The show feels like (so many of Cirques show’s since the departure of Franco Dragone) a poor mans version of Cirque, like a poor facsimile…as if someone is given the brief to create a show like Cirque, like ANOTHER cirque show, rather than creating something fresh and new.

The show at best feels like mish mash of Viva Elvis (even lifting one of the acts almost directly from it) and Zumanity (cheeky characters with occasional sexual inuendo and drag)…the show feels small and inconsistent, vascilating from what seems like almost improv skits in front of the curtain to bombarding the audiance with a mass of activity that leaves you reeling trying to see everything that is going on and simply unable to.

On the plus side the physical acrobatics are flawless and mesmerizing – the aerialsists, contortionists and trapeze acrobats etc are wonderful but there was nothing new to see here…no one had challenged these amazing artists to create something ‘outside of the box’, there was no spectace here…nothing to drop the jaws of the audience, ensuring they would be talking about that ‘one act’ at the office water cooler the next day, urging friends to go see and probably ensuring the ‘life’ of ‘Iris’ for a lot longer.

IF Cirque is to continue…they are going to have to change, regurgitating the same formula will not cut it, what made them so unique and original has become dry and passe. I understand its easy to sit here and say this, that they are a multi million dollar making organization so OBVIOUSLY they know what they are doing right?, maybe, after all I am just a humble film professional and a patron…but I would suggest that the ‘fire’ they had all those years ago, that ‘fire within’ that challenged them to come up with something SO different and SO groundbreaking HAS to be re-ignited!…I hope it can so I can feel that exhileration once again, like winessing a mesmerizing, flambouyant, mystical show that was set on, in, under and above water, that wowed you, that made you walk out and practically go straight to the box office to book another ticket!