-de-soleil acrobratics and strength, and vaudville humor and entertainment. The kids and I enjoyed it equally."
"We took the granddaughter in '07. This year, the whole family's going."
"Circus Oz was exactly what we needed for a fun Saturday night; equal parts dazzling, entertaining and unexpected. The performers were clearly having a good time putting on the show and the audience responded with great enthusiasm."
"We went based on a great review in the Chronicle, and were thrilled from the very first opening scenes to the very end. We especially loved the ending of the trapeze act. We will definitely go again, and will bring as many friends and family as possible."
"We saw Circus Oz last year (2008) and thought it was a great show. We liked it so much that we have tickets to see it again this year. As we did last year, our daughter, her husband, and the two grandsons are also attending. It is our Christmas gift to their family."
"I much enjoyed the bawdy (although, at times, a bit over the top!) humor woven throughout the show, but MOST most appreciated the tremendous inner sense of possibility I experienced from seeing a full range of body proportions doing very cool acrobatics—it gave me the sense that I too, could learn to move with such grace and power—that the circus arts are not just for the perfectly proportioned, but for anyone who can take themselves lightly! Truly, the show was a great inspiration. With gratitude!
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"I brought two nine year old boys who were at the edge of their seats. Laughing and oohing and ahhing. I love a performance which not only the kids enjoy but I do as well!"
"Circus Oz showcases Aussie humor and talent: supremely gifted, little-known, and a must-see show. They are bawdy, raucous, technically impeccable, and hilarious for all ages. We brought three generations, and we were left gasping at their gymnastic feats and laughing till our bellies ached. We love Circus Oz!"
"It's been a year ago since the performance and it still comes up in conversation with my kids. I am usually not organized enough to purchase tickets for events far in advance, but you can bet that I put it on my calendar to buy tickets for this year. I already have them. We loved EVERYTHING about Circus Oz. We were literally on the edge of our seats the entire performance. And, it is a LONG performance. We came back after an intermission for more. The skill of the circus performers as well as the creativity of each individual 'act' was truly spectacular and has been the best I have seen. It was a fantastic combination of aerial, gymnastics, strength, humor, clowning and live music all rolled into one. It was truly amazing to see what they could do within the space of the stage. What an entertainment deal!"
"I gave these tickets as a gift. My 10 year old nephew and his parents were all charmed by the performance, and report that when they left the theater their cheeks hurt from smiling for so long."
"Original, highly entertaining, irreverent and techically challenging."
"My favorite part is from the beginning of the show to the end. There was never a dull moment and I could not stop laughing. Highly recommend as a cure for depression."
"The Circus Oz performance was outstanding. We were crying from laughter. All the other acts were so new and novel that you did not want the show to end. Like so many other circus shows, the acts are same old, same old but not with Circus Oz. A rate this troop a huge 5 stars!!"
"I saw Circus Oz in 2007 and found it to be a delightfully entertaining evening. There were four of us and we all agreed that the show was a terrific blending of circus like talents with Aussie humor. We were impressed with the feats of strength and balance and it was broken up nicely with lighter moments of comedy and slap stick."
"My daughter and I loved Circus Oz and I cannot wait to bring my husband and son this time! It is such a funny, irreverent show of crazy acrobats, wacky stunts and more. We still talk about the "dog" in the show. Of course we also sing 'Don't you wish your girlfriend was HOT like Kimmie!' I used to live in Australia, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, and love the sense of humor! Bring it on."
"My daughters came home RAVING about the performance. I highly recommend seeing their show."
"Very enjoyable for my wife, senior in High School son and myself. We would consider attending again."
"I loved Circus Oz. They are the circus with an attitude. The culture behind the performers really showeed through and made it a unique experience."
"It was a fun and exciting performance. It was fabulous to see normal circus gender roles turned on their heads. My daughters loved it."
"Very unique and entertaining. Good for all ages — children to grandparents — they all loved it! The variety of acts was the best thing - never a dull moment. Some involved acrobatics, some involved balancing, some involved high wire, some involved technology — all involved humor The interaction with the audience was great, especially the way they continued with audience interaction during the intermission was fantastic — kept those of us who didn't need to leave our seats entertained. We would love to see this show again!"
Special thanks from Cal Performances to all patrons who were willing to share their thoughts about Circus Oz with us. And congratulations to Pamela Brain, Heather White, Lisa Hanson and John Whitehurst, and Joanna Mi who each won a pair of tickets to see the opening night performance of Circus Oz in a random drawing of entrants!
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calperfs.berkeley.edu