Roll up, roll up… Barnum is in town!

52 minutes ago

2 min read

Last night, was opening night for Barnum, The Circus Musical at Belfast’s Grand Opera House.

The place was packed, and the tone was set right from we walked into the auditorium. Jingly circus music bursting out of the speakers, getting the groove going even before the curtain went up.

Full disclosure – when I got asked to go to this I thought it was The Greatest Showman I’d been booked in for. In my ignorance that’s as much as I knew about PT Barnam.

The Greatest Showman it isn’t, but it’s amazing in it’s own right. I do think knowing a bit of a back story before going gave me the chance to enjoy the production without having to think too much about what was going on. Although this portrayal of the story threw up some new surprises.

As you’d expect from a production of this calibre, the staging is second to none. Lighting and sound was en-point. Choreography was spectacular, but that’s hardly surprising considering it’s all been arranged by the magnificent (previous GNI cover-star) Oti Mabuse.

The story follows the business life of Barnum, from his spectacular museum which burns down pretty near the start of the story, we then follow him as he finds new acts for his travelling circus (big shout out to the General Tom Thumb sequence – you’ll love it).

We watch as he goes ‘up market’ as he secures Swedish operatic sensation Jenny Lind and makes a clean fortune off her (and looses himself a little along the way).

The complex relationship Barnum (played by Matt Rawle) and his wife Charity (played by Monique Young) is explored as he realises sometimes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

This is a great show, very very uplifting. If you leave the theatre not feeling good, then that’s on you.

The cast, and the songs, the story, and the production are bright, lively, and invigorating. You’ll find yourself toe-tapping, clapping and probably humming along.

On a side note, the staging fits in perfectly to it’s venue in the GOH. It literally looks like an extension of the theatre, the gold and red, the theatre boxes, the ornate moulding. I loved it!

So, do it, runaway, join the circus. Get yourself down to the Grand Opera House and see this show. You can thank me later.

Tickets available at GOH.co.uk