When a bloke in a tuxedo with finger-in-light-socket hair
directs you to someone else’s seat, you know you’re in the Big Top. Welcome to
Cirque Du Soleil, the world’s most recognisable theatre brand and for good
reason.
Before you even reach the Big Top you have an experience
unto itself, the hard sell. This takes place in a mini tent that would rival any
stall beside the Eiffel tower. “Are you excited”, enthuses the program vender
to the small impressionable children. I was as a matter of fact, just not about
any of his wares.
Dralion, the latest
offering from this French Canadian circus phenomenon, refers to a creature part
dragon part lion. The Dralion is the symbol ofthe
fusion of eastern and western culture. Acts unique to Chinese theatre such as jumping through hoops, areblended with more staple Cirque Du Soleil
acts.
These circus acts are
interspersed with movement pieces.It is a performancemore akin to a sporting event thana play.Like sport, there is great anticipation then
cheers of admiration as physical feats are performed. And yes, these guys do
have the same basic anatomical make-up as the rest of us. No rubber bands instead of hamstrings. They
just train bloody hard.
The most spectacular act is the trampolines. The performers spring off
said tramps and use their momentum to run vertically up walls. Meanwhile every
part of the stage below is alive with colour and movement.
Cirque Du Soleil
spare no expense when it comes to music and costume, which is why the hard sell
is required. Performance is accompanied
by live musicians who bang out splendid tribal percussion, among other styles. The
costumes of Dralion represent the four elements: earth, fire, wind and water.
They range from calm blues and greens to vibrant reds and yellows. Performers
crawl about the stage lizard-like, dressed in body suits that resemble the
spectacular body paints of African tribes.
Light-socket Head and his clowning friends fill in while the
sets and costumes are changing and at times outsay their welcome. They rely on
the fact that fat bald menarefunny, which they are when the fat stomach
expands outwards and gives its owner a
whack on his hairless noggin. This movable gutlooks rather like an erection from
certainangles (don’t tell the kiddies).
The clowns are at their best when mimicking the costumes and movements of the
more serious performers.
Dralion is one of the
most expensive tickets in town but worth the cash if you get your kicks out of
brilliant costumes, tribal rhythms and physical feats of sheer disbelief.
Cirque Du Soleil presents Dralion
Venue: The Showring at the Entertainment Quarter Lang Road, Moore Park
Dates: 17 July - Sept 28 2008 Bookings:www.cirquedusoleil.com or phone on 1300 130 300
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