By Alex Wukman

There are acts that are beloved because of their contribution to music, there are performers who sell out theatres because of their grandeur and then there are the shows that are so simple in their originality that words seem to fail-that is the Acro-Cats. For those who don’t know the Acro-Cats are a traveling cat circus that was founded by professional animal trainer Samantha Martin. Martin uses ‘clicker’ training to get her animals to do things like turn on light bulbs, rolls balls and ride skateboards. In an undated video available on the Acro-Cats website Martin says shestarted the act “three-and-a-half years ago,” since that time Martin and her fabulous felines have toured the nation while appearing in newspapers and magazines across the country, on national television shows, have been featured on hundreds of local and regional television broadcasts and are even the subject of a short documentary.

Many of the tricks can be seen, being performed by dogs, at almost any rodeo, circus or carnival across the country. However, it’s the use of cats and Martin’s charming personality and inherent showmanship that bring a fresh feel to the act. Martin’s showmanship led her to add the Rock Cats-an all cat rock band-to the bill and sell out venues from New York to Los Angeles. Not surprisingly the Rock Cats’ music is fairly atonal and experimental. But it really doesn’t matter what they sound like, because as Super Happy Fun Land owner Brian Arthur said, “everyone loves cats.”

The Amazing Acro-Cats at Super Happy Fun Land, 3801 Polk. Thursday, September 29: 8 p.m.; Friday, September 20: 8 p.m.; Saturday, October 1: 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Sunday, October 2: 3 p.m. For more information visit the Acro-Cats website or the Super Happy Fun Land website or call 713-880-2100.