Every child, at one time or another, has dreamed about joining the circus.
And it isn't the smell of the big top or the roar of the crowd that encourages most of them either, it is the lights and the action and the dream of seeing something they never knew existed.But most of us might never have known what a circus really was without one man and his humbugs - Phineas Taylor Barnum and his Greatest Show on Earth.
For just a few short days, Utah will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of that greatness through a national touring company that is traveling the state with the musical "Barnum."
"Barnum" is the story of P.T. Barnum, played by David Mendes, and his two great loves, showmanship and his wife, Chairy, played by Rebecca McCauley.
The big question is, however, who will finally win Barnum's attention, the show or the wife?
Each scene in this production is filled with many different levels of action. And with that many levels, the timing of each actor has to be precise or the show will not be successful.
The production does a very good job of utilizing the talent of its performers and the capabilities of the set, even though the amount both might be limited because of the cost of touring. The set consists of one main arch and several colorful props carried on and off the stage by the supporting cast or ensemble.
The ensemble works very well at setting a carnival atmosphere and adapts quickly to props that might be a little stubborn at first. They managed to maintain their composure through any technical problems.
During an early scene, a remote microphone worn by Mendes shorted out and had to be replaced. Without dropping his character, Mendes continued his lines.
Even though it is obvious that the music for this production is not performed by a large orchestra, the ensemble is again able to fill in where it is needed.
The music staff only consists of Mark Danni on percussion and Stephen Goers on keyboards. Two of the actors, Sarah Worthington and John Allen, add to that group by playing the flute and banjo in a few of the scenes.
Worthington's main contribution, however, is as Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale. Lind was an opera singer whom Barnum brought to America to tour with his show for a short time.
Another memorable performer is the ringmaster, played by Alan Ball. Ball quickly slips from one character to another right in front of the audience's eyes. In one scene, he moves from a cautious museum speculator to a ringmaster/referee simply by taking off a pair of glasses.
Through most of the production, Ball is backed up by two clowns, Nathan Carver and James Lafrances, who add a cohesiveness and personality to the background of every scene. Both Carver and Lafrances also spent some time walking through the audience and making sure it was relaxed before the show started.