Le Noir: The Dark Side of Cirque

Sexy and slick, the fabulous event that is Le Noir is circus for grownups.

Displaying superb skills, Le Noir’s extraordinarily talented lineup includes several performers who are veterans of Cirque Du Soleil. This is not another Circus Soleil though, but more a mix of circus and sultry burlesque. There is no attempt to disguise performers as other-worldly creatures as occurs in Circus Soleil. Instead, their human attributes are flaunted in their top notch skills and sensual costuming.

Le Noir is presently in Adelaide during the Australian leg of its world tour. The city’s Festival Theatre makes a perfect venue for this sophisticated circus, a production for which a more elegant and intimate atmosphere is required than is possible under Big Top canvas.

With seating extending from the auditorium onto the stage, including with cabaret-style tables, the show is presented more or less in-the-round. Audience members on stage can eat, drink and be merry in the knowledge they may well be chosen for occasional audience participation by comical Master of Ceremonies Salvador Salangsang.

The circus is divided into three segments: Blanc (White), Rouge (Red) and Noir (Black), with the acts increasing in risk and daring as the program unfolds. The seductive, sultry atmosphere is enhanced not only by the sensual routines of the performers but also by a number of sexily-clad support dancers/showgirls.

For the audience, the raw edge of this show is not just in its adult flavour but also its ever-present sense of danger. This is particularly so in the blindfolded acts. There is little in the way of risk mitigation to be seen; no safety nets, for example. But there is an obvious high level of training and rehearsal combined with world class skill and knowing this at least allows us to take the occasional breath or move off the edge of our seats.

Ballerina-like Elena Gatilova’s mesmerising act, Lira (Aerial Hoop) begins the classy Blanc segment, with a further two unique acts, Hand Balance and Duo Silk following.

High heels, glitter, satin, fishnets and escalating sensuality abound as Rouge kicks into action. Skaters’ Jeronimo Ernesto and Jessica Ritchie perform amazing skate feats on a tiny stage and soon the phrase ‘break neck pace’ takes on a whole new meaning for the audience. A breathtaking trapeze act is followed by the jaw-dropping strength displayed by Strong Men’s Valeri Tsvetkov and Yani Stoyanov, with this act a highlight of the show.

Passionate and sultry, with some performers in black leather, the acts in Noir present not only the show’s climax in terms of segment sequence, but also the most diverse and breathtaking stunts. Memorable amongst these are Dennis Ignatov’s hypnotic Shape Spinning, Gediminas Pavlovicius’ stunning balancing act, Rolla Bolla and Emilie Fournier and Alexandre Lane with the amazing Aerial Cradle. The magnificent Wheel of Death is heart-stopping, with Carlos Macias and Angelo Rodriguez seemingly throwing caution to the winds.

Master of Ceremonies and the circus’ obligatory clown, Salvador Salangsang moves amongst the audience, teases and cajoles and keeps the action going. Not everyone likes clowns, but Salangsang is good at what he does and is a particular delight when he performs hilarious stunts inside a giant red balloon.

Lighting, sound design and costumes are very fine and add much to the extraordinary sensory experience of Le Noir.

Le Noir is what circus is all about: skill, dedication to the craft, spectacle, showmanship, breathtaking risk, fantastic fun…and to top it all off, it’s sexy as Hell.

Lesley Reed

Suitable for age 12 years+