‘Circus’ Goes Behind the Scenes, Beneath the Big Top

Video

A Day With Annie at the Circus. Terra Entertainment. $20. (310) 264-2128. (800) 278-7176. https://www.annietime.com/. Ages 4 to 9.

Annie O’Neil, an adult host with a peppy tour-guide manner and unflagging enthusiasm, visits the one-ring L.A. Circus for an entertaining behind-the-scenes, live-action look at what happens when a big top comes to town.

Besides catching jugglers, trapeze artists, acrobats, hoop-spinners, elephants and clowns in the act, viewers see the huge metal tent stakes being pounded into the ground, racks of glittery costumes, how the bleachers go up, and cotton-candy making. Annie shares host duties with a gaggle of real kids and lets the circus performers impart the video’s main theme: what it takes to do something well (“practice, practice, practice”).

CinderElmo. Sony Wonder. $13 (DVD, $20).

Kathy Najimy is the not-so-wicked stepmother, French Stewart is a dog-turned-prince, Keri Russell is the beautiful Princess and Oliver Platt plays an apprentice “Fairy Godperson,” but it’s “Sesame Street’s” Muppets--especially little red monster Elmo--who are the real stars in this fairy tale retelling.

Most of the gang, Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Snuffalupagus, Grover, the Count, Prairie Dawn, Telly Monster, Kermit, Cookie Monster, shows up as courtiers, royalty, villagers and stepbrothers as Elmo dreams of dancing with the Princess at her “18th Birthday Holiday Find-a-Husband Ball.”

Elmo gets his wish but he’s not ready for matrimony: “Marry before kindergarten? I’m only 3 1/2.”

This isn’t top-flight Muppet magic to adult eyes, but Elmo fans will be delighted.