#1
Posted: 6/24/08 at 10:00am
So with all the talk here about Cirque Dreams and the comparisons to Cirque Soleil, let me say that last night we saw this production from the front row mezzanine of the Broadway. (Note, seat A-2 has a raised safety rail at the base of the aisle stairs that blocks about a third of the stage view!)
First of all, let me tell you that Cirque Productions has been operating for 15 years from Florida, both in the States and Internationally-- so this production is not some lame attempt to capitalize on the more famous Cirque Soleil name. Over half of the 28 performers are from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, or Mongolia. Go to Europe and you will see the term "Cirque" in nearly any circus.
So what was it like? No, not as good as a Cirque Soleil production of which I've seen 5 (several of them several times). One issue is that they are limited by the stage. How dramatic can trapeze acts be when they can't swing 75 feet in the air and do dramatic throws and catches? I'm not sure that most of the performers don't equal the calibre of the Cirque Soleil performers, but their routines don't seem to go anywhere. After they've flown in a cirle from two long banners of fabric, what more can they do, but more circles, etc. It's not like they can be lifted a hundred feet into the air, then unfurl as it looks like they're going to fall to the floor -- or if they do it's from only about 20 feet high. Big deal. There are two Russian guys who do one of those rolling boards on a cylinder act, but theirs is the showstopper of the night. The two of them balance together on the board, and at one point they stack up five of six cylinders, alternating cylinders standing upright on those on their sides. It is astounding to watch!
Costumes and set were colorful and clever -- but it ain't no Lion King or Mystere, or anything like that. Lighting was poor in my book, often not illuminating whomever you should be focused on, and sometimes people just seemed to be in the dark. There is a liberal use of blacklight for effect.
So was it fun? Yea, but I'm glad I got deeply discounted tickets. And of course, no one should go thinking they will see a "Broadway musical". It has nothing to do with those, including the over amplified female singer (Mother Nature) teaching rather lame lessons to Jungleboy, who supposedly comes from the audience but ends up being one of the most talented of all the performers doing bits of almost every act, the strolling electric violinist, and the otherwise synthesized music.
First of all, let me tell you that Cirque Productions has been operating for 15 years from Florida, both in the States and Internationally-- so this production is not some lame attempt to capitalize on the more famous Cirque Soleil name. Over half of the 28 performers are from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, or Mongolia. Go to Europe and you will see the term "Cirque" in nearly any circus.
So what was it like? No, not as good as a Cirque Soleil production of which I've seen 5 (several of them several times). One issue is that they are limited by the stage. How dramatic can trapeze acts be when they can't swing 75 feet in the air and do dramatic throws and catches? I'm not sure that most of the performers don't equal the calibre of the Cirque Soleil performers, but their routines don't seem to go anywhere. After they've flown in a cirle from two long banners of fabric, what more can they do, but more circles, etc. It's not like they can be lifted a hundred feet into the air, then unfurl as it looks like they're going to fall to the floor -- or if they do it's from only about 20 feet high. Big deal. There are two Russian guys who do one of those rolling boards on a cylinder act, but theirs is the showstopper of the night. The two of them balance together on the board, and at one point they stack up five of six cylinders, alternating cylinders standing upright on those on their sides. It is astounding to watch!
Costumes and set were colorful and clever -- but it ain't no Lion King or Mystere, or anything like that. Lighting was poor in my book, often not illuminating whomever you should be focused on, and sometimes people just seemed to be in the dark. There is a liberal use of blacklight for effect.
So was it fun? Yea, but I'm glad I got deeply discounted tickets. And of course, no one should go thinking they will see a "Broadway musical". It has nothing to do with those, including the over amplified female singer (Mother Nature) teaching rather lame lessons to Jungleboy, who supposedly comes from the audience but ends up being one of the most talented of all the performers doing bits of almost every act, the strolling electric violinist, and the otherwise synthesized music.
Updated On: 6/24/08 at 10:00 AM
