Limelight Series
Once every two years we showcase up and coming Fruit Flies in a production known as Limelight, (previously referred to as Stagefright). Limelight shows can only be seen in Albury for a strictly limited season. These are not tried and tested performers, but emerging acrobats.
2009 – Get Smarter
“James Bond, Mata Hari, Maxwell Smart, Inspector Clouseau; a smoky speak-easy, a deserted late night railway platform. Mysterious assignations and briefcase exchanges. Amazingly from this collage of theatre noir springs a performance whose keynote is sheer exuberant fun. And of course, given that this is the Flying Fruit Fly Circus – astonishing talent and skills.
“Get Smarter is the current Limelight production showcasing 24 less experienced members of the Fruit Flies. It is the first professionally supported performance for these young people who attend the circus school.
“The opening night saw a large appreciative audience ooh-ing and aah-ing and applauding generously throughout. And not just mums and dads and grandmas who might be more readily entertained; this show can stand before the general public on its own merits.
“There is no narrative thread as such. We don’t find out “who dun it”. We don’t even really ever know “wot got dun” as numerous “double- O – something “ agents trip and tumble over each other, skipping, unicycling,juggling, somersaulting, complete with dark glasses and trenchcoats (mini trenchcoats for some very diminutive performers).
“The Flies are offering circus plus theatre and Director Ruth Bauer speaks proudly of the progression evident in the young performers as their circus acts are broadened by theatrical elements such as character, music, costume and situation.
“The knockabout comedy routines are put aside several times, allowing solo and group displays. A gravity defying chair act, a sculpture-like human pyramid, a pair of hula hoop virtuosos, jugglers tossing so many items the eyes couldn’t keep up,vaulting with great speed and precision. The aerial work was quite spellbinding. Such grace and poise, and mastery of what appeared to be very difficult techniques.
“Get Smarter is a very busy show: while soloists perform at the front, other “agents” climb 
chairs, juggle, or do contortions in various corners.
“Costume is colourful and extravagant, the music mostly raucous and suitably loud, referencing several spy and spoof identities. Lighting and sound are full-on and effective, and technical support is both unobtrusive and efficient.
“It doesn’t seem appropriate to single out individual names; clearly the Flies are a team, as evidenced by the quiet mutual support amongst the performers, and the way they all undertake necessary tasks during the show.
“When so much of what we all must deal with is dark and dubious, how very reassuring to see our
local young people giving 100% plus to developing their skills and entertaining audiences. The nurturing and mentoring provided by their very special trainers is enabling the building of a new physical vocabulary for these performers, stretching their talents beyond pure circus and enriching our whole community in the process.
22 Oct. 2009: Review of “Get Smarter” by Kathleen Bragg. Photographs by Rob Lacey Photography.
- Comedy with an edge of intrigue
- Skills displayed include: multi-faceted juggling (balls, rings, foot and group juggle)
- Rizely (human foot juggle), adagio and tumbling acrobatics
- Trick scooter
- 25 performers (9 – 17 yr olds)
- Suitable for children aged 7+
- Lighting Design by Sian James-Holland.
- Costume Design by Wiggy Brennan.
- Designed by Ruth Bauer
2007 – Scissors Paper Rock
2005 – Stagefright
