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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
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The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
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I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
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Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Bruce Dessau's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Franco Dragone.
Cast: Cirque Du Soleil
Description: An aerial dance-theatre show in which a young girl takes a journey in search of some mysterious characters. Directed by Franco Dragone.
Trains: Tube: High Street Kensington 
, Tube / Bus: 9, 10, 52, 360 
Phone: 0207589 8212
Website: www.royalalberthall.com
Extra info: Food, Pub
Cirque and stances: acrobats steal the show at Cirque Du Soleil’s Quidam
Send in the clown: Toto Castineiras
If it is January it must be Cirque Du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall. You can set your calendar by the annual visit of this Canadian circus phenomenon. And you can probably set your clock to the nanosecond by the immaculate timing of the acrobats who dominated last night’s often dizzying, occasionally duff, spectacular.
The aerial climax of the show, with multiple bodies flying gracefully through the air, will take your breath away, if you have any left by then. This is circus-as-event that frequently packs a powerful punch, from a succession of mind-bendingly physical balancing acts to contortionist Isabelle Vaudelle, who hangs perilously from the rafters on a cord of red silk as if by a combination of magic and sheer will.
For once even the clowning managed to keep the irritation factor to a minimum. Bald-headed Toto Castineiras is an unashamed cornball traditionalist, selecting audience members and casting them in his manic silent movie homage. In fact the plucky, plucked punters nearly upstaged everyone, being so adept at physical comedy themselves a cynic might have unfairly questioned their authenticity.
Then again, a cynic would also be frustrated by the tedious plot. Quidam, last seen here in 2001, means “anonymous passer-by” and the spurious theme is the celebration of the dream-like world that constantly surrounds us. Apparently. Toss in a few Athena poster Magritte references, some figures in post-apocalyptic protective boiler suits and, hey presto, you’ve got yourselves instant heavy meaning. I have to confess, this critic is that cynic. I also have to confess that I saw a far superior recent Cirque show in Montreal in 2007.
The more stripped-down Kooza takes circus right back to basics, focusing on crowd-pleasing rather than Lycra-clad, hi-tech drippy platitudes, and it is stunning, boasting a high wire act that is truly heart-stopping.
Unfortunately there are no plans for Kooza to visit at the moment. Quidam is too long — the aerial hoops could go and much of the narrative linking is dead wood — but if you have never seen this troupe before it is a useful primer. And maybe the recession has actually done some good.
Cirque has previously been criticised for being too business-minded. It might have been a coincidence, but there was a pleasing lack of sponsorship logos this time round.
Until 15 February (020 7589 8212), www.royalalberthall.com
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
We thought that the show was fantastic, plenty of "Wow" factors funny in places and amazing agility and abillity of the performers. Worth every penny.
- Sara, Sherborne,
Overall I love the Cirque du Soleil and have seen about 4 different shows, some more than once but this one was far too slow. The acrobatic finale and the clown were ahead of the other acts which have more or less appeared in other Cirque shows and been done better. The entire show lacked a truly original act. Even boring in places. I did like the originality of the overhead crane and pulley system.
- Mark Clark, Rainham Kent UK
