Originally published on 5D Blog:
Cirque: The Greatest Show at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen on Friday 29th March 2024
This show is obviously geared towards fans of the very successful Greatest Showman movie which a lot of us know and love. Some of us have watched it repeatedly and been to the outstanding live show with Hugh Jackman. It was interesting to think how a circus would transform onto a theatre stage and I must say I was impressed with the answer.
When we went into the theatre the stage backdrop looked like a monochrome room, with a small physical set at the front, of that room. Complete with a chair and a TV, it turns out that this is the home of a Mime, Christian Lee. When the show starts he comes in and turns on his black and white TV. There is a competition advertised on it to win a technicolor TV set. He enters the competition on his massive mobile phone and in come some people with a new TV. As he switches it on his little room set moves to the back of the stage as the technicolour wonders from the TV screen transfer onto the main stage in front of him.
It is a clever way of bringing the TV to life for the stage show. We then watch the brightly coloured performances with him, and set changes are covered by his room moving back to the front of the stage with him entertaining us whilst they set up the equipment behind him. This gives a story running through the show as well as not leaving any boring gaps for the audience.
The circus performers were amazing – we had juggling, trapeze artists, contortionist. Billy George on the Cyr wheel and LED wands had me transfixed whenever he was on the stage. Adam Boom twirled fire around effortlessly. Three ladies wowed the crowds with their aerialist work: Dione Hassell, Jennifer Van Gool and Sheonagh Leatherbarrow. Duo Eclipse spun round in breathtaking fashion on their roller skates. There were also fantastic dancers in amazing outfits.
All the songs were sung live, including songs from The Greatest Showman and other popular songs like Rocket Man from Elton John. I felt the singing was not as strong as the performers and costumes and sets but obviously it is nice to have live performers rather than just a recording.
Overall it was a most enjoyable experience and proved that you can have a circus show in a theatre setting!
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