BY VITA HEWITT

“Passengers” from The 7 Fingers just opened at A.C.T. I went expecting the sparkly, shiny circus experience. I found an existential quest posing thought-provoking questions that just happened to use circus arts. It was glorious!

The ensemble of Passengers performing at American Conservatory Theater through October 9, 2022.
Photo credit: Kevin Berne

The show begins with impeccably timed contortions and jaw-dropping moments of air-borne humans. All of this takes place in and around an invisible train that is carrying the characters along.

The destination is unimportant.

Small tidbits of dreams, musings and memories that had the audience leaning in to hear more were woven seamlessly into the performance. The nine actors move together as one. They dance, they hold one another up, and they balance in impossible ways. The hula hoops were more impressive than they had any right to be.

The ensemble of Passengers performing at American Conservatory Theater through October 9, 2022. Photo credit: Kevin Berne

There were moments when one or two performers spun so indescribably fast that I felt they would lift off into space or at the very least, need to lie on the floor and feel terribly ill. Instead, these super humans would smoothly transition into the next amazingly crafted tableau. The aesthetic of the show walks the line between noir and surreal. The newly re-christened Toni Rembe Theater, where the show takes place, is located right in the middle of a neighborhood steeped in film noir history.

Kaisha Desselines-Wright and Dina Sok in Passengers performing at American Conservatory Theater through October 9, 2022. Photo credit: Kevin Berne

7 Fingers has been enchanting people since 2002 and they have done everything from one-man shows to Broadway musicals. Through the medium of circus arts, they consistently create a thoughtful space that speaks to the collective experience of the moment. Passengers feels like a release as the world continues to open up. It is a reminder to move and that we have, in fact, been moving all along. It will be shown September 15 until October 9, 2022.

What are ya waiting for?

There are TWO opportunities to see the breathtaking work of internationally-acclaimed The 7 Fingers (co-founded by SF natives Shana Carroll and Gypsy Snider) this month! Catch Passengers, presented by A.C.T. at the Geary Theater, combining dance, circus arts, singing, acrobatics, and theater into a stunning story of how strangers intersect and connect—“moments of wonder and leaps of faith” (The Guardian).

Continuing its critically acclaimed run in the heart of North Beach is Dear San Francisco, a heart-pounding 90 minutes of acrobatics, live music, and more in the historic Club Fugazi. This love letter to the City by the Bay offers small bites and beverages to enjoy during what critics are calling the “Best Night Out!” (SF Magazine.)

Save 15% on Passengers Tickets OR Dear San Francisco  with code: 7FINGERS

Click HERE for Passengers at ACT

Click HERE for Dear San Francisco at Club Fugazi

To learn more about 7 Fingers, find them here online:

Website: https://7doigts.com
Instagram: @the7fingers