We saw this show in Dundee on their last performance in town before they headed for the Edinburgh Festival.

First up - our seats were disappointing - to pay for grandstand deluxe and have the view of half our party of four obscured by a pillar wasn't very deluxe at all. I felt cheated buy the description - not worth the money we paid.

I also missed the old rapport between clowns and ringmaster. There wasn't a real ringmaster, and the clowns lacked any real slapstick. The main clown was a talented guy, but his sidekick (his wife) lacked any impact - there was actually no hilarious
comedy, which is what you expect from the clowns.

The guy who appeared to turn up drunk for the trampolines was funnier, and connected with the audience better, albeit briefly.

We go to see the Moscow State every time it comes to town, and expect to be amazed.

Enjoyable though it was, there was little in this performance that amazed me - there were actually quite a lot of mistakes made - yes, they happen, but not with the kind of regularity of tonight - too few old hands, too many "apprentices" - the acts weren't perfected, and too many people trying to do too many acts.

I went to see Robert Brothers' Circus in Wales three years ago, and commented that the Moscow State is so much better - I think on tonight's performance the gap is beginning to narrow.

The Rasputin theme was irrelevant - a bit of theatre which didn't actually fit very well - acts named to fit the story, but no real connection with the story.

Let's get back to real circus.