Acrobats, magicians and a bit of erotica: Britney Spears’ ‘Circus’ opens in New Orleans

The pop star pulls out all the bells, whistles and clowns in a sparkly New Orleans show that dazzles fans and sets her up for a big comeback.

Reporting from New Orleans -- Her singing was dominated by a backing track. Her moves were nothing special -- defined by much strutting and stripper-like shimmying, with the minimum amount of acrobatics to prove her mettle as a dance-pop queen. Her physical form, still beautiful, didn't take one's breath away the way it did when she was 17.

But on Tuesday's opening night of her "Circus" tour at the New Orleans Arena, Britney Spears, the mighty Aphrodite with the troublesome tawdry streak, nonetheless renewed her claim as one of the world's most adept manipulators of the public interest. Powering through a 90-minute show that integrated her impetuous teen hits with the more perverse material from the albums she released after a very public breakdown that made her a constant in the tabloids, the Louisiana native flashed her famous good ol' girl smile at the fans, mostly female, who still find her a worthy patron saint of the erotic arts.

The intensely bespangled show -- which sticks closely to the big-top theme that also defines her latest album -- featured a huge array of tricks and extra players, including jugglers, clowns, magicians, martial artists, acrobats and rings of fire. Somewhere in there was Spears herself, looking hearteningly happy as she took on the role of ring mistress, clearly relishing the chance to prove herself healthy and in control.

The evening began with a performance by the Big Apple Circus that included a female acrobat who stumbled once on the beam but got right up and performed a stunning back flip. The faux pas wasn't staged, but might have been; Spears has similarly stumbled, nearly losing her children in a custody battle, and then losing control of her own affairs after her father was declared her legal guardian last year. This tour is her all-important comeback; if it fails, her career will effectively be over.

It will not fail. She is back up on the beam. The director, Jamie King, has made sure of that. If your star is a bit unstable, the best solution is to surround her with a backing troupe that can step in when she fumbles. Much like her music, the "Circus" tour is all about added value. Instead of purchasing the coolest new beats and synth-pop augmentations, King and Spears signed up those experienced carny stars to not only fill in the gaps between numbers but enhance -- distract from? -- her own time onstage.

One constant challenge for Spears and her collaborators is how to adapt the soft-core erotica at the heart of her self-expression to the family audience that's somehow stuck with her since she left "The All New Mickey Mouse Club." The circus motif proved ideal. Circuses are magical and creepy, home to pink-tutu-wearing high-wire princesses and creepy bearded ladies, loved by children but famously run by flim-flam artists and freaks.

In the circus, Spears finds her perfect metaphor for her own life as the world's favorite fallen angel. This particular iteration of a theme that Madonna and Christina Aguilera have also explored neatly balanced the wholesome with the downright nasty; though its scenarios were obvious, they still worked well under Spears' command.

Most daring was a sequence that began with a video that showed masked interlopers borrowed from the Stanley Kubrick film "Eyes Wide Shut," who writhed about on divans as Spears mouthed the Marilyn Manson version of the Eurythmics song "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This"). Spears then emerged to reenact the scene wearing two versions of a white-gold gymnast's leotard with her erogenous zones highlighted in black. She gave a lap dance to a clown; she was lifted aloft by a pair of acrobats and did some simulated heavy petting. In truth, nothing matched the raciest moments of Janet Jackson's last tour, but as mainstream erotica, it was effective.

This sequence wasn't quite as much fun, however, as the Bollywood version of "Me Against the Music," based around some well-choreographed group dancing, complete with Spears making mudras with her hands in a gorgeous green and gold harem pants ensemble. The night's take on "Hot As Ice" was especially playful, with Spears serving as an assistant to "the Misfit of Magic," Edward Alonzo. He even made her disappear.

One moment during the night did seem like a mistake. Spears disappeared several times during the set, to change costumes or allow her fellow performers a chance to show their skills. At one point, however, she didn't seem to resurface. Her backing singers awkwardly stood center stage as her voice drifted forth, as if from beneath the stage. Maybe I just couldn't see her from her my vantage point -- the show is in the round, playing further on the image of the three-ring circus. But she seemed to miss her cue.

