Theatre Review | Cirque Alice

Cirque Alice                      

Lyric Theatre

Producers: Simon Painter and Tim Lawson

Reviewed by Ron Lee, CSP

I haven’t looked it up, but suspect that Lewis Carroll wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland when he was high, so it must follow, as the night the day, that the medium of theatre would be used to create magic that engages all of the senses.

Cirque Alice, which opened at Sydney's Lyric Theatre, presents sublime circus talent and seamlessly blends them with opera, acrobatics, classical music, gymnastics, ballet, contortion and juggling within the theme of Alice in Wonderland. 

The circus skills on display are easily the equal of those performers in a certain Canadian circus franchise. Some of the performers in this production have worked in those shows, and producers Simon Painter and Tim Lawson, to their credit, also engage newer performers who possess extraordinary talent. They set the bar high. Performers have been brought in from all over the word as well as plenty of home-grown talent.

As Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, The TT Boys’ flipping and spinning is breathtaking as are so many of the other spots. They’re not your normal image of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. These guys are super fit.

The Ramadhani Brothers are the personifications of strength and balance with their head-to-head routines. There’s a lot of seat-edge sitting when they’re performing.

Mongolian contortionists Munkhchimeg Munkh-Erdene, Delgerbayar Tseveensuren, Baigalmaa Chuluun and Dolgorsuren Ganbold combine to reimagine the Caterpillar. How can human beings form those shapes?  I was sure that they had reached the highest levels of Peking Opera.

Daniel Schwarz is on aerial pole as the Snap-dragon fly. His upper body strength is phenomenal. Not a wobble to be seen. Peruvian Estuart Mena Gonzales executes the best rola bola I have seen and he prompted the most audience gasps.

Layla Schillert brings her sweet soprano tones to the curious ingénue, Alice. Paul Dabek as The Mad Hatter brings the show's elements together with his mastery as an MC, stand-up comedian and magician.

The immersive soundtrack is by Norwegian composers Marius Christiansen and Martin Olsen with live accompaniment by virtuoso violinist Darius Thompson.

According to creative producer Simon Painter, “When we were creating this show we were looking for two things: who is the very best in the world, and what acts best personify

the characters from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland?.” Mission well and truly accomplished.

When you see Cirque Alice you'll be astounded, astonished, impressed and amazed.