Adelaide Fringe review 2017: Fuego Carnal

THIS is circus flambé indeed. The pyrotechnics are full of the wow factor that takes circus well out of the ordinary, and gives the whole show a reason.

Fuego Carnal

Circus *****

Gluttony Empyrean, until March 19

THIS is circus flambé indeed. The pyrotechnics are full of the wow factor that takes circus well out of the ordinary, and gives the whole show a reason.

From the sexy whip lady ring mistress who can crack explosions of fire, the show is a demonstration of big theatrical gestures that get all their oomph from the scale of the flames and the Spanish love of extravagant gestures, music and movement.

The Empyrean has been designed as an open-top circus tent so all the glasshouse gases can escape without singeing the set up.

The ultimate fire power is the bagpipes with afterburners, spouting We Will Rock You into space.

The choreography is sinuous and most neatly carried off by Katia the Ice Maiden, whose twirls with candelabras on ice-skates resolve into swirls on her aerial swing.

The good old-fashioned street theatre pyronauts are faster and more furious here, in a controlled space.

Tim Lloyd