Alegria Mesmerizes Local Fans
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
It was an exciting night for the thousands flocking to the Big Top Theater in Jamsil Sports Complex in southern Seoul Wednesday.
``Alegria,'' the second show presented by Canada's circus troupe Cirque du Soleil, thrilled more than 2,000 audience members in the opening performance, one year after the troupe brought ``Quidam'' to Korea.
Alegria, which means ``joy'' in Spanish, is about a tussle between the old and the new, but this was not that apparent during the performance as the eye-popping performances overwhelmed the show.
The first act began with synchronized trapeze in which an artist swung from the ceiling. Perched on the trapeze, the graceful aerialist performed an awe-inspiring display of harmony and beauty. In the breathtaking act, the daring artist defied the laws of gravity with incredible mid-air twists and maneuvers.
Then, the Bronx, or tough, young characters, symbolizing the new generation in the show, demonstrated their acrobatic prowess individually and as a group.
Dressed in glittering costumes spun of gold, they were an ethereal group of performers, soaring in the air and executing lively gymnastic and tumbling displays in unison and in counterpoint, reaching astounding heights and speeds on an elongated trampoline that magically appeared from within the stage.
But among the performances in the first act, the ``Fire Knife Dance'' was the most catchy.
The dance, which was tribal, magical and extremely breathtaking, was performed to the pulsing rhythm of Congo drums by artists weaving their baton-like fire knives around their entire body from their feet to their palms and mouths.
The series of acts were tightly controlled by clowns who were witnesses to the passing of the centuries, and at the same time social commentators. They told little stories of everyday life in an endearing, comical and child-like manner, which drew laughter from the audience.
In the second act, a flying man made the audience hold its breath again as he combined the elasticity of a bungee chord with the power of gymnastic rings, soaring through the air while performing acrobatic feats. His sculpted physique was imposing, yet he was tender and graceful.
Russian Bars are the cream of the crop in the second act. Dressed all in white, with breastplates of woven gold and their noses painted red, ``angels'' support one another as they take turns tumbling through the air propelled by the bars.
Amazing acrobatic flyers were thrust into the air from a single, double or triple bar perched on the sturdy shoulders of powerful catchers. The sure-footed flyers performed multiple synchronized somersaults and mid-air twists at an unbelievable pace.
The troupe proves its reputation once again through "Alegria" with skilled artists and a memorable live music performance with beautiful and catchy music numbers. But its scale and the types of acts lag a bit behind ``Quidam,'' which was more diverse.
"Alegria" was created to mark the 10th anniversary of the troupe and to explore the jubilation and joy of life.
For the Seoul show, white lobby-like entrance tents were set up at the sports complex, which has been upgraded to include more convenient seating arrangements.
"Alegria" is the ninth work by Cirque du Soleil, which has toured 65 countries and has been seen by 10 million people since its premiere in 1994.
About 55 performers from 17 different countries are on stage for the show, while 70 trailers carry 500 tons of equipment.
The troupe offers an enthralling combination of acrobatic artistry and technical expertise and extravaganza, along with fabulous music.
Making the best use of human bodies, the troupe does not use animals. Instead, it reinvents the stereotyped circus with a mixture of elements such as street performances, busking, opera, ballet and rock music performed by contortionists, jugglers, clowns and trapeze artists.
The show will be on an open run at Jamsil Sports Complex, southern Seoul.
Tickets cost from 50,000 to 110,000 won. A VIP ticket for Tapis Rouge is 200,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541-3150 or visit www.cirquedusoleil.co.kr.
