Currently touring the UK is the latest combo theatre spectacular, "Cirque - The Greatest Show', which combines circus performance with songs and dances from contemporary music films. ['The Greatest Showman', 'Lalaland', 'Moulin Rouge' etc].
At Blackpool Opera House for one performance only, the large theatre was close to capacity this afternoon with youngsters and families lapping up the extravaganza.
The show started with a comedy mime artiste whose black and white life needed some colour, and so, after exchanging his old TV set for a modern one, colour, in the form of song, dance and circus, entered his life. A large screen at the rear of the stage was projecting pertinent images throughout, however, from my seat in the side stalls, this was not in focus and so we were unable to see these sadly. Otherwise the lighting and SFX were well executed and complimented the performances throughout, but the sound levels were mostly set far too high.
Musical theatre performers sang and danced their way through several well known hits, either as stand-alone set numbers or to accompany one of the circus performers. The standard of the dancing overall was very good, with the three young male dancers excelling. The singing was a mixed bag, but nothing truly impressed sadly.
The circus skills on display ranged from aerial work, clowning, juggling, quick-change artistes, fire juggling, crossbow, and cyr wheel. All artistes were more than proficient in each of their disciplines, but for me the stand-out performance here was French juggler, Thomas Barrandon.
And yes, I have left the best until last. An act which I had hitherto never seen, and one that greatly impressed. Duo Eclipse are a pair of acrobatic skaters, and this afternoon whilst on a small raised circular dais, they performed some death-defying acts of incredible skill and balance whilst skating and whirling!
Sadly, the company do not have a programme and so am unable to credit any others, and have no record of my visit either... shame.
Reviewer - Chris Benchley
on - 7.4.23
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