CIRCUS REVIEW : Ringling Unveils a Tamer Show

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, opening tonight at Long Beach Arena, still bills itself as “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Not true, ladies and gentleman, not anymore.

In fact, this isn’t even the best circus on the continent anymore--Montreal’s animal-less Cirque du Soleil surpasses the Ringling Bros. spectacle at every stop. So does the Moscow Circus, the acclaimed Soviet troupe that has toured North America extensively in recent years.

The Ringling Bros.’ spectacle pales in comparison to its foreign competitors, in part, because of a “more is better” mentality. Rather than allow death-defying stunts to speak for themselves, the Ringling Bros. show drowns its performances in hyperbole, false glamour and garishness. It’s very easy to get lost--or to get a headache--watching this three-ring din.

Still, this circus possesses an undeniable appeal for young children. Saturday’s mostly pre-pubescent crowd at the San Diego Sports Arena delighted in the exotic animals, high-energy acts and gaudy costumes. But it didn’t provide much for the parents and “older kids” on hand.

Animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams, the circus’ longtime star attraction, retired last November after 42 years of performing under the big top. The Ringling Bros. brass apparently believes that Gebel-Williams’ son, Mark Oliver Williams, will inherit his father’s headlining appeal.

Amid much fanfare--and an embarrassing Muzak version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.”--ringmaster Eric Michael Gillett introduced “America’s own Mark Oliver Williams!”

Williams’ performance hardly merited the hype. He cracked his whip at a few horses and they promptly trotted in unison and reared on cue. Later in the show, Williams commanded 21 elephants to lean on one another. They obeyed, but so what?

Marco Peters’ lion and tiger training routine was much more impressive, if for all the wrong reasons. Peters’ act involved all of the traditional tricks--he made the large felines stand and growl on command, sit in formation and jump over one another--still, a genuine sense of danger permeated his act.

The trainer did not appear to be in full control of his animals. At one point, the biggest lion in the cage left its spot and confronted Peters, snarled, beared its teeth and swiped at the trainer. Peters bravely stood his ground and directed the lion out of the cage, but it was evident that this was not a rehearsed bit, and that Peters was in temporary jeopardy.

Clown David Larible’s three routines provided the program’s sole adult-oriented entertainment. Larible’s act progressed much like a Road Runner-Wile E. Coyote cartoon in that it contained two levels of humor. The children laughed at the exaggerated physical gags, while the adults caught on to and cherished the subtler, more sophisticated jokes.

In his first number, Larible plucked four “types” from the audience--a fat guy, a bald guy and an attractive young couple--and choreographed the quartet through a series of hilarious comic interludes. Larible’s second routine, a mock knife-throwing episode, left his “volunteer” in fear and the crowd in stitches.

The other routines in the show--two trapeze acts (accompanied by a smarmy rendition of “Wind Beneath My Wings”), a Hula-Hoop display, a juggling exhibition, three daredevil motorcyclists, etc.--are all proficient, but not enough to make up for the persistent hype that engulfs the 2 1/2-hour show.

* Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus opens tonight at Long Beach Arena and plays throughJuly 23; L.A. Sports Arena, July 25-Aug. 4; and Anaheim Convention Center. Aug. 6-13. Information: (213 480-3232 or (714) 740-2000.