Cirque Du Soleil La Nouba Orlando Florida Walt Disney World Downtown Disney

La Nouba

Green Bird photo by Dirk Franke Courtesy of Cirque

A circus without animals was my first thought. It is more than that. Having seen the show three times in the last 10 years from different seating each time, I actually like the seating in the first level off to the side. My first time, was with an Annual Pass discount and this was a splurge.  I bought a T-shirt in the gift shop for $9 on close out. Now there is nothing like it. I do that, go off on tangents.  My seating was left and further back but in the first tier very close.

The second time, my birthday,  I was in the second level and although I could see the pre-show taking place in the aisle, being down in the bottom you can feel the energy of the actors. At least I could.

This last time I was in the first row which required looking up sometimes. I had no idea there were so many wires, platforms and moving parts in those upper ceiling area. Everything moves in and out effortless with huge wires tightening to make trapeze and nets safe. The floor comes up and down and moves to allow actors to enter from obscure settings or trampolines in the ceiling and in the floor. Just watching the mechanics of the whole show was fascinating.

Although before going the third time, I read more on what the show was suppose to be about, the story. Once I was there, it was all forgotten. People kept moving and moving all the time. It is fast pace. Not quite like a three ring circus with multiple acts happening at once because they stop and point or help you move your eye to the current act – the main act of the moment.

Clowns

Clowns Balthazar and Sergey Photo courtesy of Cirque

I love the clowns at the beginning. They step in every time the actors need a break and supply humor. They interact in a way that makes the children at the show laugh out low. The falling down or exploding kind of stuff that children love to laugh at. In between the main acts the clowns or other characters played out parts.

Les Cons (the nuts)

Les Cons Courtesy Photo by Cirque Du Soleil

The men in White I though were another form of clown with their slapstick antics yet their acrobatic abilities were used at multiple spots in the show and especial at the end with the trampolines. They were silent. Walking at times totally in-sync with their steps and legs moving as one with the four of them. These four fascinated me as did the clowns.

Cycles

Riding a bicycle without using the pedals but using the tires or extensions or the wheels in a balancing act of bike and human while riding up to the seated audience at speeds where you are sure they will be in your seat with you but stopping on time.

Aerial Ballet

The strength that must be needed by the actors to do these silks reminds me of climbing the ropes in high school. It was hard to draw yourself up the rope to touch the ceiling. The height was part of the fear. I always sit with breath held as I see them tightly wrap the cloth around the arms or ankles to the point you wonder if the body can breathe or if the blood will be blocked. When they rapidly unroll down 10 feet, I gasp. This is tough work with so much danger. Spread in a split in mid air. What happens if the body slips will it be torn up the middle, sorry, that is what my mind starts thinking, and fearing. They do a great job!

Flying Trapeze

Flying Trapeze seems tame to me compared to the silks and they have a bouncy net to fall into. Jump from one swing to another and twisting in the air before being caught by another has so much teamwork and timing involved. For me to see this the last time, I slumped down in my seat to look up. The reality of it all becomes vivid from that perspective.

Skipping ropes

Rope skipping to me with others and multiple ropes is so much timing of the rope, the swing, the people, and perfect feet. How do they do it? Jumping in and out. Jumping through. Moving the rope down a line of four people as it is being swung around and they have to skip it perfectly. Not dangerous like the Aerial Ballet but timing. Great timing.

Trampoline and power track

Power track photo by Carmirand Courtesy of Cirque

My favorite part of the show. They are climbing the wall and going in and out of windows area of a fake building. Bouncing up and perfectly going feet first through the window. Or bouncing up and balancing for a second on the edge of the building before falling back to bounce again. At the same time there are acrobats doing mats and trampoline like running, flipping, tumbling, across the whole floor in the shape of a PLUS sign. There is so much going on it is hard to watch and discern each piece. For me this could be longer. For the acrobats, I am sure it is too long. Very tiring moving constantly working on timing into a window or another shoulders. Timing with teammates for finishing each portion and landing the act.

There are more acts to La Nouba as can be glimpsed at Video Previews of the show can be seen at the official site. Fascination. Lovely costumes. Quick movement. Intriguing. Fast pace. Mesmerizing. Lively. Variety. Unbelievable. Incredulous. How do you describe something that moves so fast and covers so much ground? Go see it and find out for yourself.

At this time I have seen several Cirque shows: La Nouba, Zumanity, Viva Elvis, and The Beatles Love. I was able to get half price tickets to Beatles Love by going to the box office on a slow night just hours before the show. Getting tickets for one person is much easier to get great seating.

These are my other reviews of shows so far (I will update as I add more)

• Viva Elvis http://www.freelancetourist.com/viva-elvis-cirque-du-soleil-review-must-see/

Pictures

Pictures and taping are not allowed but their site does have wallpaper for computer free or virtual cards. Photos are Courtesy of Cirque Du Soleil

Resources

• The official Site http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/lanouba/default.aspx
• Wikipedia gives a good overview of the show beyond what is on the official site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Nouba

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