Circus, the French way

Comic Relief

Most people associate the circus with colourful clowns and their well-decorated faces, elephants, horses, wild animals that have been tamed and other extravaganzas that aren’t usually seen in everyday life.

But a French neo-circus that was in the City recently was anything but extravagant. 

With nothing more than a few boxes, the troupe of three, who call themselves ‘Trois Fois Rien’ or ‘Three Times Nothing’, performed with ease at the Alliance Francaise de Bengaluru.

Dressed in monochrome overalls, fit for comfort, the acrobats sung melodious tunes through their act. 

David Cluzaud, the marvellous diabolo man, sent the audience into peals of laughter with his rousing routine.

The yo-yo-like prop spun across the yard of invisible string with ease. As the artiste juggled two rubber diabolo’s with mastery, the audience couldn’t help but go ‘wow’. 

And no circus is complete without a juggler, and Pierre Cluzaud showed off his talent on stage. One after the other, white rubber balls were flying in the air and each time, he didn’t fail to catch them.

Even as they ping-ponged through his legs and straight into his palms, the juggler didn’t miss a beat.
     As the beautiful and gentle music played in the background (no one could fail to notice the work David Brochard), Lénaïg Fanniere, the graceful acrobat, danced between the other two in this poetic show.

The mischievous trio attempted to distract each other for their secrets. Although no words were spoken, the tale that was told by the trio did justice.

Each artiste swung between the other, amongst the minimalistic props, moving from one side to another and dangerously flirting with the edge. 

The reason for their name is, ‘three’ being more than two and yet less than four, is a very satisfactory number.

 ‘Times’, as in ‘Once upon a time’, from all the books with or without pictures. And ‘nothing’ as in bit of nothing in a playground where big black and white boxes are placed, and three characters successively arrive. 

A rather unusual book bursts into their relationship, telling their own story, and sharing with the audience something special. 

Through a series of visual paintings, the three artistes moved in the limited space, mixing acrobatics and handling objects.

With the help of Pierre Emmanuel Usureau, who performed magic as the light technician, the show was the success. 

The audience consisted of people of all ages. Maria had come with her kids, Joel and Diya, and said she had never been to a circus of this sort.

“I have been to circuses before but nothing of this sort. It was amazing! They were different from the rest,” said Diya. Joel added that what they did was “cool”.