Heard the one about the zebra on the interstate? With three really big shows in town, we help you pick one with the right stripes for you.
Big Apple Circus
The pitch: Bello is Back!
The delivery: With clown Bello Nock back under Big Apple's intimate big top after a nine-year absence, this determinately old-school circus doesn't strain for a theme. That's a good thing, since the highly energized one-time Ringling Bros. entertainer has enough star power and wild energy, both in his silly and daredevil modes, to keep the show sparking.
Nock’s best number is on the Wheel of Wonder, a giant, metal Erector set-looking prop with two wheels connected by a bridge. Running, stomping and at times hanging on for dear life, Nock and acrobat David Martins make those wheels whirl around like a clock out of control.
Big Apple fan favorite Grandma clown (Barry Lubin) seems to have a little less to do than in past editions, but she’s still devilishly fun to watch, especially when she shakes her hips to Britney Spears’ “Oops! … I Did It Again.”
The Long Twins contort their bodies into impossible positions in their acrobatic barrel routine. Doubled over as in a sit up, the Chinese contortionists shimmy their way from one end of the tight space out the other. Those in the audience not “oohing” are thinking, “Ouch!”
The juggling act of Picasso Jr. fondly recalls the old “Ed Sullivan Show,” as the Spanish performer keeps five ping pong balls simultaneously flying through the air by catching them and blowing them out with his mouth.
This throwback circus is a one-ring experience that revels in the artistry of performance. Those with short attention spans might mind Ringling Bros. more to their liking.
Nice touch: Nock really works the entire 1,700-seat big top, frequently running up the aisles and occasionally sitting down in empty seats and shaking hands of his adoring fans. And, yes, he really is blowing a trumpet, while wearing oversized Elton John flashing red glasses, on the elevated bandstand at the end of the two-hour show as the crowd exits, a master entertainer 'til the end.
Animals: Big Apple is a small animal circus, and entertainment of the four-legged type is limited this year to Luciano Anastasini's dancing Pound Puppies and an equestrian act that includes some dynamic Roman riding (but anyone who saw the recent "Cavalia" tour at Atlantic Station will feel it's like a small excerpt).
If you go: Noon and 4 p.m. Saturday, noon and 4 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon and 4 p.m. Feb. 27-28. $15-$42. Stone Mountain Park. 800-922-3772, www.bigapplecircus.org
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
The pitch: "Zing, Zang, Zoom"
The delivery: "The Greatest Show on Earth" gets close to its boastful claim with this magic-themed show in which nothing exceeds like excess. The sensational acts come fast and furious, as do the elephants, horses, lions and zebras (except for that Downtown Connector escapee).
So why then did the audience Thursday night provide only mild applause that left magician-"zingmaster" Alex Ramon and many of the stars waving their arms, trying to get the crowd more involved? Here's one theory: It could be that the super-loud band and all the shouting into microphones -- understandable efforts to scale the show to the super-sized Philips Arena -- just pummel the audience into submission.
Or maybe it's just that "Zing, Zang, Zoom" is so action-packed that the crowd doesn't have time to cheer one act before another one commands its attention. The top attention-grabber is Tabayara "Taba" Maluenda's breathtaking Bengal tiger act (the dangerous stuff is totally choreographed, of course, but you can't help fearing for this old pro's safety when some of the creatures swat at him when his back is turned).
The many other highlights include the Skokov and Romashov swing troupes (from Russia and the Ukraine) that has aerialists doing flips across the arena; the double cannon that fires Tina Miser and Ekaterina Borzikova across the floor; and the Qi Qi Har Acrobatic Troupe that has the Chinese gymnasts doing dangerous maneuvers while balancing and landing on swinging platforms high above the floor.
Nice touch: The free All Access Pre-Show, an hour before showtime, allows families onto the arena floor for a chance to see clowns up close and get star autographs.
Animals: You'll shake your head and ask yourself: "Did I just see a white poodle in a red tutu jump rope?" "Did that herd of elephants just lay on its side?" "Did that tiger just jump over the legs of its trainer while he did a handstand." Yes, yes, oh, yes.
If you go: 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday and noon and 4 p.m. Sunday. $14-$130. Philips Arena. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com
UniverSoul
The pitch: Experience the world in ONE ring.
The delivery: Founded 16 years ago by Cedric and Cynthia Walker, this Atlanta-based circus is billed as the world's first and only African-American-owned circus. This fast-paced show features some amazing high wire, trapeze and acrobat performances all set to gospel, Hip-Hop and R&B music.
It's not unusual to catch animals leaping through rings of fire but how about a basketball player who flies through a flaming hoop and scores a dunk that would put Dwight Howard to shame.
What Universoul's acrobats do on a trampoline shouldn't be tried at home. They leap, flip and jump on each others' shoulders while a clown in plain clothes bounces on and off their platform. Catch the "faster and lower" act by one of the performers.
New this year are the Chinese drummers, who put on a spectacular and colorful show to the crowd's delight. Other performers joining them in the ring: The Soul Flyers from China -- trapeze artists cradled in plumes of bright orange fabric who deliver with precision. High wire "daredevils" from the Dominican Republic, Africa and South America leave the crowd breathless with their jump rope and shoulder-standing routines. There were a few technical glitches, but these guys aren't called daredevils for nothing.
Ringmaster Tony Tone keeps the crowd entertained with his antics and impressions of comedy greats like Bernie Mac and Redd Foxx. He does a mean Marge Simpson, too, but misses on his mimic of rapper Biggie Smalls.
Nice touch: Tone invites adults from the audience to dance their way down a Soul Train line "Old School" style -- subjecting them to a vote by audience applause. Talk about a YouTube moment. Later, a few kids from the crowd take a turn in the ring showing off their dance moves to a roaring ovation.
Animals: Elephants, tigers and costumed poodles -- oh my! More than a dozen Siberian tigers delight the crowd. The elephants are a can't miss crowd-pleaser. One of the big gray "divas" gently steps over an outstretched (and very brave) young female performer. Quite a moment.
If you go: Now through March 7. Saturdays: noon, 4 and 7 p.m.; Sundays: 12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Show times vary during the week. Check Web site for details. No shows on Mondays. $15-$25. Green Lot at Turner Field, 521 Capitol Ave., Atlanta. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
Staff writer Angela Tuck contributed to this report.
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