I had the pleasure of seeing my very first Cirque du Soleil performance this week. I've been to other theatrical circus shows, so pretty much knew what to expect...but what I didn't bargain for was the cultural fulfillment I'd get from 2 hours of acrobatics and clowning around.
A few minutes of people watching before the show revealed how universally appealing a production like this was. I saw people of all nationalities, ages and backgrounds. In front of me two elderly Indian ladies (wearing full sari's) took their seats next to a young Asian girl and her parents. By my side a middle-aged white gentleman studied the programme intensely before handing it back to an African-American lady and her family.
I crave culture, in all it's forms. Maybe it's because there's such a lack of it where I currently live. So to be amongst such diversity was a real treat. And once the show started I realised why a performance like this attracts folks from all walks of life.
Dralion draws it's inspiration from Eastern philosophy and the blend of elements from several cultures, both Eastern and Western, was apparent throughout the show. The musical styles ranged from operatic, to hip hop, to African beats to Argentinan Tango! And however you may feel about clowns (you either love 'em or hate 'em) there's something about slap-stick comedy that brings people together. You didn't need to recognise a word they were saying (and most of the time I didn't - their language was a weird mix between Italian and French I think) to understand why a clown stealing an audience member's shoe was funny.
The visual and sensory stimulation superceded any divison of language, religion, or polictical belief. I challenge anyone to come away from seeing acrobats defy the limitations of gravity without feeling as if anything was possible. Sometimes you need that escape from reality, where we can all come together to be entertained and celebrate our diversity.
A few minutes of people watching before the show revealed how universally appealing a production like this was. I saw people of all nationalities, ages and backgrounds. In front of me two elderly Indian ladies (wearing full sari's) took their seats next to a young Asian girl and her parents. By my side a middle-aged white gentleman studied the programme intensely before handing it back to an African-American lady and her family.
I crave culture, in all it's forms. Maybe it's because there's such a lack of it where I currently live. So to be amongst such diversity was a real treat. And once the show started I realised why a performance like this attracts folks from all walks of life.
Dralion draws it's inspiration from Eastern philosophy and the blend of elements from several cultures, both Eastern and Western, was apparent throughout the show. The musical styles ranged from operatic, to hip hop, to African beats to Argentinan Tango! And however you may feel about clowns (you either love 'em or hate 'em) there's something about slap-stick comedy that brings people together. You didn't need to recognise a word they were saying (and most of the time I didn't - their language was a weird mix between Italian and French I think) to understand why a clown stealing an audience member's shoe was funny.
The visual and sensory stimulation superceded any divison of language, religion, or polictical belief. I challenge anyone to come away from seeing acrobats defy the limitations of gravity without feeling as if anything was possible. Sometimes you need that escape from reality, where we can all come together to be entertained and celebrate our diversity.
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