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	Vol.7, No 58, December 9, 1999
	Circus Dragon Story and Photos by Jason Kosareff IRVINE -- Cirque du Soleil is no hick fair in the backwaters of Idaho. The newest manifestation of the circus without animals is proof that circus performance is an art. The stunning visual array of "Dralion," which Cirque Du Soleil opened at the Irvine Metroplex Thursday, draws the viewer into a bizarre world of exotic beauty and comedy. Though lacking the always pleasing elements of dancing monkeys or a dozen clowns piled into a minicar, "Dralion" takes the viewer to another level of human existence. The somewhat existential theme of the performance leaves the viewer with a myriad of questions about life, love and art. Detail is the key to "Dralion." The viewer is assaulted with dozens of things happening at once. At times more than 20 performers are on stage. They pop out of various trapdoors in the floor and descend gracefully from a circular lighting rig which revolves high above like a multicolored halo. The human eye could not possibly follow the amount of activity that went on. The use of blues, greens and reds created shadowy lights that revealed numerous jugglers and acrobats. Some of the performers even scaled down the walls of a set, which looked like the swollen abdomen of a pregnant spider. Among the more memorable scenarios was the Rapunzel-esque juggling act, where male jugglers in skin-toned body suits performed with a beautiful woman acrobat suspended above the stage. The jugglers caught balls that were dropped from about two-story buildings using every body part, even the toes. It was as if the pair was speaking through the constant exchange of spheres, even at a great height. Almost out of nowhere dozens of little girls, clad in dark green elf-like costumes, appeared to perform some of the most amazing stunts of the show. In pairs, they leapt off a platform onto a plank which catapulted one of their little comrades into the air, stacking the kids five or six high on top of each other's shoulders. The synchronization of every movement made it more of a ballet than a circus. The choreography seemed perfect despite the chaos on stage and the randomness of appearances by one bizarre character after another. Even the clowns performed perfectly timed jokes and precision acrobatics, making it all seem so easy. Adding to the impact of the physical performances was the hard-pounding electronic music that defined the pace of the frenetic acrobatics. The combination of music and colors with the performance deepened the already everlasting impression "Dralion" left on the mind.		Performed to African-influenced music, the hoop diving act above takes on a tribal twist while clowns pull an audience member from his seat to participate in their antics, at left. Professor helps L.B.P.D. research Asian criminals   National health survey hits L.B.   Speech, debate team grabs first   Music instructor not singing blues   Student beats shopping challenge   POLICE LOG Walk through racism   Alcohol, drugs lead to teenage sex   Professors don't profit from books Circus Dragon   'Deuce' humorous   Led Zeppelin produces another classic release Scott's success goes beyond LBSU Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.