Le Grand Cirque is definitely not for the faint hearted; I spent the majority of the evening peering from behind my programme, mouth wide, eyes agog, totally and utterly incredulous at the death-defying stunts playing out before me. Superhuman acrobatics, men standing on each other’s heads and women who can bend in ways a man can only dream of, are just a few of the ingredients that make up this repertoire. Add to that the unadulterated charm of the Cirque’s ‘ringmaster’ and you get a pinch of slapstick too.
Granted, this sort of thing may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there is no denying the skill, agility and sheer strength of these performers. They are athletes; the stage is their field where human sculptures are made from sculpted bodies. Every movement is executed with grace and finesse; flips and somersaults delivered with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Further, there is an element of intense drama that lends the Cirque just the right amount of theatrics; everything is articulated on an impossibly grand scale that simply blows you away.
This is a vivid show; the stage is filled with such strong colours and beautiful costumes that swish and swirl and dance in front of you, that it impossible not to be enchanted. It is quite simply stunning.
Le Grand Cirque plays at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall from 14 to 17 May 2009.
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