The debut show from a team of homegrown circus talent, this enticing offering showcases a diverse range of performers with impressive aerial chops and physical control. Ritual centers around the theme of superstition and the nature of rituals, with occult and witchy undertones. Not every act necessarily leans into these themes, but there is a fun spooky aesthetic the team has adopted to tie their show together. The Vault at Fool's Paradise provides ample room for the troupe of seven to freely showcase their diverse talents, be it aerial, juggling, handstands, or fire spinning. Of particular note are the two Amelias (this show is too big for just one!), who showcase impressively smooth use of the silks apparatus, precise and timed to a moody alternative soundtrack. Accomplished acrobat Sam also commands a particularly impressive floor routine as a marionette that is as intriguing as it is unsettling.

 
One of the manu stunning Aerial acts in Ritual.
It can be hard to assess the potential of a debut show when nerves are running high. In this iteration, Ritual felt like a tale of two halves; the first half is slowly paced with choices of music and tempo, and the audience felt like it was taking time to warm up to the offerings on stage. By the second half, however, the troupe feels notably more confident as their high-energy acts come into play, and the audience was snapped to attention. The LED Cyr Wheel helmed by Paige was a stellar routine that got the rowdy cheers the show deserved much earlier. Likewise, Amelia G brings a stunning set of acts with both aerial chair and strap. A shift of one of these acts to earlier in the show could potentially help improve their audience reception. 

Ritual feels like a high-concept show with the potential to evolve and grow, and the performers have commanding stage presence and chemistry with one another that shines even during some moments of uneven pacing. Overall, the show is an impressive debut. One for the curious-minded and those who like their circus with a darker edge. Mysterious and enigmatic, Ritual will appeal to the little superstitious side in all of us.

FOUR STARS ****