Dear you,
This week, The Stage Rat goes rogue.
In a rare detour from our velvet-curtained world of Broadway, we found ourselves under an entirely different kind of proscenium—steel tracks, fireballs, and flying beasts. Yes, it’s a special travel edition from Epic Universe in Orlando, where theme park meets theatre in a swirl of spectacle.
And at the center of this strange, spellbinding carnival: Le Cirque Arcanus—a dark, otherworldly sideshow that’s part magic, part madness, part fever dream. Cirque du Soleil with a death wish, or The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari redesigned by your goth cousin.
What happens when you take live entertainment out of the theatre and into the jaws of a billion-dollar theme park? Is it still art, or just artifice on steroids?
THE RAT’S RECOMMENDATION:
“Le Cirque Arcanus”
Cheese Score: 🧀🧀🧀(3/5)
Description:
Le Cirque Arcanus is a live theatrical stage show at Epic Universe’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where you follow ringmaster Skender and circus assistant Gwenlyn as they use live performers, puppetry, and special effects to rescue magical creatures from Newt Scamander’s stolen suitcase.
Why should you care?
Preshow- One thing theme park theatre does better than traditional stages? The preshow. Here, we don’t just enter the world we walk through it. From cobbled streets of 1920s Paris to the shadowy entrance of a towering circus tent, the queue itself becomes part of the drama. It’s immersive architecture, and it’s beautifully executed.
Spectacle- Let’s be clear: this isn’t about emotional arcs or layered narrative, it’s pure, unapologetic spectacle. But in a circus setting, that feels right. The puppetry, automation, and stage effects are top-tier. The show knows exactly what it is: part magic show, part creature feature, part theatrical flex.
Is it Theatre? - As IP worlds continue to collide be it stage, screen, park or game. It raises the question: what counts as theatre now? This is a live performance, yes, but built for an audience that didn’t come for Chekhov. And maybe that’s the point. Theatre doesn’t have to stay in its lane; it can and should bleed into new spaces.
Who to Bring
Bring your most theatrical friend—the one who secretly thinks they could’ve run away with the circus, or at least flirted with the fire-breather. Avoid anyone who scoffs at puppets or demands plot clarity. Bonus points if they own a wand, a vintage coat, or have strong opinions about Grindelwald. Leave behind anyone who claps between scenes or says “aren’t theme parks just for kids?” This isn’t for them.
Have you seen it? What's your rating?
RAT READERS 🐀🐀🐀
Here we share the responses from our fellow Rat Mischief - this was from last week’s show - Call Me Izzy. Submit your review for this week’s show and get featured in next week’s edition.
“Jean Smart is captivating. She draws the audience in and takes them on an emotional journey. She switches between characters effortlessly. She is a master.”
“This was definitely worth seeing, but it reminded me a little bit of “Waitress” without the music, substituting poetry for pies, with a healthy dose of Dorothy Allyson’s southern discomfort added in homage to southern trailer house living in redneck country. It had some boom, but not enough bang, and I was rather let down at the ending. ”
“Acting was superb. The story was more complex than I expected. I was surprised it was written by a man. Such an emotional story and emotional performance. Sets were creative too.”
“Not only is Ms. Smart's performance mesmerizing, but the writing is wonderful - sharp, biting and funny. The staging and lighting, while fairly minimum, where very effective. A must see! ”
Until next week, keep it dramatic, keep it ratty, and always aim for center stage! 🐀✨.
P.S. Thanks for being part of this weird rat family. Please reply to this email and let us rats know how we are doing?
With lots of Ratitude,
The Stage Rat