Bremerton’s big top for a day: the Admiral Theatre

Around here, the circus is a dying spectacle.

Traditional circus fair in Bremerton is largely relegated to its backwoods cousin — the county fair carnival. Whereas a customary circus features amazing acrobats, jester jugglers and jovial clowns, cirque’s cousin — the carnival — presents sugar-and -meat-on-a-stick, mini roller coaster rides, a-dollar-a-turn games of luck and has-been rock-n-rollers.

This weekend, however, as the Admiral Theatre dons its figurative big top, classic circus will be restored on Kitsap’s main stage.

The Moscow Circus, one of the most prestigious and time-tested traveling acts in the world, is touring through Bremerton for a day full of amazing feats of contortion, trapeze and more with a touch of Russian culture and comic relief.

There will be two shows Feb. 16 — one at 2 p.m., another at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $22 on the main floor to $12 in the balcony.

Once inside the doors of the Admiral, theater-goers will be walking right into a traditional Russian folk festival atmosphere, greeted by colorfully costumed clowns, dancers and musicians as the Moscow Circus presents “A Russian Folk Fair.” It’s a variety program based on the traditions and fables from one of the gems of Russia’s heritage.

“This is excitement and entertainment that can only be created by some of the greatest circus performers on earth,” the Admiral’s press release stated.

The Moscow Circus is more than 120 years old and is a cultural staple in Russia. Since the reign of Catherine the Great, which preceded the turn of the 19th century, the circus seems to have played a prominent role in Russian entertainment. It’s an art form on par with the ballet or the opera and a life’s ambition for many of its performers.

In its heyday, before the fall of communism, the Russian circus had more than 70 stable establishments, in addition to more than 50 traveling troupes. Higher learning institutions are dedicated to the art form and some of the country’s most skilled athletes and entertainers have found their way to the circus.

This weekend, they come to Bremerton.

The Moscow Circus will be in town for two shows — 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Feb. 16 at the Admiral Theatre, 515 Pacific Ave. in Bremerton.Tickets are $22 main floor, $18 loge, $12 balcony. Info:www.admiraltheatre.org or call (360) 373-6743.

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