The Bottom Line
This show is a must-see event. It has been 12 years since Cirque du Soleil has been in the Phoenix area, and we don't know when they will be back. An evening at Dralion is one that you will not soon forget. The ticket prices are high for this market, but this is not just another play or show. It is an experience worth the price of admission.
Pros
- A visual feast
- Amazing performances
- Wonderful costumes and music
Cons
- High ticket prices
- Seating can be a little tight, a little hard, and there are no armrests
Description
- Cirque du Soleil's goal is "to entertain, uplift and enlighten audiences the world over."
- Dralion is a celebration of life and the four elements: air, water, fire and earth.
- The name Dralion comes from two main symbols-the dragon, from the East, and the lion, from the West.
- Cirque du Soleil is set up as a village, with entry tents leading you to the main performance tent.
- Leave an extra 15 minutes to get there--there is ample parking, but only one street to get in.
- Dralion is a limited engagement; it will be in Tempe only through December 8, 2002.
Guide Review - Cirque du Soleil's Dralion
If you have never been to a performance of Cirque du Soleil, you might not really know what to expect. Dance? Music? Theater? Acrobats? Comedy? The answer is a resounding yes to all of those. It is a spectacular display of color and sound and amazing performances. This is a thoroughly professional company. The Cirque du Soleil company travels on tour with its own stage, seating and equipment so that the audience can be assured they will be treated to the optimal performance. The set, the costumes, the music and the performers are intricately interwoven into Dralion's theme of the earth's elements and the quest for harmony between humans and nature. The acrobats are truly amazing. In my opinion, they made some of the remarkable acts look so easy that the one or two missed feats brought the audience back to the reality of how difficult and dangerous their movements are.Should you bring the kids? Aside from the colors and lights and constant motion, the younger ones may not appreciate Dralion as much as you will. Yes, Cirque du Soleil is a circus of sorts, and yes, there are even clowns. But it is not your typical circus and the humor of the 'clowns' certainly has an adult subtlety to it.
Notwithstanding my comments above regarding ticket prices and the seating, Dralion is a wonderful feast for the senses. I loved every minute of the two and a half hour show. If you can get to see it, my suggestion is to do so. (2002)
