Youthful enthusiasm. They are usually the two words that not only make me feel old but are also used to describe younger people who have too much energy. These two words point out a younger person's overly ambitious zeal for what they are doing. However, in the context of Circobats' latest Adelaide Fringe show, Life's A Playground, youthful enthusiasm is the perfect description for this spectacular performance that focuses on the younger generation of circus talent.

With more and more young people becoming addicted to technology, it's easy to forget that playing outside with one another is more beneficial for our body, mind, and soul than anything a screen can provide. The Circobats team uses this as a focus for their story and highlights the amazing things that can be achieved through teamwork, practice, and a daredevil attitude. The structure of the show is simple yet beautifully crafted. Each cast member starts off with relatively simple tricks like handstands, juggling, and duo acro work before taking the action up a notch by unicycling, performing aerial trapeze acts, and hula hooping. It's fun, frivolous, and fast-paced, with this cast never letting a moment onstage go to waste. I appreciated that, to create a playground environment, talking, encouragement, and play were piped in over the speakers. It almost felt like I was in this 'playground' amongst the performers. One thing that really stood out to me, though, was the acting by the entire cast. Yes, some errors occurred during certain acts, but no one broke character and continued without hesitation. Some young performers may act like deer in headlights when something goes awry, but these artists were the ultimate professionals.

I loved watching Life's A Playground. It showcased the best South Australian circus and acro talent, highlighting just how skilled they all are. The youthful enthusiasm that the Circobats cast brought to the stage was infectious, and you could feel their joy and pride when they succeeded in their performances. Family-friendly fun doesn't get much better than this! 

****1/2 Four and a half stars