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written by R.J. Downes, directed by Kate Fenton

Magmoe Media, Toronto Fringe Festival,

Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, Toronto

June 30-July 11, 2010

Playwright R.J. Downes turns the childhood dream of escaping to the circus for a more exciting life on its head with his story of tightrope-walker Sheila Martin (Stephanie Seaton), who must learn to leave the Martin Family Circus for a taste of reality.  Her impetus in this script that leaves no cliché unturned, is a the arrival of a handsome drifter (Adam Seybold).  Only Seybold knows how to project, leaving the rest of the cast to mumble through their clunky, predictable lines. Richard Beaune as a would-be clown provides comic interludes which, like the play itself, need to be much more inventive.     

©Christopher Hoile

Note: A version of this review appeared in Eye Weekly 2010-07-01.

Photo: Stephanie Seaton, Adam Seybold, June Morrow.