SHEX Reviews: The Enchanted Circus of Grimm

Fairytales have long been used to sooth children as they fall fast asleep in their mother’s arms. The happy endings and pleasantries in these stories are a perfect way to end a long, hard day in the real world. Escape for a moment, as it happens, into a fantasy land that always ends with the phrase, “Happily Ever After.” The story of Little Red Riding Hood, for example, ends when the young, innocent girl defeats the evil Big Bad Wolf. Good triumphing over Evil – a classic ending for fairytales, and it certainly is comforting while in the safe arms of your mother…

But what happens after “Happily Ever After?” What happens to Little Red Riding Hood after she defeats the Big Bad Wolf? What happens to Gretel (of the famous duo, Hansel and Gretel) after she and her brother outsmart a witch that was about to eat them?

Well, apparently they followed several of their fictitious friends and joined The Enchanted Circus of Grimm, story about the collection of once-magical Grimm characters, banded together under the Big Top and all dealing with life after “Happily Ever After.”

Presented by Shanghai Repertory Theater Company (SRT), this original SRT production is a fantastic display of local talent with an international reputation. Good performances by the entire cast (most notably Charlie Mayer who plays the ringleader) adds to three interpretive dance performances featuring SRT founder, Rosita L. Janbakhsh, who plays Little Red Riding Hood. Original music and circus feats are also part of the Enchanted Circus experience, but the best part of the performance is seeing fantasy come to life.

The show runs at 8pm every night this week, December 14-18, at the Ke Center for the Performing Arts on Kaixuan Lu. (613-B Kaixuan Lu, by Yan’an Xi Lu, nearest Metro Station is Line 3/4 West Yan’an Lu). Saturday and Sunday special matinees run at 3pm. For advance ticket sales or for more information call 136-4170-1170 or email shanghai.repertory.info@gmail.com.

So, mothers and fathers of Shanghai, instead of consoling your children and giving them a false sense of security about the cold, hard world, give them the real story, as told by the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales. Give them the Enchanted Circus story, which depicts Gretel as a washed up performer, still following the imaginary trail of breadcrumbs that is life.

It may not be the Christmas Story that you’re used to hearing, but it is definitely a performance in Shanghai worth watching.

Mike Finstad is the Managing Editor for ShanghaiExpat. He lives in Shanghai and knows about the cold, hard world. If you have any questions or comments about this article, please send an email to: editor@shanghaiexpat.com.