REVIEW
✭✭☆☆☆ 2/5
CIRQUE – THE GREATEST SHOW
Weds to Sat, February 8 to 11, 2023 7.30pm, 3pm matinee Sat 11 Feb
Additional performances added: Sunday 4 June 6pm plus 2pm matinee
Escape the ordinary and enter the world of the extraordinary!
CLIFFS PAVILION
Station Road, Westliff-on-Sea SS0 7RA
Box office: 0343 310 0030 southendtheatres.org.uk
ROLL UP, ROLL UP: BRAND-NEW CIRCUS MUSICAL CIRQUE – THE GREATEST SHOW IS COMING TO TOWN
✭✭☆☆☆ 2/5
CIRQUE – THE GREATEST SHOW
Weds to Sat, February 8 to 11, 2023 7.30pm, 3pm matinee Sat 11 Feb
Additional performances added: Sunday 4 June 6pm plus 2pm matinee
Escape the ordinary and enter the world of the extraordinary!
CLIFFS PAVILION
Station Road, Westliff-on-Sea SS0 7RA
Box office: 0343 310 0030 southendtheatres.org.uk
ROLL UP, ROLL UP: BRAND-NEW CIRCUS MUSICAL CIRQUE – THE GREATEST SHOW IS COMING TO TOWN
A packed house buzzed with excitement at the Cliffs Pavilion on Wednesday evening for the opening night of Cirque, and you could see why; the show offers an exciting mix of Cirque du Soleil and West End Musicals, featuring songs from one of the most popular films of recent times, “The Greatest Showman”.
The evening begins with a mime artist on stage in his lonely room. He picks up his huge mobile phone and enters a radio competition to win a ‘state of the art‘ television. Unsurprisingly, he wins! The tv is installed, turned on and the entertainment begins. On come an ensemble of West End Performers. “This is the Greatest Show!!!" they proclaim. Sadly, given the weak singing and dancing in this number, it proves to be anything but. Still, it’s only the start of the evening.
Next up is a contortionist, who is stunning to watch. Her body is remarkably supple, and the shapes she makes are simply astonishing. The 'lonely man' seems to be enjoying the show on his new TV, and claps enthusiastically.
More musical numbers follow, which don’t seem to have much of a link; ok, we get some Elton John songs, including I’m Still Standing and Rocketman - the latter sung well enough by one young singer who was by far the most enjoyable vocalist to listen to.
However, The Movie In My Mind, from Miss Saigon, which followed, was given a fairly hysterical performance by the only female singer in the show. She ended up at least a semitone sharp for most of the number, due to her emotions getting the better of her.
The frustrating thing about this show is that the circus side of things is actually very good. The performers are all very skilled and know their stuff. There are some beautiful gymnastic moments, as well as a trapeze display; and at the end of the first half, a cube of fire. Sadly, the singing, dancing and weak choreography simply do not come up to scratch. In addition, the sets and costumes look cheap and poorly made. Standards of productions are now so high. as a rule, that this kind of shoddy performance simply will not do. Audiences pay a lot of money for tickets, and they deserve far better. I wouldn’t show this on a cruise ship.
I cannot comment on the second half as sadly this reviewer had had enough and was relieved to escape at the interval, along with a fair few other people I expect.
Two stars for the circus skills. NO stars for the rest. Sorry.
Review by Andrew Walters
The evening begins with a mime artist on stage in his lonely room. He picks up his huge mobile phone and enters a radio competition to win a ‘state of the art‘ television. Unsurprisingly, he wins! The tv is installed, turned on and the entertainment begins. On come an ensemble of West End Performers. “This is the Greatest Show!!!" they proclaim. Sadly, given the weak singing and dancing in this number, it proves to be anything but. Still, it’s only the start of the evening.
Next up is a contortionist, who is stunning to watch. Her body is remarkably supple, and the shapes she makes are simply astonishing. The 'lonely man' seems to be enjoying the show on his new TV, and claps enthusiastically.
More musical numbers follow, which don’t seem to have much of a link; ok, we get some Elton John songs, including I’m Still Standing and Rocketman - the latter sung well enough by one young singer who was by far the most enjoyable vocalist to listen to.
