![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/BBMT-Circus-Ringmaster-Credit-Ian-Byers-Gamber.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo by Ian Byers-Gamber. [The big pic at the top of this page is by Claire Vogel.]<\/p><\/div>For the past several months, I\u2019ve often been invited to view shows on-line, but none have ever interested me until this<\/em> one–the Pasadena Playhouse\u2019s newly-launchd PlayhouseLive\u2019s presentation of Bob Baker Marionette Theater\u2019s The Circus<\/em>. As a former circus girl myself, the title got to me right away. And I was already a fan of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. So this one had my name on it.<\/p>\n And possibly yours<\/em>, as well\u2014the upside of the loss of live theatre is that, with on-line formats such as this one, everyone<\/em> can watch shows now! We can all share the experience together, no matter where we are in the world!<\/p>\n I watched Bob Baker Marionette Theater\u2019s The Circus<\/em> with Mr. X the other day, and at points along the way, I was cheering just like a little kid watching a real<\/em> circus! Besides watching the actual marionettes, it\u2019s fascinating to watch the humans work them. The art of puppetry is much more intricate and precise than one would think if they were just seeing them on a stage where the artists are in black in the background.<\/p>\n This show was first performed by the this iconic troupe back in 1948! So it starts off a tad slowly, but if you notice that, too, please stick with it because it gets really fun. (And it runs less than an hour.)<\/p>\n One of the opening images from the show on PlayhouseLive, pictured here on my own television. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n The actual production that PlayhouseLive is showing was filmed at the company\u2019s own theatre three years ago, so, in all honesty, the production values are a tad less than optimum. But, especially as a former elementary school teacher, I think it’s great<\/em> for kids to see such old school, unadulterated entertainment. I so appreciate entertainments like this one.<\/p>\n The Circus<\/em> is perfect for very young children who are aren\u2019t yet jaded by the digital world, and for fun-loving grown-ups. I think everyone<\/em> will find some comfort in this lovely, classic old-fashioned presentation.<\/p>\n My two favorite \u201cacts\u201d came in the second half, which seemed to have a bit more happening in it than the first. [Note: There are not two official \u201chalves\u201d–I\u2019m just guessing that they were past the halfway point.] One was the \u201cquick-change\u201d artists. I actually laughed out loud at what they were doing. They could have kept going with it all day, as far as I\u2019m concerned.<\/p>\n The adorable puppies. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n And even better was the darling group of charming, white, fluffy pups, who all looked like little versions of my own beloved best friend, Clarence! I giggled and applauded all through their adorbs act.<\/p>\n I was bemused a bit with some of the questionable music choices. There are several pieces of appropriate (and not<\/em>, in two cases,) old show tunes, so I suggest you keep Shazam handy! I had fun discovering some songs I was not familiar with. (They\u2019re all more modern than 1948, but still old.)<\/p>\n And all this delightfulness happened on the PlayhouseLive platform! Even though it just launched this week, it looks like it will be so successful that I feel this may be the way to go much of the time even after<\/em> the world returns to normal. For that to happen, there, of course, will be many factors to weigh. The only negative<\/em> is that viewing a play or musical on a device, even if you can get it to play on a big-screen TV, is far from the magical experience of sitting in a theatre, watching actors work in person, especially if it\u2019s a musical. But there are soooo many positives<\/em> to watching on-line! First and foremost, it\u2019s so much less of a time commitment–there\u2019s no hour (or two<\/em>, if you\u2019re me<\/em>,) to get ready, and no two hours (average) of travel to and from the theatre. Best of all, there\u2019s no having to deal with the noise, perfume, opening of candy wrappers, talking during the performance, coughing on you, etc., of your fellow audience members. Watching at home is Mr. X\u2019s dream come true!!!<\/p>\n The view of The Circus on my big screen TV. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Bob Baker Marionette Theater\u2019s The Circus<\/em> on PlayhouseLive was my second such experience, (the first being the only time I\u2019ve seen Hamilton<\/em>,) and it was a really good one.<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019d like to follow suit, just check-out their full<\/em> schedule of on-line events right here: www.playhouselive.org<\/a>. And then get into your pajamas, (or stay<\/em> in them, as the case may be,) and enjoy!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER\u2019S THE CIRCUS ON PLAYHOUSELIVE As you know by my very many theatre reviews in pre-pandemic days, I\u2019m a major fan of live productions. Many of us in that world have been mourning the loss of them since March, and are praying for the days when those beloved presentations will reappear. Sadly,<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>