You would have thought that after 50 reviews at Adelaide Fringe 2023, the very last show I was reviewing would be just more of the same that I had already seen over the past month. But surprisingly, Hot Hands Circus delivered something a little different to my Fringe experience. More like a variety show than a circus, there was something for everyone in the sold-out crowd to enjoy.

Looking like a circus ringmaster, Rob, our MC for the evening, walked out in a matching top hat and coat. He gave us a quick spiel about what we could expect from the show, telling us some cringey jokes and producing a brief bit of magic, before making way for our first performer. I’ve seen a lot of aerial pole routines this Fringe, but Alice Shoell gave a highly original piece that showed off her strength and grace while also getting the audience excited for what was to come. And ‘what was to come’ came in the form of a hilarious cops and robbers routine from performers Paige and Harry. Incorporating comedy, dance, aerial work and a little bit of acting as well, this unique piece of theatre was absolutely brilliant. Not only had I not seen anything like it at the Fringe, but it also ticked all the boxes from an audience entertainment point of view too. Something like that would be hard to top for the next performer coming onto the stage and Hot Hands Circus, maybe realising this, threw a curveball with the next act, bringing out a comedy singing routine by Musodre. With just a guitar, a good voice and a catchy song, he managed to keep the crowd entertained while adding to the marvellous spectacle. 

A brief intermission then made way for another routine that I’d yet to see at Adelaide Fringe 2023: Monzie and Chris performing an acrobatic floor routine together. Balance, coordination and beautiful fluid movements left the crowd in awe, before Harry reappeared onstage showing off his strength and agility with his own acrobatic floor routine. And if that wasn’t enough, we then had the pleasure of seeing Mexican movement artist Sofia slink onto the stage in a Lucha libre mask and dance to the beat of her own drum before performing a hula hoop routine that was simply fascinating.  It left me thinking “how could a show like this get any better?” The answer came in the form of Fawn Phoenix.  In a shiny butterfly cape, she mesmerised us all with a seductive dance before literally bringing the heat with a hypnotic fire performance. Showing off her aerial skills and daredevil personality, Fawn then lit her Lyra (aerial hoop) on fire before spinning, twisting and turning her body to the music, leaving the crowd in rapturous applause.

If it wasn’t mentioned during the show by the MC, I wouldn’t have known, but this was Hot Hands Circus’s first time appearing at the Adelaide Fringe. What a unique combination of outstanding talents! What a show! What a wonderful way to finish Adelaide Fringe 2023! 

FIVE STARS *****