However, The Movie In My Mind, from Miss Saigon, which followed, was given a fairly hysterical performance by the only female singer in the show. She ended up at least a semitone sharp for most of the number, due to her emotions getting the better of her.
The frustrating thing about this show is that the circus side of things is actually very good. The performers are all very skilled and know their stuff. There are some beautiful gymnastic moments, as well as a trapeze display; and at the end of the first half, a cube of fire. Sadly, the singing, dancing and weak choreography simply do not come up to scratch. In addition, the sets and costumes look cheap and poorly made. Standards of productions are now so high. as a rule, that this kind of shoddy performance simply will not do. Audiences pay a lot of money for tickets, and they deserve far better. I wouldn’t show this on a cruise ship.
I cannot comment on the second half as sadly this reviewer had had enough and was relieved to escape at the interval, along with a fair few other people I expect.
Two stars for the circus skills. NO stars for the rest. Sorry.
Review by Andrew Walters
It's time to step into the light and escape to a world where musical theatre meets “jaw-dropping” circus spectacular. . .
Cirque – The Greatest Show is coming to town, combining showstoppers from everyone’s favourite West End and Broadway hits with breath-taking aerialists, incredible contortionists, and thrilling trapeze artistes.
The award-winning production is the latest theatrical treat to come from market-leading concert show specialists Entertainers. Company director James Taylor says that Cirque – The Greatest Show is the brand-new phenomenon everyone is talking about for 2023.
“It’s a smash-hit circus musical is guaranteed fun for all the family,” he says. “It takes you on a truly wondrous journey as a monochrome life, bursts joyously into kaleidoscopic colour.”
Uplifting musical theatre hits are delightfully woven into the story of Cirque – The Greatest Show.
Stars of the West End combine with incredible circus performers on the biggest hits from the greatest musicals of all time.
“From The Greatest Showman to Moulin Rouge, Hairspray to Rocketman the Musical, there’s something for everyone,” says James, “all brought to the stage in unique, spellbinding style.”
James describes Cirque – The Greatest Show as “a cracking new spectacular suitable for all ages”.
“It’s aimed equally at families and fans of musical theatre. . . in fact anyone who wants a great night out,” he says.
“The evening’s theme is that by taking a chance to step into the light you can achieve your heart’s desire. In the world of Cirque you can be whoever you want to be – and live life to the fullest.”
Boasting an all-star cast and promising the very best of musical theatre, mesmerising aerialists and circus stars and a charming tale promising an astonishing twist – Cirque – The Greatest Show invites theatregoers to enter the world of the extraordinary.
Tickets are on sale now from the theatre box office
Cirque – The Greatest Show is coming to town, combining showstoppers from everyone’s favourite West End and Broadway hits with breath-taking aerialists, incredible contortionists, and thrilling trapeze artistes.
The award-winning production is the latest theatrical treat to come from market-leading concert show specialists Entertainers. Company director James Taylor says that Cirque – The Greatest Show is the brand-new phenomenon everyone is talking about for 2023.
“It’s a smash-hit circus musical is guaranteed fun for all the family,” he says. “It takes you on a truly wondrous journey as a monochrome life, bursts joyously into kaleidoscopic colour.”
Uplifting musical theatre hits are delightfully woven into the story of Cirque – The Greatest Show.
Stars of the West End combine with incredible circus performers on the biggest hits from the greatest musicals of all time.
“From The Greatest Showman to Moulin Rouge, Hairspray to Rocketman the Musical, there’s something for everyone,” says James, “all brought to the stage in unique, spellbinding style.”
James describes Cirque – The Greatest Show as “a cracking new spectacular suitable for all ages”.
“It’s aimed equally at families and fans of musical theatre. . . in fact anyone who wants a great night out,” he says.
“The evening’s theme is that by taking a chance to step into the light you can achieve your heart’s desire. In the world of Cirque you can be whoever you want to be – and live life to the fullest.”
Boasting an all-star cast and promising the very best of musical theatre, mesmerising aerialists and circus stars and a charming tale promising an astonishing twist – Cirque – The Greatest Show invites theatregoers to enter the world of the extraordinary.
Tickets are on sale now from the theatre box office
