Summary: A little disappointing.
When you go to a Cirque show, you have grander expectations. Zarkana just did not match up to expectations. If you have seen any other Cirque show, you should avoid this as you will be disappointed. For people who have never seen a Cirque show, you might like it as this would be your baseline....
Overall feel:The show was not very cohesive. IT seemed like a bunch of tricks and acts you have seen on TV in different forms. It was supposed to be tied together by the concept of magician and had some Broadway-esque elements. However, that was not what I expected from Zarkana. Singing and lyrics are good to have, but they cannot replace the soul of a Cirque show. There were clowns who would come to the stage more often than you desired. Sometimes they were funny, sometimes they were not. In the end, it seemed like a congregation of 10 "as-seen-on-TV" tricks with some songs in between.
Performance quality:Acts were in general of a high quality as expected - but there were a few misses too. Actually - there were at least 5 goof ups that I noticed in the act:
The juggler dropped balls twice (something I have never seen on stage in any live show).
There was a guy hopping on the balloon and the balloon burst.
When the rope-walkers were performing, the chair fell off the rope.
A trapeze artist missed a swing and fell on the net.
Some of the acts were great in concept though. Even though the juggler dropped twice, it was the most novel act of juggling I have seen.
The Russian balancing board act was fantastic as well.
The juggler dropped balls twice (something I have never seen on stage in any live show).
There was a guy hopping on the balloon and the balloon burst.
When the rope-walkers were performing, the chair fell off the rope.
A trapeze artist missed a swing and fell on the net.
Some of the acts were great in concept though. Even though the juggler dropped twice, it was the most novel act of juggling I have seen.
The Russian balancing board act was fantastic as well.
Music, Video and Lights:The music for the act was good. In some cases it was too loud though.
Lighting was excellent as expected.
Video was exceptional. I have never seen an act where video is so tightly integrated into the performance. It definitely covered for some of the mediocrity of the act - but then could not compensate for all of it.
Radio City Music Hall is excellent - one of the best in NYC. The hall is huge. You are ok with Orchestra seats towards the end as well (saves a few dollars). If you want to spend the extra Benjamin to get the best seats in house - believe me, it's not worth it.
Lighting was excellent as expected.
Video was exceptional. I have never seen an act where video is so tightly integrated into the performance. It definitely covered for some of the mediocrity of the act - but then could not compensate for all of it.
Radio City Music Hall is excellent - one of the best in NYC. The hall is huge. You are ok with Orchestra seats towards the end as well (saves a few dollars). If you want to spend the extra Benjamin to get the best seats in house - believe me, it's not worth it.
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