As Halloween wings its way across the nation a magical show ignites the imagination of the audience in Wolverhampton.
Cirque du Magique is currently playing at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
There are magic shows, and then there are shows like Cirque du Magique that defy description because the material being showcased is so inexplicable and puzzling that the best way to experience the magic is to see it rather than read about it.
This circus exudes a Las Vegas vibe, and right from the opening it puts a spell on the audience that lasts until the death defying climax of the show.
The material rises beyond the format of a stale magic show and includes a whole range of theatrical offerings such as drama, comedy, music, thrilling dancing, and a narrative which frames each performance. The personal history and recollections of the performers adds a really poignant emotional resonance.
This is not some tired and lethargic circus show the likes of which were broadcast back in the day on a wet Sunday afternoon to while away a couple of hours and pacify the children until teatime. This night at the theatre adds a dynamic frisson that no television broadcast can ever truly capture.
The element of danger, that something might go wrong, or maybe poor timing on the part of the performer might result in a life-threatening calamity, adds a layer of genuine drama that cannot be replicated in a show transmitted via a screen.
There is a real feel of a dramatic electrical charge in the atmosphere as the lights dim and the performers take to the stage to showcase acts that enchant and dazzle the audience.
The experience, quality and calibre of the range of performers in this show are absolutely superlative.
This pulsating show has an escapologist, hula hoop dancer, magician, roller skaters, balancing act, mind reader, and circus performers, all using their incredible talents to take the audience onto a journey of delight and sensational theatre.
Richard Cadell (Master Illusionist) shares a moving story about a person who had a really profound impact upon him, and as he tells the story he sets the scene for an act that has to be seen to be believed. This is the kind of act that legendary performers such as Houdini or David Copperfield would have endorsed with pleasure.
The array of apparatus and props used during the epic show includes multiple chainsaws, a motorcycle, swords, fire, hoops, a cage, and even a straitjacket.
The material will have people scratching their heads in amazement and wondering how each trick and illusion is being enacted. People sawn in half, hoops enveloping a body suspended in mid-air without ropes, performers disappearing without trace and then reappearing within seconds, and a woman being swung round and round while she is linked to a chain wrapped around her partner’s neck.
The dexterity and athleticism on display are beyond Olympic level.
The hula hoop act by Alexandra Malter starts off with a hoop on her shoulders, hips, legs and forearms, and very soon something like twenty or so hoops are whirling and swirling away in hypnotic synchronization all over her supple body. Malter stamps her own lithe definition of agility into her astounding performance.
The juggling by Ezra Veldman (Diabolo) , who uses a prop that resembles bobbins and cups shaped like hourglasses that are spun using a string, requires serious skill and agility. The patterns he weaves with his juggling are poetic paintings etched onto the canvas of the air.
And while on the subject of agility, a special mention goes to the chair balancing by David Adams whose talent made the audience gasp as Adams rose higher and higher into the air as more chairs were added to his hair-raising balancing act. The risk element produced tension and suspense to the performance.
Taylor Morgan and Rebecca Foyle bring a sassy sexiness to their fiery magic which has breathtaking timing and impeccable choreography. People leaned in and smiled as Morgan and Foyle filled the stage with authentic illusions.
The production, direction and incredibly committed performances in this witchcraft of a show are of the very highest quality.
Cirque du Magique is a spellbinding show full of enchantment and wonder.
Verdict: ★★★★★
Cirque du Magique is now playing at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 2nd November
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