IN WONDERLAND

With a childlike sense of wonder ,open mouthed I watched the show, a feeling of deja vu brought memories of childhood with a smile..The Jumbo circus, Rajkamal circus, Gemini circus, The Great Bombay circus, (interestingly all these circus companies originates from Thalasery ,kerala )an annual guaranteed outing. I think it used to be in  summer, but then it's always summer in Chennai. In an open ground near the central station and it was quite a distance from Tambaram where we resided (distances  don't matter in Dubai when you zip at 140 kms/ hr), had to pack a picnic lunch (budget living) and go by electric train, usually accompanied by neighbours families too, more,the merrier it was. 

Excited as dad bought me a popsicle and holding his hands I entered the colourful tent .With childish impatience I pestered my parents about when the fun will begin. The circus chief gives a welcome address and then 90 minutes of enthrallment.The animated clowns beating each other and pulling pranks as the crowd erupted in laughter, the brave man dressed in long coat and boots ordering lions and the elephants to sit, stand and shake the booty, how awed we were. The dangerous stunt performing trapeze artists lithely jumping in the air performing aerial stunts, with complete trust in their partners. Every time they leaped from one person to another, even though there was a safety net beneath, my stomach would get into knots.The dagger man with his accurate aim and we close our eyes every time he aims and throws, the agile  nymphs on  a unicycle waving and smiling, the juggler juggling the balls as our eyes followed his movements mesmerized. The motorbike stunts men showing off their skills,such vivid recollections .

Back to the present day, arm in arm with Sujith , wide eyed and thrilled as I reach the venue.

The La perle show by Dragone held at a posh address in Dubai was a mind blowing experience. The 90 minutes show is fairly new here and we decided to check it out. They had been on a break for Ramadan and a huge crowd of well dressed men, women and children were busy posing for photographs, a mood of joie di vivre. As we entered the arena, the opulence and grandeur was breathtaking. It was a huge theatre with seating for more than a thousand .The stage was in the centre and there was a "on stage pool "filled with water (Google says 2.7 million litres of water is used in the show !!). We had good seats near the stage, so I was happy that my myopia will not be an issue. My new progressive glasses are a real pain.  I wiped my glasses and was waiting for the glitz to unveil.   The 3 d laser pyrotechnic projection filled the stage in radiant vibrance. There was a storyline with a love story in it, a helpless pretty lass and a fierce wild handsome hero, with a lovable clown playing cupid, the misfortunes that befall and how love triumphs. You need not follow the story as such....just get immersed in the extravaganza.  A visually captivating experience. As we were near the stage we could feel the water spray and the sound of the waterfall transported us to an exotic locale.  The acrobats were flying low hovering over us hanging by their wrists, performing gravity defying acts. There were divers in skin suits jumping in and out of the water, hanging by the ropes diving into the water from great heights . The laser projected trees and animals and the evolution history. The accompanying music was thumping and roaring. We  needed many eyes to capture everything that was happening. On the right some men  were walking  upside down on the ceiling, on the left a huge zombie like  puppet was suspended. There were motorbikes revving on the stage and a huge spherical cage descended and the motorbikes one by one climbed inside, totaling six and skillfully performing stunts .

We gasped and held our breath and clapped with glee. The thousands of spectators demographically varied in age gender and country  became unitedly enchanted . Basically a circus of the 80's which enamored me as a 10 year old. Dubai known for its magnificence, with La Perle " a breathtaking fusion of immersive artistic performers, imagery and technology "kept me enraptured in exhilaration at 40. The theatrical experience ended in thunderous applause and I was one satisfied spectator.