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Wonderbolt Circus Tricksters to perform at the Cultural Olympiad in Vancouver
Wonderbolt Productions (St. John’s)

Funded Under: Sustaining Program for Professional Arts Organizations
Amount Funded: $20,000

About Wonderbolt and Tricksters...

Wonderbolt Productions has been providing unique, original theatrical presentations to audiences for almost thirty years. Wonderbolt was founded in 1981 when it toured Newfoundland by boat to all of the island’s most isolated communities. Since then they have brought their style of circus theatre to audiences in St. John's, throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada, and internationally. Under the direction of Beni Malone, Wonderbolt has consistently created new original works for a variety of different audiences. This month Wonderbolt will bring its new circus show Tricksters to the Cultural Olympiad in Vancouver.

Wonderbolt's Tricksters is a cosmopolitan, innovative blend of Newfoundland's comic and theatrical traditions combined with highly polished international circus arts and the dazzling artistry of Aboriginal dance and drumming. Tricksters is populated with ring jugglers, sparkling spinning plates, cart wheeling acrobats, unicyclists and more, all captured inside Wonderbolt’s magical circus ring.

Led by ringmaster Beni Malone, a master clown with thirty years experience, the show features home-grown internationally renowned aerialist Anahareo White-Malone; Josh Oliver from Oregon on aerial straps; the Gentlemen Jugglers (David Mercer and James Burke); hoop artist Ali Hoops (Allison Collins); strong woman Zinga Zuma (Kat Finck); acrobat Dash Malone; and world champion hoop dancer Terrance Littletent from Saskatchewan, joined on drum by his brother Jayson. Tricksters is propelled by the original music of George Morgan and Bill Brennan; the show is directed by Andy Jones, and staged managed by Pete Soucy.

An Interview with Beni Malone – Artistic Director of Wonderbolt Circus...

NLAC: Tell us about where the name Tricksters came from.

BM: Tricksters came out of our work with the Innu in Labrador. Each summer for the past five years we have been doing a circus festival in the communities of Sheshatshiu and Natuashish called Kamataukatshiut. That’s the Innu word for ‘people who do tricks’. We have incorporated some First Nations talent into our show, which makes for magic and tricks on stage. Terrence Littletent’s hoop dance is mesmerizing. We love the integration that happens between these cultures and build on this in the circular theme that is both aboriginal and circus.

NLAC: Can you describe the show – what will people experience?

BM: People will have a full circus experience of the traditional acts and the not so traditional acts. There are a lot of circular objects used on stage from the juggling balls to the hoops and of course, my daughter, Anahareo, on aerial hoop and aerial silk. That for me is when it all comes together for the audience. The music by George Morgan and Bill Brennan is so orchestrated and also spontaneous that it carries us right through the show. We take people on a journey that takes them out of themselves, like the young boy, played by David Mercer, who is caught up in his Rubik’s cube and doesn’t see much else around him. In fact, it’s a metaphor for the kids who are also lost inside computer games. By the end of the show there is a definite sense that there is another world of entertainment to tap into.

NLAC: What has been the reception to the show here in Newfoundland and Labrador?

BM: People have a fabulous reaction to the show, they are amazed that Newfoundland has produced a world class circus. We have had a strong base of theatrical people who love to see high action on stage, there are also those who love circus and like to witness the live juggling and plate spinning, for example. We have had a growing fan base, judging by the number of hits on our website, which has recently been revamped to be more accessible.

NLAC: What does it mean for Wonderbolt to be performing at the Olympics?

BM: Performing at the Olympics really means a lot to each and every one of us. We were so relieved when 2010 finally chimed in because all throughout 2009 we were living the prep for this major event. It has been both exciting and intense. I used to joke that I was in training for the Olympics, but it really is true in a whole other way. We are in touch with the Cultural Olympiad almost daily. The detail of contracts and venues and travel is complex and over the top, but listen, you don’t get to go there if you can’t handle all that and more. We are ready for this world class event and we fully appreciate the unique opportunity this will offer Wonderbolt. Already we have news media setting up interviews and we have both agents and other theatre companies coming to the show, so it will also be a showcase for our future work. The logistics of bringing a seventeen person troupe to the Cultural Olympiad is another story with several venues in the mix, but that’s all part of the excitement and the drama of being on a world stage.

NLAC: What do you know about the venues and potential audience in Vancouver?

BM: The great thing about the world wide web is the availability of seeing venues through the eye of a computer. Our technical wizards and riggers look over all the details of each venue and we make adjustments accordingly, or the venue makes adjustments. With aerial acts it’s a whole new form of theatre for some production houses, so we are anxious to be there and get in touch with the place. I think the potential to have a wide and varied audience is what this contract is all about. I have been to Vancouver several times with the Talking Stick Festival at the Round House. It’s just amazing to be a part of that festival rather than going there talent scouting.

NLAC: It must be quite a challenge to bring a show like this across the country....

BM: It will take us two days to prepare all the unicycles, stilts, props, aerial rigging, costumes, HUGE Newfoundland dog, and everything else for the cargo flight. Once there, we are fortunate to have two houses rented for the week. We have ONE day to get our show in gear and then we will be flying high. We are up for the challenge and feel honoured to be one of the theatre companies to represent Newfoundland and Labrador at the 2010 Olympics.

NLAC: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

BM: To follow our adventures or to send us a word, check out our website www.wonderbolt.ca. Also we have a facebook page that you can blog along with our troupe. It’s going to be a blast from one end of the country to the other.