March 25, 2011
This year, Zippo's Circus celebrates its return to Oxford’s South Park by unveiling a brand new show. Horsepower is an adrenaline-filled spectacular that attempts to blast traditional circus entertainment into the twenty-first century by combining age-old equestrian acts with the more modern horsepower of roaring motorbikes.
The star of the show is Yasmine Smart, heralded by Zippo as ‘the world’s most famous equestrian presenter.’ Yasmine is the grand-daughter of Billy Smart - the legendary circus performer and impresario - and Eleanor Stey, who crossed the Thames on a wire in 1951. To the excitement of the audience, the promotional material reveals that Horsepower will see Yasmine debut a brand new act. The big surprise turns out to be a tango dance, performed by a five-year-old Andalusian stallion named Diamond. Billed as the night's showstopper, the routine was unfortunately disappointing - the so-called 'equestrian tango' consisted of poor Diamond trotting listlessly round the ring diligently raising his legs in response to mistress Yasmine’s impassioned yielding of her whip.
Diamond may have looked bored, but Yasmine herself was mesmerising. Emerging into the ring in a velvet gown, her performance was an equal demonstration of horsewomanship and glamour.
More successful than the 'tango' was Yasmine's performance of her renowned ‘liberty’ act, which featured four elegant Palomino horses and the smallest horse in the UK (audience members could pay a fiver to have their photo taken with the little fella in the interval). With horse-handling skills as dazzling as her sequinned handbag (which appeared to be stuffed with sugar lump incentives), Yasmine had the Palominos trotting, twirling and rearing in accordance with her every whim.
I found witnessing performing animals in the circus an uncomfortable experience. If it’s any consolation, Yasmine’s bio on 'Circopedia' says: ‘It is indicative of the gentleness of methods that no horse is worked until it sweats.’ And if equestrian feats and performing animals aren’t your thing, fear not. Horsepower has more to offer than hooves and nosebags. A highlight of the evening was the ominously named ‘Globe of Death,’ a hair-raising act that saw three motorbikes ridden by Brazilian daredevils at speeds of over 70mph inside a tiny spherical metal cage. The more humbly named trapeze artist (Kimberly) was every bit as impressive as the motorbike stuntmen as she swung fearlessly from the high trapeze with no apparent net or safety device. This show boasts an impressive cast of twenty plus performers; Kim was joined by a woman juggling fire with her feet whilst sprawled on the back of a Harley, and a host of more traditional circus performers including dancers, acrobats and - cringe! - clowns. Though actually, the clowns weren't too bad. While they didn't quite live up to the Ringmaster's promise of 'the best clowns in Europe,' these circus funnymen performed slapstick routines that had the younger members of the audience in stitches.
The whole cabaret was facilitated by the consummate Ringmaster and much-loved Norman Barrett MBE. Having spent a quarter of a century as Ringmaster of the legendary Blackpool Tower Circus, Norman certainly knows his stuff. Displaying showmanship, professionalism and energy levels simply remarkable for a man of 74, Norman is an asset to Zippo’s. While it lacked the high-speed, explosive thrills of the other acts, the humble routine Norman performed with his troupe of budgerigars was one of the best received of the night.
With veteran circus stars such as Yasmine Smart and Norman Bennett and a well-conceived blend of old and new, silliness and skill, Horsepower is a thrill ride with something for everyone - a spectacle that cannot fail to impress.
The star of the show is Yasmine Smart, heralded by Zippo as ‘the world’s most famous equestrian presenter.’ Yasmine is the grand-daughter of Billy Smart - the legendary circus performer and impresario - and Eleanor Stey, who crossed the Thames on a wire in 1951. To the excitement of the audience, the promotional material reveals that Horsepower will see Yasmine debut a brand new act. The big surprise turns out to be a tango dance, performed by a five-year-old Andalusian stallion named Diamond. Billed as the night's showstopper, the routine was unfortunately disappointing - the so-called 'equestrian tango' consisted of poor Diamond trotting listlessly round the ring diligently raising his legs in response to mistress Yasmine’s impassioned yielding of her whip.
Diamond may have looked bored, but Yasmine herself was mesmerising. Emerging into the ring in a velvet gown, her performance was an equal demonstration of horsewomanship and glamour.
More successful than the 'tango' was Yasmine's performance of her renowned ‘liberty’ act, which featured four elegant Palomino horses and the smallest horse in the UK (audience members could pay a fiver to have their photo taken with the little fella in the interval). With horse-handling skills as dazzling as her sequinned handbag (which appeared to be stuffed with sugar lump incentives), Yasmine had the Palominos trotting, twirling and rearing in accordance with her every whim.
I found witnessing performing animals in the circus an uncomfortable experience. If it’s any consolation, Yasmine’s bio on 'Circopedia' says: ‘It is indicative of the gentleness of methods that no horse is worked until it sweats.’ And if equestrian feats and performing animals aren’t your thing, fear not. Horsepower has more to offer than hooves and nosebags. A highlight of the evening was the ominously named ‘Globe of Death,’ a hair-raising act that saw three motorbikes ridden by Brazilian daredevils at speeds of over 70mph inside a tiny spherical metal cage. The more humbly named trapeze artist (Kimberly) was every bit as impressive as the motorbike stuntmen as she swung fearlessly from the high trapeze with no apparent net or safety device. This show boasts an impressive cast of twenty plus performers; Kim was joined by a woman juggling fire with her feet whilst sprawled on the back of a Harley, and a host of more traditional circus performers including dancers, acrobats and - cringe! - clowns. Though actually, the clowns weren't too bad. While they didn't quite live up to the Ringmaster's promise of 'the best clowns in Europe,' these circus funnymen performed slapstick routines that had the younger members of the audience in stitches.
The whole cabaret was facilitated by the consummate Ringmaster and much-loved Norman Barrett MBE. Having spent a quarter of a century as Ringmaster of the legendary Blackpool Tower Circus, Norman certainly knows his stuff. Displaying showmanship, professionalism and energy levels simply remarkable for a man of 74, Norman is an asset to Zippo’s. While it lacked the high-speed, explosive thrills of the other acts, the humble routine Norman performed with his troupe of budgerigars was one of the best received of the night.
With veteran circus stars such as Yasmine Smart and Norman Bennett and a well-conceived blend of old and new, silliness and skill, Horsepower is a thrill ride with something for everyone - a spectacle that cannot fail to impress.