By James Kent
BORING, or the Bureau of Regional Inter-existential Non-Governmental Goings-on (at least I think that’s what the acronym stands for), is the waiting queue you don’t want to find yourself in unless you are the seven talented women in Circus Springboard’s “Thank You For Waiting,” who know how to manage a Kafka-esque crisis—through twists, turns, spins, contortions and a whole mess of fun.
The New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA), based in Brattleboro, lent out seven of their brightest talents to amuse and entertain those fortunate enough to find themselves in attendance at downtown Rutland’s Paramount Theatre on Thursday evening. The show, part of NECCA’s ProTrack program, which features soon-to-be graduates of its 3-year professional training program, is a perfect showcase to introduce rural audiences to the wondrous world of aerialists and acrobats in a theatrical presentation, stripped down from the grand splendor of a 3-ring Big Top Circus so filled with eye-popping visuals, sounds of animals, and vantage points typically far removed from the action it’s difficult to appreciate the individual artistry on display fully. No, in this Circus Springboard presentation, the audience at the Paramount got an up-close and personal peek at these performers, and what they did brought repeated cheers and applause from those on hand.
The concept of this specific show was a waiting room to nowhere. If you think waiting your turn in the afterlife queue in “Beetlejuice” is long, just try your luck in a BORING line. Numbers get called over a loudspeaker, but it will never be yours. The host for this never-answering queue is Miss Agatha (Avery Ucker), who walks the audience through the proceedings and helps encourage the six unfortunate waiting in line to use their imaginations to pass the time, so to speak. And pass the time they do. For 90 minutes, these performers find interesting and unusual ways to break out of the boredom through various acrobatic and contortion routines. Each performer, including Miss Agatha, got the opportunity to showcase one of their signature talents. Ucker kicked things off with a dance trapeze act that set the tone for the evening. Esther van de Lagemaat, a Denver native studying at NECCA, wowed the crowd with her lasso skills. Later, Lagemaat returned for a showdown with “The Captain,” a space-warrior who might as well have appeared from the planet Camp. Camille Echeverri (The Captain) also shone during her aerial hoop routine, and her duel with Lagemaat got roaring approval from newly-minted fans at the Paramount Theatre.
Paxton Asher specializes in contortion, and what she can do with a chair and a collection of boots has to be seen to be believed. And Eliana Perlmutter showed how a wheel is more than a wheel performing acrobatic tricks with a Cyr wheel. Harper Hayes displayed a different set of skills, using a circle with a boatload of tricks and an aerial loop. Not to be outdone, the seventh member of this troupe, Emma Maines, showcased her abilities with the aerial pole.
All of these disciplines were interwoven into a fun story that the many kids in attendance enjoyed. For adults, the dollop of risqué humor and infusion of nightclub cabaret sexuality brought a depth of enjoyment that gave the proceedings a decidedly naughty 1980s PG13 vibe while still keeping it wholesome enough that parents didn’t have to cover any young ears and eyes.
After the show, all seven performers raced out to the Paramount lobby to greet guests as they walked out. Each was generous with their time, posing for photos and answering questions, and it was clear: the moment of this evening was just as, or possibly more exciting, for them as it was for us, the audience. Seeing the joy on these talented performers’ faces, knowing they had succeeded in their mission to inspire and delight an audience, was an added reward. I had such a great time watching Circus Springboard that I cannot wait to see them again. I know that NECCA’s co-founder Serenity Smith Forchion hopes last night’s performance at the Paramount Theatre is the first of many. I second that. For those not able to make it to the show last night, make a note and keep your eye out for future performances from the New England Center for Circus Arts. I guarantee you, they are anything but BORING.
