Review of Cirque du Soleil’s Zarkana Live in New York City by Tom Remp and Cille Meberg
Watching the performance of Cirque du Soleil’s new epic Zarkana at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, I had an overwhelming desire to own a magic pause button. The show was, in essence, a dizzying succession of wonderfully choreographed displays of gymnastic showmanship backed by vibrant color and loud, ethereal music. So much was going on, often at the same time, that it would have been great to have it freeze so I could walk among (and under) the performers and gain a chance to see their awe-inspiring abilities close up.
To describe all the highlights of the show would be impossible. The production managed to create spectacle out of almost anything; from a girl who could juggle a dizzying array of balls while rebounding them off chairs, tables etc. to two men who leapt and whirled upon a huge, spinning centrifuge high above the stage. There were times my mouth literally dropped open and I found myself unable to comprehend quite how some of the feats were performed.
At the same time, there were a huge array of other acts going on simultaneously behind the main ones. I found my eyes wandering around the stage for only a brief second before they focused on gymnasts and clowns I had not previously noticed, most preforming their own, separate tricks. While the price tag attached to all of Cirque du Soleil’s productions may appear hefty, you really do get a huge amount of bang for your buck. The designers have somehow managed to pack an entire circus onto a single stage, often with performers swinging and jumping from one layer of action to another. All is backed by stunning state-of-the-art lighting that shifts dramatically every scene, the colors conveying real emotion and feeling. Amazingly these varied threads are combined almost flawlessly to create a truly rich tapestry of spectacle that will impress both younger and older audiences alike.
I feel I should finish with a brief description of my favorite act, though I fear even the best writer could not do it even partial justice. With a puff of smoke a clown was launched from the mouth of a cannon and lifted high into the air by a safety harness. Up above the audience he soared, perfectly illuminated by a single beam of bluish light. Behind him a giant screen showed a shifting display of stars and planets, making it seem as if he was hovering in space. For the few minutes he was up there, turning slowly as the whole audience gaped, necks bent back as they tried to watch the show taking place far above.
At the heart of it, I think that the most fabulous part of Zarkana was that it made me feel like a child again. Watching the twirling performers I was like a small boy seeing the circus for the first time, a welcome sensation that too few seem to be able to capture. Cirque du Soleil has done it though, truly managing to take theatre to a new and exciting level that is at once edgily original yet also reminiscent of great things done long ago in a more innocent age. If you are in NYC, I truly recommend splurging to see it. Till then, check out the pictures below or check out Cirque du Soleil’s Official Site.
To describe all the highlights of the show would be impossible. The production managed to create spectacle out of almost anything; from a girl who could juggle a dizzying array of balls while rebounding them off chairs, tables etc. to two men who leapt and whirled upon a huge, spinning centrifuge high above the stage. There were times my mouth literally dropped open and I found myself unable to comprehend quite how some of the feats were performed.
At the same time, there were a huge array of other acts going on simultaneously behind the main ones. I found my eyes wandering around the stage for only a brief second before they focused on gymnasts and clowns I had not previously noticed, most preforming their own, separate tricks. While the price tag attached to all of Cirque du Soleil’s productions may appear hefty, you really do get a huge amount of bang for your buck. The designers have somehow managed to pack an entire circus onto a single stage, often with performers swinging and jumping from one layer of action to another. All is backed by stunning state-of-the-art lighting that shifts dramatically every scene, the colors conveying real emotion and feeling. Amazingly these varied threads are combined almost flawlessly to create a truly rich tapestry of spectacle that will impress both younger and older audiences alike.
I feel I should finish with a brief description of my favorite act, though I fear even the best writer could not do it even partial justice. With a puff of smoke a clown was launched from the mouth of a cannon and lifted high into the air by a safety harness. Up above the audience he soared, perfectly illuminated by a single beam of bluish light. Behind him a giant screen showed a shifting display of stars and planets, making it seem as if he was hovering in space. For the few minutes he was up there, turning slowly as the whole audience gaped, necks bent back as they tried to watch the show taking place far above.
At the heart of it, I think that the most fabulous part of Zarkana was that it made me feel like a child again. Watching the twirling performers I was like a small boy seeing the circus for the first time, a welcome sensation that too few seem to be able to capture. Cirque du Soleil has done it though, truly managing to take theatre to a new and exciting level that is at once edgily original yet also reminiscent of great things done long ago in a more innocent age. If you are in NYC, I truly recommend splurging to see it. Till then, check out the pictures below or check out Cirque du Soleil’s Official Site.
