You can lose yourself in the seductive world of Le Noir, a visually stunning show which explores the “dark side of cirque” through a series of increasingly astonishing acrobatic acts.
Hosted by emcee and resident clown Salvador Salangsang, this touring show plays out in three stages, each represented by a different colour and emotion.
The audience’s journey begins in a world of pure white, where a soundtrack of soft, gentle tones (provided by in-house DJ Hikuri Roots) provides the perfect backdrop for a series of beautifully crafted routines.
Two lovers dangle precariously from strips of silk, twisting and turning amid the material to create a stunning display of aerial prowess. A woman demonstrates impressive upper body strength as she delicately balances on poles, while another twists her body into impossible poses while dangling from an aerial hoop above the stage.
Stage two is the fiery and passionate red: a series of high-energy routines performed to a fast-paced soundtrack. It includes impressive feats by bare-chested strongmen, a gravity-defying display by two roller-skating acrobats, and a trapeze act which had many holding their breath.
Risqué male and female costumes bring an element of sensuality and desire to the routines, which is accentuated as the show progresses (it’s not what many would consider family-friendly).
The final stage is the all-consuming black and, for this reviewer, the most memorable act was the Colombian “Wheel of Death” – a circus favourite which gets the adrenaline coursing. A pair of Le Noir cast members perform daring stunts inside and on top of the two spinning wheels suspended high above the Festival Theatre stage, with no safety harnesses and, at one stage, wearing blindfolds.
Equally frightening is the aerial cradle, in which a woman reaches dizzying heights as she is thrown from a tower into her partner’s waiting arms.
Featuring a cast of 20 talented acrobats and comedians (including former members of Cirque Du Soleil), the sultry world of Le Noir unfolds on a specially crafted stage in the Festival Theatre which provides a 360-degree view of the performers. Some audience members (those willing to pay premium prices) are literally metres from the action.
Salvador is hilarious as the entertaining clown, and on opening night those sitting on the stage soon found themselves the targets of several audience-participation segments.
With heart-stopping routines, stunning costumes and a talented cast, Le Noir is an exhilarating experience.
Le Noir is at the Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, until May 2. The show’s promoters recommend it as suitable for those aged 12 and over.
