Chess master

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Who: Circus Flora
What: The Pawn
When: May 31 – June 22, 2014
Where: Grand Center

Circus Flora's "The Pawn" is the strongest show they've done in years. The unifying concept—a chess game—provides a simple, easily understood thread to link the various acts and doesn't require a lot of narration.

That's a good thing, given the how hard it has often been to hear that narration in the circus tent's unforgiving acoustics. The streamlined structure also moves the show along more quickly and provides a nice local tie-in with the World Chess Hall of Fame just a few minutes east of Grand Center in the Central West End.

The balance of performers is excellent this year, and while I miss Giovanni Zoppé's Nino the Clown—he seems to be concentrating on his own troupe, Zoppé an Italian Family Circus—Adam Kuchler (the titular pawn) is a worthy replacement. He's a brilliant physical comic with a charming stage presence and impressive juggling skills, as he demonstrates to great applause in the second act with an elaborate box juggling routine.

Adam Kuchler

This year's show features the usual mix of returning favorites and debuts. In addition to Mr. Kuchler, new acts include Andriy Bilobrov's irresistibly cute Jack Russell Terriers jumping through hoops, rolling barrels, and dancing with their trainer, and the Henning Camels, six "beautiful and rare Pied camels" who dash and dance around the ring on command. Watching them go through their paces up close in Circus Flora's intimate one-ring tent was clearly a highlight of the show for the 10-year-old in our party.

Also new this year is the acrobatic duo of Kate and Pasi, who combine adagio (an elegant form of stationary balancing), hand stands, and foot juggling in a clever and humorous act that begins with Kate apparently picking Pasi out as a volunteer from the audience. Long after it's obvious that Pasi is part of the act, he continues to play the befuddled bystander brilliantly, with smartly staged faux clumsiness that is. Pasi comes back in the second half of the show with an interesting variation on the classic strongman act, juggling heavy weights with apparent ease.

Trick rider S. Caleb Carinci-Asch isn't new to Circus Flora, but as his last appearance here was a decade ago I'm sure many in the audience had not seen him before; I know I hadn't. His act includes not only the usual stunt riding—leaps in the air, jumping on and off his galloping mount, and so on—but also a bit of club juggling, which drew much deserved applause.

Also returning this year is St. Louis Arches alumna Claire Kuciejczyk-Kernan with a graceful and athletic solo trapeze specialty. Her resume is impressive, including gigs with the Ianna Spirit Riders and the Flying Wallendas, one of whom (Alex) will become her husband later this summer. It's a reminder that the circus is the ultimate family business.

Claire Kuciejczyk-Kernan and
Alex Wallenda

Speaking of the Wallendas, they're back once again, closing the first half of the show with their trademark high wire act performed, as usual, without a net. That includes the always-impressive pyramid, this time consisting of two Wallendas on bicycles supporting a third on a chair. I'll never entirely wrap my head around the physics of keeping a stationary bicycle balanced on the high wire; it always looks impossible.

Another favorite flying family, the Cortes, is last on the bill with their remarkable trapeze act. Their graceful leaps and turns took place directly over our heads this year, making me more than usually thankful that they use a net. Their trademark triple somersault was as impeccable as always.

Some of the biggest applause went (as it often does) to our own home grown youth circus troupe, the St. Louis Arches. Selected from participants in Circus Harmony, our city's only comprehensive circus school, the Arches range in age from 9 to 19 and invariably bring down the house with their fast-paced juggling, tumbling, and acrobatics. If you need an Arches fix more than once a year, note that they can be seen year round at City Museum—a fun family destination all on its own.

David Ivor Balding

The ever-reliable Cecil MacKinnon, Circus Flora's Theater Director, keeps the chess game narrative moving along and has some nice byplay with Mr. Kuchler. Janine Del'Arte and the Circus Flora band provide the lively non-stop music and Nina Reed's colorful chess piece–inspired costumes are a delight to the eye. The only regular member of the company missing this year is, sadly, Artistic Director Ivor David Balding, who died on May 9th at the age of 75. Although in poor health for the last several years, Mr. Balding could always be counted upon to put in an appearance at each show; he will be very much missed.

In parting, let me note that the Circus Flora experience is by no means limited to the air-conditioned big top. Members of the Arches provide pre-show entertainment in the refreshment tent and there's even a wonderful classic band organ churning out waltzes and marches between the refreshment tent and the big top. There aren't that many of those fascinating antiques left outside of private collections—the only other one I know of locally is out at the Faust Park carousel—so it's always fun to see one in action.

Although I was born and have spent most of my life in St. Louis, there are some local traditions and institutions that I never have and probably never will understand. White Castle, for example, or the business about asking where you went to high school. What's THAT all about, anyway? Circus Flora, though, is a St. Louis tradition that anyone can embrace. They're presenting "The Pawn" nightly except for Mondays under the big red tent on the parking lot south of Powell Hall in Grand Center. There's also a special one-hour show for kids or “Kids-at-Heart” Wednesdays at 10 AM. For more information: circusflora.org.