“Cirque Eloize” at the Irvine Barclay Theater – July 1st, 2003

Cirque Eloize from Quebec, Canada, involves diverse acts of circus, acrobatics, theater, music, dance, and music. Also a huge Grand Finale filled with water and simulated rain with bits of similarity of the popular Cirque du Soleil show "O" in Las Vegas. That is a big compliment. This smaller version show but getting bigger and bigger is extemely creative, fun, and has some great variety. They involve trapeze, contortion, juggling, comedy, strong men and women, teeter board, high wire, tissu, aerial and acrobatic acts among others.

Directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, this up and coming show is now 10 years old and performed in over 200 cities and 20 countries all over. This Circus has no animals and is pure excitement. The fabulous energy, and skills of the performers is genuinely outstanding. The things that make this circus incredible are the creativity and variety. The choreography is spectacular involving papers falling from the sky like rain in the opening tumbling act and then again at the end of the skit involving the teeterboard. The entertainers stop to pick up and read the papers as if they should be on the lookout of what will happen next. During the following act, the papers turn to water from the sky along with the stage being drenched with more water. This continues in the next scene as the variety of acts turns to fun and games. From playing a little soccer among them to tug of war contests and dancing/jumping around, the show definitely takes a fun, creative twist. It becomes a bit improved with all the splashing, water and rain while still keeping the audiences attention of what will happen next. There are plenty of great performers/clowns before and during some of this silliness to make this show fun and worth seeing. Keep an eye out and bring the whole family and kids to see it.

For more information and future shows at the Beautiful Irvine Barclay Theater, go to their website at www.thebarclay.org or call (949)854-4646.