The Cirque du Soleil has long been on my bucket list and I was absolutely excited when Citibank and Bookmyshow brought them to Bombay. I managed to get tickets months ago. I was so looking forward to seeing this spectacle.

The long wait finally got over, and just two days before the show #lovethisman dropped out due to work commitments. As I stared glumly at the big beautiful envelope from the ticketing company, I felt deflated and my enthusiasm went out like a light bulb.

That very afternoon, I was having a girly lunch with two very close friends, Dani and Sam. They felt bad for me but understood why I was reluctant to go by myself. There is really no joy in experiencing something you cannot share with someone you are connected to. Shared experiences bring a deeper connection and magnify the emotions, and the memories end up being absolutely priceless. Half my trip to Rome this year is like a warm, fuzzy gelato-laden Italian dream, but the memory of walking hand in hand with #lovethisman through the Eternal City is engraved in my heart. Soppy sentiment?? Maybe. But I am at a point in my life where I value quality over superficial, FOMO experiences.

I was absolutely delighted then when Dani said, “Hang on, I’ll come with you!”

And just like that we made it happen.

That’s why you need a bestie girlfriend 🙂

We drove to Bombay in Dani’s car and I tell you she could give Nicki Lauda a run for his money. We sang hits of the 80s all the way and agreed I was the worse singer of the two! We also agreed they don’t make music like the 80s anymore.

We got to BKC pretty early and sank into some really good coffee and pretty unmemorable food at a deli nearby. We made it to the venue well in time to find close parking at the venue ( nightmares of Cold Play concert walking-standing-parking-traffic trauma uppermost in my mind).

The entrance to the Big Top was a large lounge draped like a circus tent and strung with a million fairy lights. Eager children posed excitedly at photo booths and everyone was abuzz with excitement.
There was lots of food and drinks and alcohol for sale and we felt really sorry we didn’t feel hungry enough to try out all the absolutely yummy food stalls ( Bombay food at its best- bohri kheema, parsi snacks and Asian yummies).

The Big Top itself was not so large as to be grand, but perfectly sized and filled to the brim. Everything was super clean and air-conditioned. The loos were the best I’ve ever been to at any outdoorevent, and made the ticket price well worth it.

We were all at the circus!

Not just any circus, but one of the most spectacular shows in the world, made up of lights and music and costumes and bendy, twisty rubbery human beings with superhuman guys and strength!

The show had the audience hooked from the first moment. While we gaped at the beautiful costumes, we oohed and ah-ed at the antics and (Frenchie) comedy. The lights and sound, live music and singing were pitch perfect. There was drama at every turn in the quest to recover the Ring Master’s stolen twinkly top hat.

Superlative performances filled with death- defying acrobatics had us on the edge of our seats, applauding enthusiastically each time. There was acrobats and gymnasts, fire dancers and roller skaters, edgy clowns and trapeze artists. Each act was unique and definitely pushed the envelop in terms of sheer skill and magic.

If I had to choose a favourite I would have a really tough time. The Barbie and Ken roller skaters who twirled round and round till we were spinning with them, or the fire dancer and his very hot act? There were the lady acrobats up in the air on the swing, one was even suspended by her own hair! The cyclist was incredible and the malakhamb was a surprise. Two hours sped by as we were bedazzled and hypnotised.

When the lights went out and the music finally ended, after the last bow and wave, Dani and I looked at each other like excited schoolgirls and sighed with pleasure. Despite the long drive back home for the next few hours, we were wide awake and thrilled with what we had just seen. We quite literally had stars in our eyes!

We got home hours later after a mad dash across the expressway, and I dreamed of the circus all night!

Here are a few photos snapped off my phone!

PS: Beg, borrow or steal a ticket but don’t miss this!! It’s traveling across Bombay, Delhi and Bangalore. It’s a treat for adults and children. If you love music, performing arts, costume and colour…. Go. This is a learning experience in all of the above.