Circus of Wonders

In a small coastal village in England, circa 1895, Nell lives a solitary life with her father and brother, picking flowers for a living. She faces a dim future because her skin is covered with birthmarks, which sets her apart from others. But then Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives. Jasper’s brother Toby crosses paths with Nell, and is fascinated by her, but his efforts to save her from Jasper’s clutches fail. Nell’s father agrees to sell her to Jasper, sealing Nell’s fate. Despite this, Nell soon realizes that the circus, full of wonders and oddities, is a place she could prosper, and prosper she does, going from “Leopard Girl” to “the Queen of the Moon and Stars.” But when her fame becomes unprecedented, Jasper’s jealousy threatens the circus’s very livelihood. Macneal’s (The Doll Factory) absorbing, atmospheric, and multilayered historical drama mesmerizes and dazzles. There is a steadily unfolding sense of foreboding as Jasper’s bitterness threatens Nell’s future and traps Toby between loyalty to his brother and love for Nell.