Roll up for this weird and wacky barnyard adventure encompassing acrobatics, comedy, dance, live singing and music, aerial pole-work, a mechanical bull and more, all performed by a famed Montreal circus family. Acrobatic performances, dare-devil routines and talent-demonstrating choreography are all found within Cirque Alfonse – Animal (A Farm Story) as an old farmers menagerie of circus performers/animals energetically take over the stage with varying genres of energetic performance and carefully choreographed routines. The more elegant routines within the show include incredibly flexible aerial pole-work (on a pole that’s been balanced simply on a performer’s shoulder), and a slower and more dramatic acrobatic dance duet, where two bodies show in-human strength as they gently meld into one. Speeding things up is a dance routine with sharp scythes in giant, hoof-like black boots with an accompanying live tempo from the band. A minor hiccup is that with some of the men’s dance routines, they appear out-of-sync at points which does detract slightly from the overall magic of the show. The farmyard theme of the show dictates majority of the props that are utilised for the many acrobatic, dance and comedy routines, including large metal milk pails (perfect to balance upon), a mini old-school tractor, large corrugated fences, large wheelbarrows, a huge rubber tractor wheel (which is great as a daring leaping launchpad), giant metal cowbells on huge leather straps (casually launched across the stage), and the unique appearance and acrobatic utilisation of a mechanical bull. Humour is sprinkled throughout Cirque Alfonse – Animal, including a dance routine with a chicken coop filled with squeaky yellow chicken props, and a challenging egg-balancing routine that the audience gets incredibly invested in. The Montreal-based Cirque Alfonse are a blend of professional musicians, acrobats, dancers and an ex-skiing champion, some of whom are also family members, and all with a desire to blend cirque with and picturesque elements of traditional Quebec folklore. The troupe have a certain “je ne sais quoi” – a mystique of sorts that is reinforced with the majority of speech and singing performed in their native tongue of French. The costumes also reinforce the old-school European circus theme, with waist coats, dark tartan pants, scarfs, and a checkered onesie. Some costumes also contain elements of animal-likeness, such as hooves and tails, with the old-man farmer leading the troupe in his overalls and wide-brimmed hat. A highlight of Cirque Alfonse – Animal is definitely the show’s diverse and yet on-theme soundtrack which is all played and sung live. The music and songs are all originally-made for the show by the very talented David Simard whose practice evolved mainly within the Quebec traditional music scene. Moments of upbeat jazz turn into more dramatic beat-defined songs which help to build suspense, and throughout the show a quick-fingered banjo is strewn to enhance the theme of a countryside barnyard. At times, some performers seem almost too nonchalant, almost unenthusiastic about performing, but this could be part of their character, though if that is the case this characterisation may need to be made more obvious to the audience. These moments of seemingly lacking enthusiasm, though, are certainly made up for by other cast members’ energetic performances, especially from the three large male performers who appear to give the show their all. Aside from minor and easily-fixable issues, Cirque Alfonse – Animal is a mesmerising taste of more classic and European-influenced circus which has entertaining differences. The circus magic is definitely found in Cirque Alfonse’s production, alongside comedy and gasp-drawing acrobatics which will entertain the whole family.