Ethiopian strength, skill, music take center stage in kid-friendly 'Tulu'
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Who is Derartu Tulu? Anyone?
She's a former long-distance runner from Ethiopia who won gold medals at the 1992 and 2000 Olympics in the 10,000-meter run.
"Circus Abyssinia: Tulu," now playing at the New Victory Theater in New York, honors her with feats of strength and agility, juggling, music, high-flying jumps and more. Backed by the sounds of ’70s funk and modern-day Ethio-pop, this 60-minute tribute clearly means a lot to the shows founders.
“It’s very important to us to share Derartu’s story, said twin brothers Mehari “Bibi” Tesfamariam and Binyam “Bichu” Shimellis, in a news release. " 'Tulu' is inspired by a true Olympic icon and pays tribute to some of the extraordinary women who have helped shape Ethiopian history. Right now, women in Ethiopia are winning the long fight for equality, and their stories ... need to be known.”
The start of the show features running, and near the end we see the Olympic rings. Will many of the kids in the audience understand what the show is trying to do? Probably not — but they will likely have fun seeing the various acts.
Contortionist Semeret Getachew Bekana draws attention and gets lots of reactions from the moment she "walks" —backwards, on her hands and legs — on stage. And she has more eye-popping tricks up her sleeve. How can she possibly move her head and body like that? It twists and turns in ways you cannot imagine.
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Betelhem Dejene Tola is a star. She has real presence, whether she is waving flags, balancing on shoulders or daredevil roller-skating. Tola has a quiet elegance about her that is stunning.
The charismatic Daniel Amera Seid's hand-balancing routine is amazing, but watching him using aerial straps is beautiful and breathtaking.
At a recent performance, “Bibi” and "Bichu” had a few miscues with juggling pins. But the crowd rooted them on, and they delivered. Their fire stick routine is amazing.
Fire is a big part of the show, inspired by the Olympic flame. Alemayehu Mulugeta Degenet, Dagmawi Fekeru Yimer, Behaylu Tesfaye Zena and Cherenet Dereje Negash dive and flip through hoops, set up at various heights. And then the hoops are set on fire and they do it again. Danger? What danger? They don't seem fazed in the least.
The big finale is the "Russian Swing." It's a big contraption that holds three or four people. At some point, when it really gets going, the one in front jumps, rocketing high above the stage, doing a few somersaults before landing on a padded mat. There are lots of ooohs and ahhhs and cheers.
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Music is one of the best parts of the show. If you have never heard songs by Hamelmal Abate, Gigi or Seleshe Demassae, you're in for a treat. They take the audience on a journey through Ethiopia’s rich musical landscape, while adding a moving and powerful element to the stunts.
Hopefully, "Tulu" will inspire audiences to discover Ethiopian culture. It has a rich and wonderful history that is worthy of being discovered.
Recommended for ages 5 and up, tickets for "Circus Abyssinia: Tulu" — playing through Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, at New Victory Theater, 209 W. 42nd St. — are $27 to $68.50, and are available by calling 646-223-3010 or by visiting newvictory.org.
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Bill Canacci can be reached at bcanacci@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Tulu, a kid-friendly show highlighting Ethiopian cluture, now playing
