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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 7, 2002
Cirque du Soleil is French for "Circus of the Sun," and the Montreal-based troupe has been visiting the Sunshine State since 1989, when its tour of We Reinvent the Circus played Miami. Four years ago, Cirque put down Florida roots with a permanent show, La Nouba, which has 10 performances a week in a 1,671-seat theater built for the company at Walt Disney World near Orlando.
La Nouba, which comes from a French phrase meaning "to party," utilizes state-of-the-art stage technology and acrobatic equipment to set performers soaring into the upper reaches of the vast cylindrical space. There are trapeze artists, an aerial ballet, high-wire walkers and a chair-balancing act. The power track/trampoline number is a sensational creation in which high-flying acrobats resemble video-game action heroes sprung to life.
Written and directed by Franco Dragone, La Nouba has a loosely structured story about a clash between colorful circus people and drab urbanites, but it is primarily a display of jaw-dropping athleticism. As choreographer Debra Brown said in a documentary on the making of the show, "La Nouba rocks!"
La Nouba is performed in the Cirque du Soleil theater at Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney near Orlando. Show times are 6 and 9 p.m. Thursday-Monday. No shows Dec. 3-11. Tickets: $44-$82. (407) 939-7600.