Manny’s take on Wonderful Circus
In Wonderful Circus, Svboda’s panoramic depth perception walks a tightrope between novelty schlock and a legitimate stylistic presence. I felt it redeemed itself particularly during the second act, which is when I felt strongest that the style was truly there to elevate the action like Svboda insists. The kabuki segment and others really made the theme more diverse and thus appropriate, like a panorama of world visual entertainment rather than a Conan O’ Brien skit, which is how some of the first act came across.
I too preferred the second act. It added so much more to the production. The first act seemed very one-note. I still enjoyed it, but the variety of the second half was very welcome.
I think our jaded modern existence aids our perception of Wonderful Circus as “novelty schlock” or hokey or corny or even touristy. It takes a lot to impress a modern audience now, what, with films being able to accomplish pretty much anything they want to accomplish. There is increasingly no surprise out there in entertainment. Like International or Constructivist style architecture, it helps to look at the production in the context of its times.