Alegria: Cirque du Soleil

I saw Alegria live in Biloxi Mississippi and was blown away. The music is excellent. The total experience was astounding. I've seen it many more times on TV. If there is a the story in there it's lost on me. I enjoy the stunning sights and sounds and innovative makeup and lighting. There are three main solo acts. The girl twirling the metal rings was beautiful. The guy with the fire batons was exciting. The high point of the show is the contortionist Ulzibayar Chimed. Miss Chimed has taken the art of the contortionist out of the sideshow and raised it up to the level of an exquisite dance. After ten years she is one of the few performers from the original production who are still with the show.

I absolutely loved this show. "Alegria" is probably one of the very best Cirque du Soleil has. This is the kind of show that you can watch again and again and find something new every time. The music is great, and I loved the lead singer, Francesca Gagnon; she has a truly amazing voice. There are so many stories being told in this movie, but the main theme is the search for power in a kingdom with no king. The title, "Alegria" means Joy in Spanish and you can be sure to feel that once you watch this show. Also, if you're planning to buy the DVD, check out the Meet the Artists feature and Behind the Scenes. This is a great show for the whole family.

I watched this with my 6-year-old son when it was broadcast on Canadian television. I was thoroughly entertained and awed. The costumes and makeup were flawless and flamboyant and the skill of the performers was nothing short of astounding. My son kept repeating over and over, "Wow look at that! That is so cool! How do they do that?" I guess he adds a thumbs up also. I would highly recommend it to anyone regardless of age. It was one of the most elegant, beautifully produced shows I have ever seen.