Despite that first-night stumble and several numbers in which her dancing was no more than adequate, Spears can safely call this performance a success. She apparently has no interest in proving herself as a vocalist; Pink is a better acrobat and her friend Justin Timberlake is a far better dancer.

But anyone who thinks her lackluster would do well to remember what she really is: a burlesque performer, a carny's dream born a century or so too late to be fated to ply her art upon the midway, but able to fulfill the spectacle of blond ambition now.

--Ann Powers

Related: Album review: Britney Spears' 'Circus'

Related: Grading Britney: how she's rated through the years

Britney Spears' "Circus" tour will hit the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles for a two-night stay beginning April 16. Below is the official tour preview video.
 

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Photo credit: Getty Images

Comments

[Phiafly]

She's a natural wonder. Long after the vile untalented critics have departed, she will be there. A genuinely nice girl surrounded by vulchers. Go Britney.

[Rachel]

I thought she did great. I do not know why but I like her.

[Rachel]

I thought she did great. I do not know why but I like her.

[Rachel]

I thought she did great. I do not know why but I like her.

[Critic of the Critic]

Overwritten just a tad, no? Congrats Britney, good luck on breaking free of courts and family.

[Gus]

I think britney is the real POP of our time... in a very good way. yes, she fall LOW ! but she's back.. I agree that she's not the best singer... or dancer (but one of the best)... or whatever... but the point is... SHE'S BRITNEY. and no justin, aguilera, pink or anyone can move things the way she does. thats why people are all around... she's the new icon. BRITNEY JUST ROCKS !

[Gus]

I think britney is the real POP of our time... in a very good way. yes, she fall LOW ! but she's back.. I agree that she's not the best singer... or dancer (but one of the best)... or whatever... but the point is... SHE'S BRITNEY. and no justin, aguilera, pink or anyone can move things the way she does. thats why people are all around... she's the new icon. BRITNEY JUST ROCKS !

[Helen]

Britney looks absolutely stunning. I read here (http://www.projectweightloss.com/index.php) about her regime and workout routine and, wow, of course she’s getting her sexy body back with those exercises.

[paul martin]

pink is a way better acrobat AND singer, which would not be hard considering the non-vocals involved in britneys show. this is also a complete rip off of pink's sold out stadium tour of europe down to the funhouse/circus theme with huge doses of madonnas recent tour. it is ok, we still love britney.

[FREDO ESPINOSA]

HEY GREAT STORY. I LIKE YOUR PIONT OF VIEW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING, FREDO

[maja]

halllooo pink sold 16 million justin 8 million Britney sold 86 million albums and she is most succesful artist this decade...show was great...amazing...and brit tour in europe is sold out and canada too...and she is great dancer not like before but will be this is her first night...and she is best performer!!!

[James]

So basically, they stole from Madonna, Cher, Janet and Pink - threw a show together, had her sauntering around and lip syncing. Yeah, sounds really great.

[scott borden]

hey! i wasn't sure if you knew or not so i just wanted to inform you that you're an olympian idiot!!! don't be ashamed, just own it, accept it, and try to get a BIT more intelligent each time you step out into the world. JUST a BIT! that's all! you can do it, i'm sure! jesus, you landed a gig as a critic at one of the nation's most prominent publications! you can fool ANYBODY! why not yourself???

YOU. ARE. A. MORON.

what the hell is wrong with you f'ing critics and your remarks about this girl!?!?!!? was it a good show or NOT?? did people leave the show in a good mood or NOT? did the thousands upon thousands of people there have a good time or NOT? why BOTHER opening your idiotic TRAP if you can't make up your mind? WHY the HELL did NO ONE care that she lip synched her tours BEFORE you sick F'S wrapped your fangs around the private life she was leading DUE TO YOU and BECAUSE OF YOU went awry? because you are SICK MONEY-GRUBBING A-HOLES who only make bank when bad s**t happens to this girl!!! so even when she is BACK at what she was DOING best BEFORE then, you HAVE to WEIGH IT DOWN WITH REMINDERS OF THE PAST THAT ARE NOTHING BUT THAT- THE PAST!!! SHUT UP!

