There is good news and bad news. The good news is that the circus has come to town! The bad news is that it's only here through this weekend.
Those fortunate enough to have already seen Epidermis Circus, which arrived at the Soho Playhouse this past Thursday can attest to how wonderful it truly is. SNAFU theater company's Ingrid Hansen stars in this wildly imaginative solo show which features a hand baby, a miniature cow, an equally miniature shark, a mirror, and a lesson on climate change.
If it sounds surreal and fantastical, it is. But it's best to see it and experience it for yourselves, rather than reading about it or by watching a video. With a camera at her hands--and occasionally on her face, Hansen's handiwork is projected onto a larger screen. The vignettes are often hilarious and silly. Sometimes, they are poignant.
The sentiment of Epidermis Circus feels like things you may have done during playtime as a 6 or 7-year-old. Fortunately, Hansen has nurtured this child-like wonderment as an adult, much to the delight of anyone lucky enough to see it. Speaking of children, there are family-friendly performances and those better suited for adults. While not entirely indecorous, some risque content is not suited to little ones.
Director Britt Small, who directed the excellent Ride the Cyclone, returns as the ringleader of this circus and ensures that none of these sketches overstay their welcome.
JIMBO's costume design put Hansen in a form-fitting, all-black costume reminiscent of Maleficent if Olivia Colman were cast as this fairy.
Hansen is part of Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock and it is clear that she has a wealth of experience in puppetry. Her agility and nimbleness is astonishing--as is her additional role as a producer at the William Head Prison Theater Company in Canada.
It's only March and there are 9 more months of theater-going, but it's doubtful that one will see a more clever show, perfectly designed to bring joy and happiness this year.
Epidermis Circus runs through Sunday, March 24th at Soho Playhouse, 15 Vandam Street NYC. Tickets are available here
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