02-26-2010, 01:18 PM
The bug theme was silly. Cirque has grown so formulaic in its overall composition - working the audience before the show, the goofy 'art' clown MCs, the big trapeze act just prior to the intermission. You never get to see what's in the OVO egg, and that was really disappointing.
Nevertheless, Cirque continues to get the most awesome circus acts on the planet, so forget the damn bugs, just get on with the show. Act 1 was dominated by two traditional Chinese acts: a jar juggling quintet that painted their jars to look like kiwi and corn cob sections (they juggle these with their feet, lying on their backs) and a diabolo player that was just astounding. I've seen a lot of diabolo but this guy has major skillz. I've never seen anyone do some of the flying handle stuff nor work three diabolos at once. Simply awesome. There were some contortionists and some trapeze, which were good but not astounding. Act 2 had more contortionists and some odd acrobats. The standout acts were a slackrope walker that simply defied the laws of gravity and a trampoline finale that used three tramps in front of a rock climbing wall and a long tumbletrack. The live show Shaolin in the Wind was the first (and only other) time when I saw the tramps in front of the wall schtick. Cirque took that to a whole new level.
Ultimately, I walked away entertained, but it was the weakest Cirque concept so far.
Nevertheless, Cirque continues to get the most awesome circus acts on the planet, so forget the damn bugs, just get on with the show. Act 1 was dominated by two traditional Chinese acts: a jar juggling quintet that painted their jars to look like kiwi and corn cob sections (they juggle these with their feet, lying on their backs) and a diabolo player that was just astounding. I've seen a lot of diabolo but this guy has major skillz. I've never seen anyone do some of the flying handle stuff nor work three diabolos at once. Simply awesome. There were some contortionists and some trapeze, which were good but not astounding. Act 2 had more contortionists and some odd acrobats. The standout acts were a slackrope walker that simply defied the laws of gravity and a trampoline finale that used three tramps in front of a rock climbing wall and a long tumbletrack. The live show Shaolin in the Wind was the first (and only other) time when I saw the tramps in front of the wall schtick. Cirque took that to a whole new level.
Ultimately, I walked away entertained, but it was the weakest Cirque concept so far.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse