 New
Shanghai Circus- Presents the Incredible Acrobats of China
Who is Jami Asselin?
Contact me with
questions or invite me to review your show at
bjasselin@yahoo.com.
4-11-06
Jami Asselin: Hello everyone and welcome to my first 2006
Branson show review!
 I
took my children Briana and Bryce with me (of course there was no
way they would let me go without them), however I was especially
happy they came with me. Why? Because even though we love music
and comedy and theme parks etc., tonight we experienced some
culture- Chinese culture. While being
thoroughly entertained by the show, we at the same time got a chance
to experience traditions that have been a part of China for over
2500 years. During all that time Chinese acrobats have taken on
more challenging techniques and thrilling stunts and what we saw
last night was no exception!
This tight group
or troupe (as they are accurately referred
to) of acrobats has amazing skills of strength, impossible balance
and grace. It’s no wonder they have won International
Competitions!
We sat on the
edge of our seats last night and watched one incredible feat
followed by another.
The
Plate Spinners were amazing and they came out each one
balancing 12 continuously spinning plates on top of 12 at least
3-foot long sticks! Never once did one stop spinning or fall to the
ground. Of course all the while the girls were twirling and
twisting about the stage.
The
Contortionists were unbelievable! They would
bend and roll around like their bodies were made of rubber.
Sometimes it was hard to tell where the body would begin and where
it would end. It hurt just to watch them! They are so agile.
Then here they
come again this time dressed to the nines in red sequins and
bicycles! Bicycles are China’s #1 means of
transportation however that’s another story. I could not believe how
sharply honed these acrobats skills were. Several would be on one
bicycle and several on another. They would keep adding more and
more bodies to each bike. Then one of the girls rolled over
backwards and landed on the group behind her, then jumped back again
onto the shoulders of the one who was steering and peddling the
first group. Amazing!
Another favorite
part of the show was the Foot Juggling. You
name it and they can juggle it on their feet- frontwards, backwards,
sideways….
They came out
next with Chinese yo-yo’s (Diabolo). This
isn’t your ordinary yo-yo. There are no strings attached to the
yo-yo but they always land it on a suspended string –no matter how
it is thrown around as the acrobats spin and flip. I am just going
to let you wrap your brain around that one as my friend Danna would
say and move on to the next.
Other special
features of the show are the Fish Net, Magic Clock,
and the Roller Skate segment where one girl
was spun around by her teeth and twirling at the same time. Did I
mention that the surface of the area they were skating on was no
bigger than a small kitchen table?
 Then
out comes this tall thin pedestal on a base and one of the acrobats
balances herself on top of it only using one arm while the pedestal
is moving. The way she shifts her body around defies gravity! It
is one thing to be moving and it is a totally different thing to
hold your body in a seemingly impossible position. She looked like
a living sculpture suspended in mid air. It was breathtaking!
And last but not
least no Shanghai Circus would be complete with out the daring feats
of height, balance, and dexterity of the Chair Stacking
Tower. So here come the chairs and the vases that the
chairs are going to be balanced on top of. One chair and one acrobat
after another continue to ascend higher and higher and just when you
think that they can’t get higher (I mean come on I was taking a
picture and the girl on top was almost touching the stage lights on
the ceiling) they start throwing things up there to her! In this
case it was a footstool and at least 6 wooden blocks that the
acrobat on top is suppose to place beneath her! Now we are really
on the edge of the edge of our seats.
The music stops
and you could hear a pin drop. We are all holding our breath as we
watch her rise from a kneeling position to a handstand. All of a
sudden she knocks the wooden blocks out from underneath herself and
falls straight down to the footstool and steadies herself. Everyone
in the audience lets that breath out they have been holding and we
literally blow her right off the top of the tower. Just kidding!
Actually you should have heard the reaction of the audience. It was
a thrilling climax!!
So friends you
don’t have to go to China to see what is considered a
National Treasure. It is waiting right here in
Branson for you to experience when you get here.
Needless to say,
this show is a “must see”. There was NEVER a dull moment. Just
when you think you have stretched your mind beyond the limits of
human ability, they come out and prove you wrong.
My
kids LOVED
this show. So if you have children and let them take an active part
in picking out the shows they want to see in Branson, then be sure
to have them read Briana’s and Bryce’s review of this show.
Be sure to keep
www.bransoncritic.org just a click away so you can catch my next
show review, and don't be shy, I’d love to hear from you whether you
have a show review request, an opinion of my pasts reviews, or just
want to say ‘hey’. It is all welcome. Contact me at
bjasselin@yahoo.com
Jami Rader
Asselin, Branson Critic Senior Music Editor
The
New Shanghai Theatre has a unique style of modern
Chinese architecture and it seats 1000 people. This gorgeous
theatre features modern laser lighting backgrounds along with a wide
range of Chinese music styles. It is located at 645 State Highway
165 just off of Hwy. 76. Call 417-336-8888 or toll free 877-212-4462
for show information.
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