What: Cirque Africa 1 & 2
Where: Cirque Africa, Hindmarsh Square
Duration: 60 minutes each
Genre: Circus & Physical Theatre
(Reviewed by John Glennie)
I saw both shows in succession and expected some duplication, but I was pleased to be proven wrong. Both shows are exceptional. and these performers make incredibly difficult feats look so simple. They are all amazingly fit and strong athletes and thoroughly enjoy everything they do. The audience is totally engaged and enthralled and you finish up with sore hands from clapping so much.
Both shows are rhythmic, colourful, energetic and awe-inspiring. Each year Cirque Africa bring a few new and different performances so if you came last year, then come again because you will see some new jaw-dropping feats as well as some of the regular ones – which still never cease to amaze.
We were treated to pole acts, juggling, balancing on unsupported ladders and mono-cycles of various sizes. The action never stops with these performers having an absolute ball and drawing the crowd in with the smiles, skills and energy. There were numerous displays of balance and strength with acrobatics on top of a tower of about a dozen chairs, stacking and balancing on boards which were piled on balls and rollers placed in opposite directions (hard to explain but I hope you get the picture!) and human pyramids.
The only duplication in the two shows is the contortionist, but even those performances were slightly different – and I am sure she is made of rubber. She is a beautiful young lady and I am still astounded that she smiles the whole way through (I would be in agony).
The only performance that, for me, detracted (and the only reason I didn’t give a perfect 10 score) was an interlude in the second show where the MC Papa Africa pulls four people from the audience and gets them to do silly things before doing a “performance”. Great audience participation and a lot of fun but it dragged a bit. Despite this, it is a mind-blowing show and easy to see why it has been one of the most popular shows at The Fringe for the past couple of years and with sell-out crowds.
Don’t miss it !!!!!!! I bought the DVD and watched it that same night and was still clapping. The DVD does not include all the same acts but most of the main ones are shown.
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