Volta

We celebrated my birthday with Cirque du Soleil. Their Volta show was under the circus tent at Marymoor Park, near Redmond Town Center. The show was a little over two hours, starting at 5, with a twenty-five minute intermission. We went to a nearby Indian restaurant for dinner after, and made it home just after 9. A little late for a school night, but the circus was worth it.

It was set mostly on a circular stage. A ring of color-changing light marked the edge. The outer three feet of the ring could rotate. A few acts incorporated a larger stage set back from the ring, and many involved the rigging above.

There was jump-roping, trampolines, and jumping through hoops. There was a brief bounce-juggling act and a baton twirling juggler. There was a man with blue feathers for hair, the main character of the story, such as it was, and a roller-skater. There was a unicyclist twirling a woman around his shoulders, a bicycle dancer, and an amazing multi-bicycle finale act in a triple halfpipe. There were several aerial acts, including one with identical twins, but the most spectacular was a woman suspended by her hair.

The show held the attention of all the children. Colin was disappointed only during intermission, which he described as "boring". He seemed most engaged of all during the one-man clown acts of Mr. Wow: a slapstick romp at a laundromat, and a mime scene at the beach with sound effects.

I think this was the third Cirque du Soleil show for Nicole and me, but the first for the kids. We have seen other circus acts, and they're always enjoyable, but Cirque du Soleil definitely raises the bar.