Myrtle Beach Cirque Attraction That Gives An Adrenaline Rush
I had never been to Le Grand Cirque before, but having seen the billboards and commercials, I was very interested in seeing what it was all about.
When we arrived at the Palace Theater for the show, we were surprised by the main lobby, which featured a grand stair case leading to the upper mezzanine and two giant chandeliers sparkling on the high ceiling. The smell of popcorn filled the air as two of the show’s performers demonstrated diabolo tricks, throwing spools off strings high into the air.
We made our way to the orchestra level where an usher seated us. Within minutes, we were glad that we were seated by one of the employees, because soon after one of the stars of the show, Dizzy the Clown, approached various guests who were looking for their seats. At that point he led some on wild goose chases, ate their popcorn and led them on to the stage. The clown, however, was a pinnacle part of the show, doing interlude performances between acts and even participating in some himself. His comedy was not that of a typical clown, but he was very funny and engaging. He even managed to climb inside of a giant balloon and lose his pants in the process…
The multitude of performers each had their own specialty. Wearing funky and often brightly colored outfits, the performers each had a unique look to them. One had a bright pink wig--another had on a lime green tutu. The costumes were pretty impressive to say the least.
The show was filled with quite a variety of entertainment set to pounding classical music and an intricate light show, including a girl spinning three hula-hoops at once, a woman hanging upside-down by only her feet, diabolo juggling, and of course, the dogs.
You may recognize the Olate Dog Act from their billboard. Extremely well-behaved and well-trained, I was impressed to see the dogs perform without skipping a beat. One wrong move and they could have tripped or even knocked another dog down! Have you ever seen a dog riding a scooter with rhinestone wheels and basket while standing up? I sure hadn’t until then. From the reaction of the audience, this part of the show was their favorite so far.
The show was filled with things you have to see to believe by performers from all over the world. One of the most jaw-dropping parts of the show was the Wheel of Destiny where two men (who weren’t wearing any sort of harnesses) walk, swing around, and flip around in mid air, all while balancing on a constantly spinning large metal apparatus. Hard to describe without seeing it, it may leaving your mouth gaping in awe as you watch.
At times it was hard to tell if there was more adrenaline running through your veins or through the performers’ throughout the show. The lighting and speed during some elements of the show almost made it feel like you were watching CGI in a movie.
The final act, the 16-foot Globe of Death was probably the best act of the night where three men ride motorbikes all around, and upside down in a cage—all at the same time! The whizzing and whirring of the bikes turned into a blur after they picked up their speed. Your eyes will widen and your eyebrows will be raised as you wonder how they do it!
Overall, this Le Grand Cirque is a mix of comedy, theatrics and adrenaline. It’s a great show to see during your next Myrtle Beach vacation and it is an attraction that no one should miss!
The show runs through Sept. 28.
