Show review | ‘Le Cirque Arcanus’ at Epic Universe is fun, but not worth a long wait
At “Le Cirque Arcanus” — the live, indoor show within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe — you can step right up and witness wonders never seen before! But once you’ve seen them, that may be enough.
Photos courtesy of Universal
Universal Epic Universe, officially opening May 22 in Orlando, is home to some incredible attractions. You could be trying to escape the clutches of Dracula one moment and flying with dragons the next. The park also has a few sit-down shows everyone can experience, no matter their height. One of these productions, “Le Cirque Arcanus,” is one we probably won’t return to soon.
Mild spoiler warning.
The story
“Le Cirque Arcanus” is the first thing that will catch your eye as you walk down the streets of 1920s wizarding Paris. As a big-top circus centered at the end of the street, it’s the focal point as you walk through the Phoenix Gate into Place Cachée, the narrative setting for the Parisian sections of Epic Universe’s Wizarding World.
In the show, down-on-his-luck ringmaster Skender, the owner of “Le Cirque Arcanus,” has stolen the suitcase of one Newt Scamander in hopes of attracting guests to his show. If you’re not familiar with the “Fantastic Beasts” movies (a prequel series to the main “Harry Potter” films), Newt Scamander is a magizoologist with a suitcase leading to a world filled with the titular fantastic beasts.
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
An immaculate pre-show
The standing-room-only pre-show sets up the story of the production, with ringmaster Skender bringing in Newt Scamander’s suit case. The magic that unfolds in the pre-show alone seems to be building up to a spectacle unlike anything seen in The Wizarding World theme park lands before.
Photo by Attractions Magazine
Gwenlyn, an employee of Skender’s “Le Cirque Arcanus,” opens the suitcase when no one is looking, letting loose a magical creature known as a Demiguise. This reveal was a roller coaster of emotions. At first, we thought it was an animatronic, then more of the creature emerged, leading us to believe it was a puppet. Moments later, the entire ape-like creature leapt out of the suitcase with Gwenlyn chasing after it before Skender catches wind of the situation unfolding in his office. It’s a really cool effect we have not seen before. The audience is then lead into the main show, expecting whatever could possibly top what we just saw.
‘Le Cirque Arcanus’
Let us start by saying the performers are firing on all cylinders. Their commitment to bringing the characters they portray to life does not go unnoticed. There are also the characters who perform the “circus acts,” all extremely talented individuals. Slight spoilers: during an act in the show, a performer digs their hands into their pockets, soaking their hands in bubble solution. This elicits big smiles, as the performer blows bubbles over the crowd, filling the bubbles with fog using nothing but their hands.
After a few acts reminiscent of those you’d see at night aboard a cruise ship, the real show begins as the Demiguise runs across the stage, with Gwenlyn closely behind. The two descend into Newt Scamander’s suitcase in a moment that would put current Broadway scene transitions to shame. Unfortunately, this is where the surprises end, as the rest of this show is Gwenlyn interacting with fantastic beats via puppets or screens. All of the beasts that appear physically are well-done and impressive. Also notable, Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne returns as Newt Scamander in new footage filmed just for the show.
Artwork courtesy of Universal
Final thoughts
For such an ambitious show, “Le Cirque Arcanus” falls a bit flat. Our disappointment could stem from the short runtime of the show (which allows for continuous shows throughout the day).
We spoke with some diehard “Harry Potter” fans who agree it’s not worth a repeat viewing. If you’re a “Harry Potter” fan, you’ll love the magical aspects. If you’re not a “Potter” fan, you’ll love the air conditioning and the seats with back support in the theater!
Disclaimer: Our Epic Universe reviews are based on a preview of the park, so some of what we have talked about may change by the time the park officially opens.
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