The circus has long been a fascinating adventure for young and old alike, a voyage to a magic land of entertainment that is a three ring excitement to thrill and marvel. When it comes to town you are encouraged to grab your popcorn, peanuts and Cracker Jacks, your orange circus peanuts, cotton candy, and snow cones, to anticipate the fun. Tragically, things can go wrong and the circus can be the scene of sadness, when the big tent is the shadow of terror and becomes an inferno. Now ”Circus Fire” is coming to town, a world premiere written by Jacques Lamarre, conceived by Jacques Lamarre, Jared Mezzocchi and Rob Ruggiero, with direction and multimedia experience by Jared Mezzocchi until Sunday May 31.
The First Company Governor’s Foot Guard at 159 High Street in Downtown Hartford becomes the scene in July 1944 when the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, the Greatest Show on Earth, rolls into town to entertain the citizens of Hartford. Our country is at war and the heat of summer is imminent and heavy. Families are excited and full of happy plans. In a tent as big as a football field, a fire mysteriously start and suddenly an inferno erupts. Neither the community fire and police or the circus crew are prepared to help.
Tragically within minutes the tent is engulfed in flames and people are panicked and running for their lives, grabbing children’s hands and fleeing. Twelve actors-Mike Boland, Constantino Fernandez, Olivia Nicole Hoffman, Rebecka Jones, Caroline Kinsolving, Anastasia Maglaras, Eric Orsini, Stuart Rider, Janelle Anne Robinson, Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr., Marco Verna, and Dan Whelton-become the ring master, clown, band leader, circus worker, circus administrators, family members, and investigators who work to discover what happened. What happened to the 167 men, women and children who did not survive? Could it have been prevented? Who was responsible, the Hartford community or the circus, or both? Jacques Lamarre builds a tension that is heartbreakingly real.
For tickets ($65-80), call TheaterWorks Hartford at 860-527-7838 or online at twhartford.org. Performances are Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m.. and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Don’t miss the party of the year on May 16 for PARTY ON PEARL, the 40th Anniversary of TWH.
Catch the fever of the stampede as excitement turns to terror, as the unthinkable becomes reality, as the greatest joy becomes intense tragedy, and you are witness to the horror.
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