CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ALEGRIA

July 4, 2011
by
2 mins read
Folio Weekly

by DICK KEREKES
North Florida residents have a rare opportunity to see a Cirque Du Soleil show right here in Jacksonville. The closest show of this type in Florida is the permanent one located at Disney in Orlando and can be seen at much greater expense and prices than right here in downtown Jacksonville. This reporter has seen several such shows in Las Vegas and this one is equal in quality to those.
Alegria means joy or jubilation in Spanish, and is supposed to be a story about power struggle between generations that is told by the various acts. But to the overwhelming majority of the appreciative audience opening night (and to this writer), it was a spectacular of song, dance, costumes and acrobatics. Performed on a double stage, one raked and a diamond shaped main stage; it is a visual delight that defines description in words.
A character known as Fleur acts as sort of a Master of Ceremonies and he is certainly an odd looking fellow with a hunched back, a beer belly and wearing a black bowler, a jeweled vest and a red velvet jacket.
The show is narrated by songs sung by a character known as White Singer; she sings marvelously in several languages. You will have the feeling of being in a French cabaret at times; there is so much accordion music.
The real stars of the show are the various acts performed by this large cast of 55. It is difficult to give you a favorite, they were so good. Among the audience favorites judging by applause were: The fire-knife dancers, acrobats who performed twists and flips on an X shaped trampoline, trapezes artists, a flying man who bounced high above the arena using bungee cords, graceful contortion artists, high bar aerialists and Cyr wheel performer.
There are lots of clowns who perform visual humor between the various acts. The most hilarious was one riding a fake horse; you have to see it to appreciate it. If you are going to see the show and will be sitting in some of the upper level seats (which are excellent by the way), and if you own or can borrow some binoculars, do so. When there is just one clown in center stage it can be difficult to see their wonderful facial expressions.
There are no free programs of any kind provided so you can know the names of any of the acts or performers. You can purchase an elaborate and rather expensive one from vendors. My suggestion is to get on the internet and search Alegria Cirque du Soleil and you can print off information that will enhance your enjoyment of this unique show.
There were lots of ooh and ahhs from adults on the amazing precision performances of the talented artists and lots of giggles and laughs from the many younger children who seemed to be mesmerized by the clowns.
Cirque du Soleil runs through Sunday July 3 with performances at l pm and 5 pm. It is a rare opportunity to see a show that debuted in l994 and has played to over 10 million people in more 65 cities and now we are one of those lucky cities.

Folio is your guide to entertainment and culture around and near Jacksonville, Florida. We cover events, concerts, restaurants, theatre, sports, art, happenings, and all things about living and visiting Jax. Folio serves more than two million readers across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, including St. Augustine, The Beaches, and Fernandina.

Folio Weekly
Previous Story

SPORTS w/The Jock 6/30

Folio Weekly
Next Story

Transformers: Dark of the Moon Movie Review

Latest from On Stage

DESPERATE MEASURES’ ANTICS are at Theatre Jacksonville

Calling a play a “problem play” truly does a script a disservice.  It makes one think that doing or seeing it might be a waste of time.  In actuality, all that it means is that the play does not neatly fit into a category such as comedy or tragedy.  Instead,

Jax On Pointe: In the Age of the Algorithm, Ballet Still Slays

Words by McKenna Oakley, Photos by Katarina Weissbach  In a culture that increasingly caters to quick dopamine boosts brought on the backs of Facebook clickbait, Amazon shopping hauls and staged Tik Toks, it was refreshing to enjoy the elegance and restraint of a timeless art form: ballet. Season after

June Comedy Listing

June 4 Marvin Hunter Comedy Zone comedyzone.com June 5 Comedy Showcase  Just One More instagram.com/JustOneMoreJaxFl June 5-7 Ryan Davis Comedy Zone comedyzone.com June 6 First Coast Comedy The Main Event, 7 p.m.  The Blue Show  (21+ only), 9:30 p.m.  First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com Joey Nickel Really

June Theater, Dance and Film

Through June 1 “Hamlet” The Island Theater, Fleming Island theislandtheater.com Through June 15 “Rhinocerous” Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine limelight-theatre.org Through June 22  “My Fair Lady”  Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com June 2 “Celebrating Celine Dion” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com June 6-15  “Anastasia”  The Island Theater,

MY FAIR LADY is absolutely Loverly at the Alhambra

Aaaooo, why can’t the English learn to speak?!  With a lively opening full of Cockney dialect, this fun transaction sets the stage for a bet between Henry Higgins (Gary Lee Webber) and Colonel Pickering (Andy Moritz) that Higgins can’t take a guttersnipe like Eliza Doolittle (Sofia Smith) and turn her
July 5th Cleanup
GoUp

Don't Miss

The Avett Brothers

November 15 The Avett Brothers St. Augustine Amphitheatre (904) 471-1965

Paula Poundstone

Paula Poundstone “Twitter is the postcards in my head.” It’s