When I think of Cirque du Soleil, I think of Vegas. Big budgets, flashing lights and show stopping visuals – ‘Luzia’ certainly was that. Although it wasn’t Las Vegas, The Royal Albert Hall is a great venue to have the elaborate show performed in.
The Daniele Finzi Pasca directed ‘Luzia: A Waking Dream of Mexico’ is full of tropical aesthetics, brightly coloured costumes and traditional Mexican music. It tastefully showcased Mexico without going overboard and pushing stereotypical themes.
Set in the round inside of the grand Royal Albert Hall, the stage is large and surrounded by flowers. Set designer Eugenio Caballero does a great job of creating a simple yet beautiful stage. Through lighting and props the stage transforms from a vibrant rainforest to a tranquil waterfall. Every performance shows a new side of Mexico that has yet to be discovered.
Although there wasn’t a solid storyline or any dialogue, through movement, we are just able to work out that a man has accidentally stumbled upon and discovered a mystical place, where he is greeted by beautiful hummingbirds and a massive butterfly. He goes on a journey where he meets many fascinating people and animals. His journey ends with a fiesta when he returns back to his original starting place.
Throughout the show we see outstanding jugglers, puppeteers, contortionists, aerialists, pole artists, acrobats and footballers. Every performer was fantastic and left me in awe of their skills. Just like a traditional circus show, I found myself at the edge of my seat – gasping and cheering as the artists risked it all for their performance. Although I found some of the acts slightly dated; such as tight rope and juggling, I enjoyed watching new acts like aerialists creating shapes inside of waterfalls.
What I loved about this show was the use of water. Although I imagine it would be a nightmare to clean after every scene, it was unique and created a very tranquil atmosphere. Water was a common theme throughout the show and it amazed me how they were able to create so many amazing special effects with it.
I also enjoyed the use of gravity. There were artists falling from the sky and swinging in the air. With the use of swings, ropes and trampolines, the artists literally flew across the stage and left everyone roaring for more.
The puppeteer skills were also impressive. From a horse to a leopard, the movement of each animal was spot on, and at times I almost forgot that they were not real. The puppets added dimension to the show and made you feel as though you had been transported to a tropical location.
Although I wished there was a clearer storyline, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Luzia. The show is perfect for families especially as it is often very interactive for audience members. It is a visual delight and has some of the best artists performing on such an exciting stage.
If you want to see spectacular circus acts in a fantastic venue – this is the show to watch!
