I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this one. It’s 18+ only and decidedly risqué, so those easily offended shouldn’t bother going is the low down. I was also expecting more ‘Vegas’ in the form of glitz, glamour, sequins, feathers, stilettos and skimpy costumes than the other Cirque shows, and that expectation was definitely met.
The various acts within the show ranged from uptempo, bawdy and raunchy, to slow, sensual and erotic. Most of the time there was a fair bit of nudity – plenty of toplessness and peekaboo costumes and barely there G-strings, for both him and her. Though in my opinion, I don’t really think the nudity added anything particularly titilating to the various themes – most dancers, acrobats and gymnasts are hardly big in the bust department so what’s the point in showing a bit of nipple here and there? It did however really afford good opportunity to see the absolute chiseled musculature of these athletes which is usually hidden by their bright coloured spandex costumes.
Compared to all other Cirque du Soleil shows, this one is plenty of talk, talk, talk, talk and lots of audience engagement. From the over the top swingers who came across like game show hosts that were essentially the ‘clowns’ (comedic interludes) to the six and a half foot tall be-stiletto’d transvestite/drag queen who acted as MC. Lots of talking, some of it narration, some of it banter, most of it kinda smutty and intended to challenge.
But the best bit of the show last night for me, was when my Mum got pulled out of the audience and thrown in the middle of an orgy/group sex themed scene. She had this scantily clad buff young man come fetch her from her seat and bring her up on stage. He was groping all over the place, very handsy and at one point had Mum on her knees in front of him kissing his stomach! Then he laid back and pulled her over the top of him and started humping! Mum was laughing so hard and falling all over the place, the audience loved it. After the show, everyone who came past us on the way out kept calling out ‘Hey look, it’s Mary!’ And told her she was ‘Awesome’, and that she ‘Stole the show’. One person even said that she ‘was the best thing in the show tonight’.
We’ve been watching plenty of people being ‘volunteered’ to participate in the shows all week and thinking ‘That guy’s a good sport’ etc., and of all shows to end up on the stage in, Zumanity is NOT the one I would choose. But Mum was great and had a ball, I laughed my arse off, and the test of the audience loved it. 🙂
In fact, this little escapade kinda reminds me of the time my sister, BigSal ended up on the stage with a huge buff black stripper during a sex show in Amsterdam… but that’s another story. 😉