Recently my family and I had the opportunity to go to Raleigh, NC to see the Cirque du Soliel production of “Alegria”. We had the opportunity to see them at the RBC Center, in advance of the show’s run in our hometown of Charlotte, NC. And while this production is not a tent show production and does not have that big top feel, frankly “Alegria” doesn’t need it. In Spanish, alegria means “jubilation.”
Alegria Audience at Cirque du Soleil Raleigh, NC
Why? Because the act is a dizzying, dazzling and daring tour de force all on its own. It was a good thing we sat further from the stage and we also sat a bit above it: it was a better vantage point to take in the whole experience. From the clowns and their humorous little skits that punctuated the show to the feats of daring do performed by the gymnasts and other assorted artists.
Fleur is your guide through “Alegria.” With his red jacket and black hat he’s instantly recognizable as someone who would be akin to a circus ringmaster. But since he appears to be somewhere between Tim Burton’s “Penguin” in “Batman Returns” and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Fleur is definitely a surreal, fantastic character. And with the combination of music, story and acts in the production, you definitely get the sense you are being transported to another world. A world where things can happen that would not happen in our world.
But that’s what you get with a Cirque du Soleil show: a peak into a whole other world, that’s part magical and mysterious, part humorous and part dramatic. It’s an exploration of the human condition, really. But their exploration involves costumes and acts literally operating without a net or playing with fire. I mean, literally playing with fire.
Which makes it all that much more memorable. And that much more worth seeing. This is truly a great experience for the whole family. Don’t miss out on this one.
Disclaimer: I was a guest of Cirque du Soleil’s for opening night of Alegria in Raleigh. They provided tickets to the show and one nights lodging. No other form of compensation was received. This is no way affected my review, nor clouded my judgment. As always, I strive to maintain authenticity, journalistic integrity and transparency when doing any reviews for readers of A Daily Pinch. Cirque du Soleil and Lyerly Agency abide by Blog with Integrity, as do I.
Lisa is a lifestyle blogger, writer and social media strategist living in Charlotte, NC. 
