Circus Vargas

We saw Circus Vargas Arlequin last night (8pm show) at Southland Mall. I went with my 5-​year-​old daughter. We loved it. We went to Barnum Circus Extreme at Oracle Arena two weeks ago and I would say that I would much prefer Vargas over Barnum. Here’s why:
1) No animals: I am not from PETA, but the tigers from Barnum just don’t look very happy. (The poodles and elephants seem OK… maybe because they are not solitary like tigers.) Sometimes when the trainer had to crack the whip (during the camel act), I would cringe. It’s just not right to be using instruments of torture in front of kids.
2) Value: Vargas tickets were MUCH cheaper. (I used Goldstar for Vargas and Groupon Live for Barnum.) There are great deals out there. You just need to shop for them. (A previous reviewers said «overpriced for quality of entertainment» but clearly this person has not been to Barnum, which is EVEN MORE expensive.) But seriously, after watching the Vargas show, I don’t mind shelling out more money for these guys. PRO TIP: Bring cash for concessions and memorabilia.
3) Ease of access (for kids, not handicapped): With kids, it’s key to have convenient parking, non-​sketchy neighborhood, etc. Barnum was at Oracle Arena. That meant $ 35 lot parking or (free on weekends) BART parking. If you park at BART, you will need to walk through the sky bridge. In general, that area is kind of sketchy and smell «unfresh». Also, Oracle has a strict bag policy. They search bags and simply don’t allow bags beyond a certain size. Some families have to walk back to their cars to store their bags. Concessions were also super expensive at Barnum. At Vargas @ Southland Mall, there was no bag restriction and we parked 50 feet in front of the circus (free mall parking), there was no sketchiness or foul smell, memorabilia were reasonably priced. For example, a photographer comes around and takes a photo of you and your party and sells it for $ 10. If you wanted to take pictures with Vargas performers, they stand right outside after the performance. No such opportunity with Barnum!
4) Intimate seating: Vargas is in a tent so any seat is a good seat. We had bleacher seats but we still had a good time. Granted, the seat is not as comfortable as Oracle Arena BUT it’s reasonable. The action feels so close. PRO TIP: (1) Sit towards the entrance for best view of the performers. (2) Go to the show at night. Otherwise, the tent gets super hot during the day.
5) Talent: Barnum has great talent, no doubt. But if you are looking for pure HUMAN talent, then that is Vargas. Vargas has trapeze which Barnum did not. Instead Barnum had high wire, which was really good. There are overlapping elements between Vargas and Barnum, like guys running up walls after bouncing off trampoline, or ladies doing elaborate balancing poses on a high swing. But Barnum did not have magic and the escapist magic was pretty amazing and the presentation was very artistic. Vargas also tries to weave a loose story between the acts which is nice and gives it a bit of a Cirque du Soleil feel to it. Vargas has the motorcycle cage act but Barnum has the human wheel of death act. (Sounds like Vargas had the wheel of death act last year?) Both are really good. Lastly, I just realized that it was the SAME amazing young man (
) doing magic, straps flying, trampoline. OMG!
6) People: When you watch Vargas, you see multi-​generation performers. You see parents and their kids in the same act. There is something to be said about family values when you see that. In Vargas, the performers seem like a one big family. In Barnum, the Mongolian performers seem to form a clique, the young trampoline men seem to form a clique, etc.
7) Interactivity: In Vargas, after elaborate acts, when the crew has to move away equipment for the next act, there will be «filler» comedy with clowns when they ask for children or adult volunteers. It’s kind of cute. I imagine if chosen, you would have some precious photo ops.
For pictures, you should check out their Facebook. The pictures on Unilocal don’t do these guys justice.
All in all, my daughter was gushing about the Vargas acts non-​stop during the ride home and even asked about going to magic school to learn how to do the escapist magic. As a parent, that is mission accomplished. =)

Even though the preformers were great and talented. This is not a circus. More of a variety magic act. No clowns no animals. It is everything a circus is not. Its super cheesey and boring at times. Very over priced for the quality of entertainment. Very disappointed because it was mine and my sons first «circus» and we were not impressed. Looking forward to Barnum and balley circus this year!!!

Full disclosure: my lovely niece Emma performs on the flying trapeze (is there another kind of trapeze?) in this show.
We went as a family and extended family this past weekend and thought the show was Fantastic! There are no animal acts, but that is all to the good. I think David W.‘s nostalgia for an animal act circus is misplaced in a Cirque du Soleil world. This is a fast paced show. Almost all the acts leave you wishing for a few more moments. So fast that the two hours it runs just fly by.
Highlights include the trapeze, silks, «wheel of death» which you must see to understand, the trampoline, and the recurring magic act. The magic is a little uneven but overall was very good. I don’t usually like circus clowns but this one had me laughing out loud.
Unlike some modern circuses, this is a family show and the entire family will enjoy it. They are playing Vallejo (where we saw them), San Jose, Hayward and Newark and I will likely repost this review for each of those locations.
Go and enjoy!