i HATE reading how well she is doing, only to see it sufficed with, "but she looked down to the ground this one time, an obvious indication that she is still crazy and suicidal and her life is hell and she gaines weight after having2 kids in less than 2 years and her messy divorce and k-fed and the lawyers blah blah blah BLAH BLAH."

at least have some GODDAMN BALLS and admit you're DESPERATE for bad britney news, which you aren't, haven't, and won't receive lately, and STOP SABOTAGING THE GOOD WORDS YOU HAVE WITH BAD JUST FOR THE F OF IT!!!!

you are a massive bit*ch, an idiot, and need to be fired.

sorry. i'm not being rude, i'm being honest. grow up, man up to the biz you're supposedly covering, or else go be a high school yearbook editor. they'd pay you well and you could sh*t talk all you want

[felipev]

I really never comment on articles, news or critiques of any type, but I think that this one has fallen so down as perez Hilton or some other tabloid never did.

On the other hand, I don't want to get personal, but I would like to see this " grand critique " moving, dancing, coordinating a show and doing acrobatics like britney. disgusting is to me, the way in which she refers to the figure of this woman. Stupids are the comparisons of the type "pink is a better acrobat and justin a better dancer", because britney's trade mark is her great skill at the moment of dancing and delivering a great presentation, ¿Does anybody specially remembers a performance by pink or justin at some ceremony of prizes? I do not believe that this quantity is compared to all those that remember britney at the vmas (with her remix of the stones, in slave 4 or, with madonna).
Rude is also the form in that the autor insinuates a total laziness by the artist.

I can say that I am a fan of britney, and it makes me happy that to see this awesome comeback. I mean, she's doing what she likes.

finally, I cant´t wait the opportunity to see her show here in Miami.

[T]

Just caught the show in Atlanta. This was my 3rd time seeing her live and I have to say, it was the best. Sort of "Tim Burton" does Britney type of freak show. It was great! Say what you will, but she is a great entertainer.

[Carol Hardee]

I haven't as yet had the opportunity to see Britney's new "Circus" concert; however, I have been pulling for her through all the many things she has been through during the past few years. It's a shame that so much of what could have been her best years were marred with complicated marriages, two sweet, innocent little boys, too soon. She's had it rough and I think all in all she's a survivor. She's going to pull this off. I know it won't be the easiest thing in the world for her but she's at the top of her list and I have all the confidence in the world in her. She's beautiful, has a great bod and the moves to go with it. Those who want to see her fail are just jealous because she's had so many bad breaks, hit the bottom and pulled herself back up to the top. GO BRITNEY!!! YOU HAVE SO MANY FANS SUPPORTING YOU. chardee

[Dan]

"Her physical form does not take one's breath away as it did when she was 17"

I don't want to sound like Chris Crocker or anything but I find this reviewer to be a DISGRACE!! I'd very much like for whoever wrote this review to give us a flash of their abs when they were 17 and then a look ten years later. For gods sake, no wonder the woman went loopy with reviews like this floating around

Obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion. Slag Britney off for miming or her lazy songwriting or even her questionable parenting methods but you can't hassle the woman for not being 17 anymore!

Absolutely disgraceful!

[Heath]

I was at her Tampa show and Britney did an excellent job. So what she's not 17 anymore? Everybody left happy and were entertained. I had 6th row seats on the bottom floor and it was worth every penny.

[me]

COMPLETE RIP OFF OF P!NK'S STADIUM SHOW. ONLY DIFFERENCE, P!NK IS THE ONE DOING THE ACROBATICS AND SINGING LIVE AND PLAYING TO BIGGER CROWDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[me]

COMPLETE RIP OFF OF P!NK'S STADIUM SHOW. ONLY DIFFERENCE, P!NK IS THE ONE DOING THE ACROBATICS AND SINGING LIVE AND PLAYING TO BIGGER CROWDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RUDY]

I saw the circus twice in L.A and was amazed worth every penny britney is one hot mamma. The show was very original nothing i have ever seen before cant wait to see britney again in the future!!! yeah britney has sold out more shows than pink idiots

[elder scrolls skyrim]

Im so sick and tired of reading about britney. why cant people just leave her alone.