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diversions
Circus of the
Sun' shines on L.B.
By Christine Shin
On-line Forty-Niner
Everyone wants
to get away. Now through the magic of Cirque du Soleil in
town, it's possible without even leaving Long Beach.
Cirque is no ordinary circus. The first applause goes to the
absence of animals. This circus transcends the imagination
into a boundless freedom without the call for animal abuse.
Words really can serve no justice in describing the mysticism
of Cirque, but, they will have to suffice.
Cirque du Soleil is an enchanting experience that takes you
away from all those tests, research papers and other drama.
This circus spellbinds audiences into a surreal trance through
a visual and auditory feast for the senses.
Under the blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau is where all the
magic takes place. "Dralion," Cirque's only greater
Los Angeles area engagement in 2002, premiered Wednesday in
Long Beach next to the Queen Mary. Fusing dragon and lion
together to coin "Dralion," the idea behind the
production was to unite Eastern and Western cultures. The
four elements (air, water, fire and earth) are incorporated
into the overall theme as well.
The elements are represented by four colors: Green for air,
blue for water, red for fire and ochre for earth. These colors
are integrated into the breathtaking set, costumes and makeup
that weave the show together into a visual delight. The stunning
costumes manage to bring more life into the already-dynamic
performances.
This is where it might get difficult in explaining the magnificence
of these performances. Try to imagine out-of-this-world yoga,
juggling mastery combined with contortionist moves, back flips
on balls, ballet on light bulbs and flying, a lot of flying,
just to name a few. All 55 performers display unbelievable
strength and beauty. Between every two or three of the acts,
a set of clowns is sent out for comic relief, although they
really hindered that spiritual momentum the other acts invoked.
The overall mood that Cirque draws out of its audience is
one that is dreamlike. This dreamlike feeling was especially
felt during "Spirits," in which four pairs of dancers
float and move like fluid ghosts who have never met gravity.
An enormous lantern plays with light and shadow to further
heighten the mood.
The choreography is intensified by the outstanding live music
played throughout the entire show. Cirque's music is not any
easier to describe as each piece has its own unique personality
with a wide range of influences including Hindu melodies and
the sounds from Africa, Andalusia, Central Europe and the
West. Some playful pieces, such as in "Cordes a Danswer"
(Skipping Ropes), added a fun and lively atmosphere for the
audience.
Timeless and unreal is the bottom line in the breakdown of
Cirque.
Anyone searching for escapism can stop looking.
"Dralion" plays through April 7. For tickets, one
may call (800) 678-5440 or on line at cirquedusoleil.com.
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Al Seib
Benjamin Pring as "Yao," the element
of fire, surrounded by "Dralions," a fusion of dragons
and lions.
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