Review: CIRCUS 1903 at Music Hall At Fair Park

Although the celebrated Ringling Bros. pitched their famous tent for its final performance this week, this doesn't mean the spirit of the circus has disappeared into thin air. In fact, there's a big top currently perched on the stage of the Music Hall at Fair Park, and to say the fun-for-all-ages entertainment exceeds expectations is the understatement of the century.

With all of the glitz and glamour that one would expect of an old-fashioned circus, the Dallas Summer Musicals' stage is filled to the brim with acrobats, tight-rope walkers, aerialists, contortionists and even a family of elephants. Before you get up in arms about the treatment of circus animals, you should know that these elephants have been appropriately and breath-takingly substituted by large-than-life puppets, designed by the talented team that produced the Broadway production of War Horse. Although the production features stunts that could easily entertain fans of the Cirque du Soleil genre, there's an old-time charm that calls up childhood memories. In Circus 1903, rarely does a moment go by that the audience isn't spoiled by one trick after another, with an attractive stage full of skilled performers creating a scene that is (almost) visually over-stimulating, but always thrilling. Led by the charming Ringmaster Willy Whipsnade (David Williamson), the two-hour performance is guaranteed to bring out the kid inside of each guest.

Circus 1903 runs at the Music Hall at Fair Park through June 4th, and because the acts need to be seen to be believed, grab tickets at www.DallasSummerMusicals.org before they disappear.