Acrobats of China is incredible amazing entertainment your whole family will absolutely love

How many is that on one bicycle?

How many is that on one bicycle?

“Wow!” is my impression of the 2015 edition of the Acrobats of China featuring “The New Shanghai Circus” and starring the “Fenton Acrobatic Troupe.” That’s a big “Wow” for me because, as the show starts its 17th year in Branson, I have seen them perform about 14 out of those 17 years and, although it seems I have said this a lot over the years, this is absolutely the best yet. The world renowned skill, expertise and variety of exciting acts along with the great choreography, color and pageantry of years past is there, but it is presented in a brand new format that adds an entirely new dynamic to what was already one of Branson’s most popular shows.

The theme of the show, carried out throughout, is exploring “the ancient art of Chinese Acrobatics, Chinese Culture and stories taken from the 200 year old ‘Beijing Opera,’ which is an exciting and beautiful form of theatre encompassing storytelling, singing, acting, dance, costume, stagecraft, gymnastics, martial arts and makeup.” Most of the shows many acts are preceded by an introduction beautifully tying the act into Chinese history or the opera. This takes the acrobatic or gymnastic skills of the performer(s) and embeds it into the act’s “mini story” adding another entertainment element for the audience to enjoy.

The shows high flying Silk Act was amazing and flawlessly performed. Its introduction and presentation was framed around tragic opera, “The Goddess of Luo River,” in which Zhen Mi, the beautiful daughter of a high ranking official is forced by her father to marry the wrong man. Her true love, Cao Zhi, saddened by her marriage, composed a poem describing how they met and fell in love. It’s interesting to see how each different skill set and act is seamlessly melded into its historical or operatic partner.

Continuing on the same theme, and an entirely new act this year, is the exciting and amazing “Fork in the Road,” combines a mixture of the Beijing Opera and Chinese Kung Fu to tell the story of a weary warrior who stops at an inn for the night and defends himself when the inn keeper and his evil friends sneak in to attack him and steal his goods. This is a “black light” performance is one of the most unique and exciting acts I have ever seen performed in the show. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but I can say that you will be unable to “mask” your amazement as they “levitate” the action and excitement of the show to a new level.

Hoop Jumping is just one of  the many exciting and dangerous acts that are performed.

Hoop Jumping is just one of the many exciting and dangerous acts that you will see.

From juggling to strength acts, hoop jumping, an unbelievable bike act, pole climbing and so much more this show truly entertains the entire family throughout the entire two hours of the show, entertaining kids and adults simultaneously. Each act seamlessly transitions from one to another, almost like magic, with no dead time. The skill and energy of these performers is amazing even to the way they leave the stage and rush out to the lobby to meet and greet the audience after the show.

Just sitting in the back, watching the reaction of the kids and, for that matter, the adults during the show, was a joy. After the show the Fine family from Higginsville, Missouri was kind enough to share their opinion of the show with me. That’s the good news, the bad news is that because of “operator error” my recorder “misfired,” but as best as I can recollect, Mrs. Fine said she loved the show and the interactive way it was presented. Her two young daughters, ages 7 and 9 I believe, enthusiastically said that they really liked the show and felt that other kids there age would too.

If you want to share something unique, exciting, colorful, that the whole family will enjoy and is in a class by itself in terms of the skill and daring displayed throughout, then you don’t want to miss these championship acrobats as they perform in this incredible production.

For additional information or tickets for the Acrobats of China please contact the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services by calling 1-800-785-1550 or through its website, www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

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