| rev:text
| - I didn't think I was a Cirque person. Ten years ago I saw La Nouba and, while I appreciated the skills, sets, and costumes, the performance itself eventually left me so bored. Do amazing thing. Hold for applause. Keep holding. Do same amazing thing. Hold for applause. Keep holding. Do same amazing thing a few more times. Keep holding for applause although all aerial somersaults are starting to look alike. You get the idea.
As a self-respecting lifelong Beatles fan who married an even bigger fan, which I didn't think was possible without getting into obsessive territory, I wanted to see LOVE, but I had doubts. Wouldn't another boring Cirque be made even worse if it involved profaning the Fab Four as well?
We went for the cozy two-seat rows right down front. I don't think it's possible to get bad seat in this intimate theatre; people argue whether its better to be above or below "the tent" during a certain part of the show, but I don't think you can go wrong either way. We really liked being right in the midst of things (I was even hit by a flying "brick" during the Blitz scene. Cool!), and I especially liked having the row to ourselves. Ah, relaxed elbows! Sometimes it was hard to take everything in at once, but the close interaction with many of the characters was a good trade-off.
The show was BRILLIANT. Please imagine this word - BRILLIANT - written out in diamonds across the sky with Lucy trapezing around and between the letters. BRILLIANT.
I don't know how they weave it all together, but they do: the personal background and stories of the Beatles, the phases of their musical growth, historical context, and then also interpretations of the songs. All using the original (if modified) music - no cringy covers here.
I was spellbound.
Spellbound and snuffly, with a very wet face at the end.
Now I have a new problem: I can't go to any other Cirque shows because I don't see how any other can compare to LOVE. So I guess I'll just go see LOVE again. And maybe again. Again, again, again. It's all I need.
|