by Bondo Wyszpolski The Aerialist. Photo by Patrick SmythEvery couple of years Circus Vargas rolls back into town, which tends to mean Torrance, and I’m always impressed because it’s like a breath of fresh air. The family-run company doesn’t put on airs and it makes everyone feel welcome. Before the show, during intermission, and afterwards you can find the performers behind the concession stands, selling tickets, or mingling with the audience. And we’re allowed — no, encouraged! — to take photos.
This isn’t, of course, the circus of yore, when Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey filled up arenas and dazzled us with elephants, lions and tigers, the human cannonball, and highwire acts. Circus Vargas may not offer much of that, not even a trained poodle, but there’s an intimacy here that’s missing from the larger circuses, which are exciting, sure, but also impersonal and remote if you’re high up in the bleachers.
Up and over. Photo by Patrick SmythCircus Vargas develops a different theme each time they take to the road. In 2022, the performers pretended to be passengers arriving by train, which they reboarded as the show ended. This time there’s an implied salute to many countries of the world, with cyclists circling the ring with flags from different nations, and some of the acts loosely reflect this sense of a global embrace. After all, the circus brings all of us together, right?
Tossing rings… and while riding a unicycle. Photo by Patrick SmythJonathan Lee Iverson is the elegant, distinguished Ringmaster, with a magisterial air reminiscent of the late James Earl Jones. The acts are quite varied, and include two unicyclists with a tightrope walker between them. There’s a juggler, a contortionist, an archer who shoots flowers, playing cards, etc, out of his assistant’s hand, and other acts that look dangerous enough to have us holding our breath. Thrills, a humorous clown-entertainer, music, lighting; it’s all here — close by, local, low-key, and casual. A small gem of an experience, with never a dull moment.
Applause that’s well-deserved. Photo by Patrick SmythCircus Vargas performs through Monday, Nov. 4, at Del Amo Fashion Center, 3525 W. Carson St. (next to Madrona Ave.), in Torrance. There are shows almost every weeknight, with three shows on Saturday and Sundays (details on their website). No performance on Halloween. Tickets for adults range from $80 to $25, with good seats in the $45-$55 range. They’re available at the box office, by calling (877) GOTFUN1, or online at circusvargas.com. ER
