Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione
The audacious ring
Over 150 years of show has seen generations of artists follow one another under the Bouglione big top perpetuating the circus tradition. Established at the heart of the 11th arrondissement of Paris, the Cirque d’Hiver’s universe has remained magical, dreamy and cheerful.
Comfortably sat in the deep-red velvet seats laid out on several floors around the circle ring, eager for the show to begin, we already foresee what is coming. We hear the roaring of the threatening wildcats, we imagine them circling around in their cage of steel in front of us, we make out the acrobatics and vaulting feats in sight of the ladders and ropes hung up from the ceiling. We know the program is up to the highest standards and everything in the decor reminds us of it. The sound of impatient children fidgeting on their seats and the bright wands handed to them and waved in the darkness light up the whole room.
Picture of the new show called Festif
And, a first bang of a drum rings out. The show begins. Under the spotlights, an orchestra of 12 musicians blow a triumphant air hard from the stage which towers above the spectators rows. The clowns take this opportunity to show up in the alleys. They are ready to accompany the children and parents all the way into the show. The Salto dancers troupe, in light outfits, give rhythm to the acts with their cheerful choreographed interludes. Sergio, the ringmaster and a key character of the magical mix, imposes himself as the emblem of the show as soon as he makes his entrance. By himself, he speaks of the great experience of the company whom he met for the first time in 1965. Enthusiastically, he launches the show with three little words : “place au cirque” !
From then on, the routines keep coming for more than 2.45 hours of show which takes you from laughter to shivers and going through all the nuances of wonderment. The story of the Cirque d’Hiver which, for a while, was specialised in equestrian art, can be understood in the choice of acts and most of all, in the choice of the flying trapeze. Indeed, it is on this same ring that the popular discipline was invented by a man called Leotard. That was exactly150 years ago. This anniversary is the perfect opportunity for the circus to revive the tradition which has not ceased to evolve since its invention to become more dangerous and more amazing. It is important to note that when it was invented, the flying trapeze really did not fly high as it was swinging up to six metres above the ground, an exploit at the time which didn’t last very long.
Tom Dieck's lion
But if the pirouettes on the trapeze are impressive and scary, what can we say about the Trio Aphelion and the Azzario sisters who execute breathtaking poses, forming small human pyramids supported only by their body weight. Elegantly, the Russian duo Elena & Elena begin their aerial ballet in which their two bodies blend in weightlessness held back by a foot or a hand on the cloth rope. Marina Bouglione updates the rope routine which was originally used to fill in between the acts. Her ascent of the rope is performed slowly and playfully with some glamour touches here and there in the costume, the poses and the warm brassy music background. Then it is time to twirl with Nathalie Enterline who mixes speed and bluff in a frenzied choreography.
The animals are present too with a myriad of sometimes engaging, sometimes frightening creatures. Among the five wildcats trained by Tom Dick, three lions show off and answer without turning a hair to their master’s calls. M. Dick expertly teases the big cats to obtain a resounding roar. The smallest representatives of the Bouglione family, Dimitri and Valentino, respectively 6 and 10 years old, play with ducks, goats and minuscule puppies according to the mood. Regina Bouglione, the circus princess as she is called, exhibits a strange specie : lamas which stun the crowd by their surprising docility. A small pinch of dream seasons the show with the arrival in the ring of several white horses who shake themselves under the thick blue smoke of the ground spotlights.
Then it is time for a laugh with the Martinis and Mitchel’s clowns who also happen to be gifted musicians and who, one after the other, throw buckets of water to their faces, break eggs on their heads, slaughter a trumpet tune or execute hilarious stunts. The white clown Alberto Caroli takes part in the games and offers a theatrical note to the grotesque entertainment.
Lastly, the transformists/ magicians from Israel will bluff you by the ridiculous speed at which they change outfits, fast as lightning, the woman of the Matadors duo will put on a red dress and suddenly a purple one and then a white one while flamenco music plays. And perhpas the most impressive of all, Tony Frebourg who handles with style and ease up to four diabolos at once, throwing and catching in their frantic fall these small spinning tops.
By Alice Cannet
Published : April 29, 2010
Photo credit : © Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione
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