July 14, 2010
“They’re using their bodies like gymnasiums,” Victoria said as the trapezists twisted themselves about the single bar, using their strength to move in ways that I wouldn’t even be able to do on land. The pair — a Swede and a Dubliner — had obviously done this routine many, many times but for me, it was a new experience. Victoria had suggested that we walk down to the Spanish Arch on one of our last days in Galway for one of the programs in the Arts Festival. It was a circus, she said. Visions of tigers and elephants and clowns circled in my head, but this show, though tiny, was just as enjoyable. Children sat in rows surrounding the red rope encircling the circus, as their parents stood further back. The pair was a comedy act as well as a circus feat, telling somewhat adult-themed stories that at least a few kids covered their ears or giggled at. The most laughs from the crows were when the woman twirled hula-hoops around her rear end, and then at least a dozen around the length of her body. The man kept trying to add more and more to her arms, but she would drop them as he ran to gather the rest. Luckily, Galway’s rains held off for the 45-minute show, just until the very end, when as they were saying goodbyes, the crowd pulled out coats and umbrellas before looking for cover.
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