Political satire takes aim at establishment

Throughout its resplendent circus history, Firefly Theatre has always presented a blend of aerial, magic and comedy shows to sold-out crowds.

With its new show, Panache, playing March 17 to 20 at La Cité Francophone, the popular circus theatre troupe is shifting ground into political and social satire.

Founder and artistic director Annie Dugan is striking a blow at the tyranny allowed to flourish in our modern day world.

Panache is a fusion of the court of Versailles’s extravagance, The Hunger Games totalitarianism and modern day America’s current political climate.

Dugan has hired actor, clown and circus performer Ross Travis to play a Donald Trump style character while hanging from a Chinese pole.

“He is “sexist, racist and a bit of jerk, but in a family, friendly way,” she says.

“We call him Ponce de Ponce de Panache. He wants to be leader of La CitĂ©. All the artists are hired to entertain him. He wants what any politician hopes to gain – more support. We assume the audience is complicit. No matter what he says or how awful his views, the audience is complicit,” says Dugan.

A year ago, a team of Firefliers sat down to plan Panache’s variety show of magic and comedy. As Dugan did more research into the original meaning of the word “panache” – it translates into “flamboyant manner” or “reckless courage” – and as American U.S. presidential elections proceeded with disturbing results, Panache organically evolved into a critical satire.

“I don’t usually venture into the political ring. Our ideas don’t take us there. But I’m a dual citizen and this is near and dear to me. It adds an extra bubble of excitement to do this kind of show.

Fortunately, Ponce has an adversary. Accordionist Jason Kodie plays Lucky, a hired minstrel who has difficulty swallowing Ponce’s ideas.

“He (Lucky) exercises freedom of thought and intellectualism, a quality Ponce doesn’t value.”

St. Albert born Gia Felicitas, as magician Billy Kidd, returns to Firefly as one of Ponce’s minions. Now a resident of the United Kingdom, Felicitas is a respected international street performer and magician.

One of a few women magicians in the world, Felicitas created her alter ego Billy Kidd, after moving across the pond.

“Nobody knew me and to be a magician, I needed to create a new identity.”

Several recent forays into television – Fool Us on the Space Channel and Breaking Magic on Discovery Channel – added extra sparkle to an already prestigious work history.

“Magic has a stigma of rabbits and top hats. I look at magic in a different way. I take more risks and try new stuff. I do close-up magic, stage and parlour magic and some escape magic.”

Ask anything more specific about Panache and she holds her cards close to the chest.

Dugan closes by saying, “It’s going to be a ton of fun while still having serious implications of what our future could look like.”