Review: Saltimbanco by Cirque Du Soleil

The current version of Saltimbanco, the oldest show from the Cirque Du Soleil stable, is currently touring Australia. This show is everything that you expect from Cirque Du Soleil’s shows. Acrobats, colors, drama, comedy, and of course, a sense of flight from normal.

Nearing 30 years in existence, Cirque Du Soleil has redefined, and reinvented, the art of the circus performer. Thanks to it, the once dying art of the circus has a new lease on life. Saltimbanco is every bit a manifestation of this art as much as an extension of it.

What is gripping about the show itself is that it grabs you from the start, even before everyone is seated. The comedy acts (calling them jokers in the traditional sense of the word would be a disservice) play with the audience while most of us are still groping about matching seat numbers on our tickets. The official show starts with an introduction and a welcome and then Chinese pole performers perform stunts that leave your jaw hanging.

An artistic cyclist, a juggler, a mime performer (whose act seems to drag unfortunately), and a duo of bola (kind of drums) performers round up act 1. A brief 20 minute interval is followed by more death defying acts, more comedy and more performances that can only be described as .. well impossible for normal human beings.

For locals, Brisbane born performer, 24 year old NATHAN DENNIS, is part of this talented cast. Look out for him in Chinese Poles, Swings and Bungee.

If you have little ones, try attending the shows that are in the afternoon. The night show that starts at 8 doesn’t finish till 10:30. It means you won’t get home till late.

If you are a family of four, it can cost you a bit. The cheapest tickets are $55.00 for a child and $69.00 for an adult (in Brisbane – more in other cities). But what you get is far more than a circus – it is an experience.

What: Saltimbanco by Cirque Du Soleil

When: In Brisbane: Till 17th July, then Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong.

Where: Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Pay $10 for parking.

TICKETS: Ticketek on 132 849 or the website: http://premier.ticketek.com.au/Shows/Show.aspx?sh=CIRQUEDU11. From $55.

CraftGossip attended the show courtesy of Cirque Du Soleil.

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You probably know by now if you’re a regular reader (and if you’re not, welcome!) that I love a knitting pattern that’s a little silly or a little different from the usual. Classic patterns are great, too, but sometimes you just want to make something with a bit of whimsy. And when it’s super functional, too, that’s even better.

That’s the case with the Bananen-Socken pattern from Susanne Shahin. These banana socks are one of those patterns no one seems to be totally sure where it came from, and this free pattern on Ravelry explains how she makes them based on how she learned it.

It’s a sock that’s curved and when not on a foot it looks rather like a banana. There’s no heel, and you can use whatever number of stitches you need to make it fit your foot. If you’ve knit enough socks to know how many stitches you like you can just use that number, or the pattern notes include sizing charts to help. (It needs to be multiples of 2 for the ribbing.)

After working a traditional cuff, the body is made with ribbing on the back and welts (or what the pattern calls horizontal ribbing) on the front, which is what gives it the curved shape. There’s no heel, but there is toe shaping, but for the leg and the foot you just keep working the same pattern as long as you like.

I’m a little skeptical about how these socks will feel with ribbing on the bottom of the foot, but I’m definitely intrigued and will probably give them a try.

The pattern notes are available on Ravelry in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. If you head to the pattern page you can see a photo of what it looks like on a foot, and it just looks like a normal sock.

Have you ever knit banana socks or do you want to now? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo: Susanne Shahin]

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