Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus - Legends Reviews
Chicago Tribune- Recommended
"...That bit of palpable llama cynicism — not a phrase I've ever been able to sneak into a circus review before — had me rolling around on the popcorn- and ice-tainted floor of that august venue Wednesday, making a mental note that in all of my years of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus going, The Greatest Show on Earth still usually manages to deliver something I've not seen before. (Max, the 4ish-year-old behind me, shared his similar, if more numerous, discoveries loudly in my right ear when he wasn't smashing me on the head with his $16 plastic weapon)."
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
"...It has a Cirque-like name, Legends, which it repeats again and again. More importantly, the show, which in past years has seemed tired and droopy or loud and garish, is both brighter and faster and more tasteful and better dressed this year. To a one the circus acts are awe inspiring—they'd almost have to be live up to their billings (e.g., the Thundering Cossack Warriors). Even the clown performances, wedged between the major acts, are shorter, sharper, and free of any cringe-worthy clown cliches. Only the pricey popcorn, snow cones, and toys for sale in the lobby remain the same."
Stage and Cinema- Highly Recommended
"...Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's traveling circus remains something to run away to see, if not join. For even diehard fans there are always new delights, like the kangaroos and the literally incendiary Chinese torch festival. It's all larger than life and, considering the state of things in 2014, better too."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews- Highly Recommended
"...The 2014 production is called “Legends” and purports to be built around a narrative about legendary beasts and enchantments. If there was a storyline, it eluded me, but it was a kick watching horses masquerading as a unicorn and the mythical flying Pegasus and an elephant outfitted to resemble a prehistoric woolly mammoth. But these are mere garnishes to a trim and super-professional show that is stoked with gee whiz acts and spectacle."