Presented by Aerial Manx
@ Gluttony – Carry on Theatre
SUNDAY 26 Feb (until March 18)

I had read the blurb about this performance on the Fringe website, and have personally seen a number of Aerial Manx’s performances in the past, so I was excited to see his first solo show. Unfortunately, quite unlike the theatrical and high spirited shows that I’ve enjoyed previously, I was faced with what Aerial himself decrees a ‘meditative circus’. Set in the cosy and dimly lit Gluttony Carry On Theatre, it should have been clear what to expect the second that I noticed the incense and the psy-trance (which was immediately).

Aerial performs a number of incredible feats, whether it’s putting out a blow torch with his tongue or doing a cartwheel back flip while swallowing a sword. His circus trick repertoire is certainly impressive, and at times mesmerizing. However, the hour-long performance is more about Aerial’s commentary on spirituality than anything else. Audience members are forced to sit through long monotonous interludes between tricks while Aerial delivers a well practiced, yet incredibly self indulgent spiel about his many “beautiful” life experiences and views on humanity. He also refers to a number of ancient religious and spiritual practices throughout the performance, including those of the Shaolin Monks, Japanese Samurai, Native Americans and mostly, the Fakir.  While some of this information is interesting, one is left feeling more like they’re sitting in a classroom or at a spirituality conference than attending a performance simply for the joy of it. It was a rare moment that Aerial let his performance speak for itself, but when they occurred he genuinely did some amazing stunts.

Aerial made of a couple of attempts at audience participation, both of which looked uncomfortable and forced for the participant. Throughout the performance, it was as if Aerial had to instruct audience members when and when not to clap, laugh or cheer, which led to a very tense dynamic. Audience members who did not laugh at one particularly crude joke were dismissed as a “conservative catholic crowd” and upon realising that few individuals in the crowd had experience with reiki, Aerial asserted that there were “no open minded people in the audience”. As somebody who is open to alternative views, this struck me as somewhat narrow minded and counter-intuitive to the atmosphere that Aerial was trying to create. Contradictory moments such as these occurred occasionally throughout the performance, particularly when Aerial discussed “throwing away the script” in life, having just delivered one of the most scripted and rehearsed hour long public speeches that I’ve seen in a long time. The performance may not have been so tense had Aerial been more genuine and raw in his delivery.

Aerial may be a seriously multi-talented man, and from what I hear multiple world record holder, but if you’re after some excitement you would be better served seeing one of his street performances or collaborations. However, if you have a strong interest in meditative trance and would like to watch Aerial Manx do yoga on stage, then you will enjoy this performance. The ABC will be at Aerial’s performance on the 18th of March to document his sword swallowing, so if you are considering attending then I’m sure he’d appreciate it if the seats were filled.