Photo by Rudy Liwanag

MANILA, Philippines — Women suspended high above the air, with only a gossamer piece of fabric to support them. Handstands and somersaults with only an upright steel pole for leverage. Icarian artists who would juggle another acrobat with his feet. Balancing acts using rollers and boards, several feet above ground.

You’ve probably seen them on TV but real-life “wonder-tainment” does not come cheap. After all, only a few performers in the world can turn one’s mind into mush and simultaneously drop everyone’s jaws to the floor. The acts may seem mind-boggling on the boob tube, but onstage, they’re mind-blowing.

Cheap Thrills

This November and December, Pinoys will get a taste of the ultimate “wonder-tainment” from the Cirque Internationale as it headlines a series of shows in Robinsons Malls. And they come in the cheapest price tag: FREE. This is a once-in-a-lifetime treat considering that the group, under Harris Entertainment Productions, is based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Normally, you would need to travel overseas just to watch them perform. And though Cirque Internationale had gone on tour before, ticket prices are often beyond what most Pinoys can afford, what with the cost of flying in the whole cast, not to mention their equipment.

 “This year, Robinsons Malls wanted to present a show that people of all ages will enjoy. Cirque Internationale is a holiday treat unlike any other we have previously presented,” says Arlene G. Magtibay, RLC-Commercial Centers Division General Manager. In previous years, Robinsons had leaned more on kid-friendly shows that feature popular cartoon characters, storybook figures and toy characters.

Show like no other

Like most Cirque Internationale shows around the globe, the series of shows will combine stunning acrobatics and comedic acts. There will surely be no dull moments as each Cirque performer stages his/her most popular act. Regular shows will run for two hours, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. To give everyone the chance to watch the shows, especially those in the provinces, the acts are grouped into two different sets. Red shows will feature the Strongman, the Hoops, the Icarian and the Hand-Juggler while the Blue shows will present the Rolla Bolla, the Clown, the Cuban Pole and the Argentinian gauchos. Only Robinsons Galleria (December 21) and Robinsons Manila (December 20) will present the two sets in one special show.

One act to watch out for is the one with the Icarian artists. With extraordinary balance and strength, the Icarians juggle humans with their feet with the same ease as jugglers handle hoops and balls.  Another act in the must-watch list is the music and dance routine of the Argentinian Gauchos. The audience will surely love the music the gauchos create with their drums and the boleadora, a projectile weapon originally used as a hunting tool by the Chinese and native South Americans. The boleadora is a cord with weights at the end that is used to capture animals, like a lasso. The weights at the end are struck on the floor, creating sounds like that of a percussion instrument. Also not to be missed is the Rolla Bolla, where one performer attempts to do a hand stand on a set of stacked rollers and boards, several feet high. The kids will marvel at the hula- hoops performance with one woman attempting to keep countless numbers of hula-hoops spinning simultaneously and will laugh at the hilarious antics of the clown and the strongman.

Robinsons Malls Cirque International shows will run from November 20 (today in Lipa and Galleria) until December 21. For the schedule of performances in each malls, check out flyers and posters in Robinsons Malls or log on to www.robinsonsmalls.com. For more information, you can contact the Marketing Communications Department at 397-1888 locals 780 or 782