Dralion By Cirque Du Soleil

My daughter and I saw this show. It was amazing!
The price is high; the lines are long; it’s worth every penny and every minute. We try to go to each show from cirque that comes through town. They are worth it!

Ron almost mirrors my thoughts. Where are the death defying stunts done in Kooza, where they’re 1 wrong step away from being paralyzed?
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want anyone to get hurt, but I don’t want to fall asleep either.
There were a couple of cool acts, (juggler, trampoline wall, and jump-​rope) but this felt much more like just a dancing show than the previous Cirque experience I had. There was beauty and grace, but not the adrenal excitement I had at Kooza.
This felt more like I was at a ballet, and I didn’t fully understand how the acts and dancing fit into the story. Kooza told a very clear story and was easy to follow. This just seemed like people in colored costumes dancing and doing a mild trick every now and then. From what I read before hand, I knew it was supposed to be telling a story of the elements blending and acheiving balance, but there wasn’t much more than that.
I thought I would prefer the rose garden over the cirque tent, but I was wrong. I much prefer a closer view of the costumes and makeup, and the intimacy that they are able to bring into the show in the smaller setting. There was more audience interaction, and each crazy stunt, they would pressure the audience to scream and clap louder. I’m glad they didn’t do that at Dralion, because there is not much to clap louder for.

If you have seen the other travelling shows of Cirque, this will not thrill you.
There is barely any Cirque feel to it. Sure there are the roaming clowns pre-​show and the pseudo-​audience that will later be a part of the show, but that gets so old once you’ve seen quite a few shows.
The ticket prices could have come in a little lower if they will not put out their signature tent and quaint feel.
Some of the performers are a tad shaky but that’s understandable with the amount of contortionism and gymnastics they do. A good solid clap for the juggler and the trampoline jumpers.
The stunts are somewhat of a low risk compared to their other shows. The choreography seemed spaced out wide.
The music seemed too canned.
I’m over it.
And I’m waiting for the next real thing. With tents and all.

After seeing Kooza in 2010, I had high hopes (and expectations) for Dralion, Cirque’s newest endeavor currently showing at the Rose Garden in Portland. While Dralion featured Cirque’s trademark array of fantastical costumes and set design, the overall performance seemed to fall a bit short.
In the course of the three hour show, there were several incredible acts — from aerialists to the most amazing juggler the world may ever see to acrobats balancing and contorting their bodies in nearly impossible ways — however the production seemed disjointed and lacked the flow seen in Kooza.
The three comedic «hosts» of the show had too many segments of their own that dragged on for too long and stilted the excitement and flow from the amazing acts before them. Conversely, Kooza’s «hosts’ were funny, entertaining for all levels, and their skits were much shorter — allowing more time for the excitment that makes Cirque, well, Cirque.
For the most part, the music was fantastic and started from a blend of ethnic rhythms magically paired with the familiar feel of rock and roll — but then devolved towards the end to a near tantric hum of an overzealous monotonal opera singer.
Dralion’s juggler, trampolinists, acrobats, aerialists and performers were breathtaking — but be prepared for this show to have much more dance and comedic skits than in prior Cirque shows.
For a period of time, TravelZoo is offering Dralion discounted tickets — so it might be worth a look.

Totally agree with Sonja — a bit of a let down from Kooza.
If you can get Tix for around $ 50.00, there is value there. At face value of 80 – 100, you might have buyers remorse. If you have never been to Cirque I am sure you will enjoy Dralion, but keep in mind that this show doesn’t meet their usual incredible standard.
The RG venue is hollow, lethargic and distant for this show. It needed a lot more draping and the light Tech’s blew it with a few of the positions of the lower spots that will shine right in your eyes.
A lot of fill in between the featured acts come off as campy and irrelevant. The aerial acts are pretty, intense and exciting. All in all if your a Cirque virgin you will probably be satisfied without the benefit of perspective. If you are a Cirque loyalist, you might wonder as I did if they are rushing these productions to market at the expense of creativity and freshness.