Zarkana

Zarkana is the name of the Cirque du Soleil show we went to last night at the Radio City Music Hall.  It's a vast theatre seating almost 6,000, with the biggest Wurlitzer organ (for a movie theatre) in the world.  The entrance foyer for this theatre is as big as many theatres I've been in.  In this photo you can make out the organ consoles (keyboards) to the left and right of the curtain, each with a crazy "Dr Zeus" arrangement of twisted horns sticking upwards - they are both part of the same organ, all the pipes being hidden in the walls on each side.

Left-hand Wurlitzer organ console

 Here's a closer view of the organ console on the left of the stage, which gives some idea of the scale of the whole theatre (above).  They started Zarkana with two organists going at once, building up to a tremendous sound.

The show itself was "very good" I would say, rather than fantastic.  It is basically a very good circus accompanied by loud music and singing, and some amazing special visual effects, and with an attempt to weave the acts together with a story.  Neither Sue nor I quite understood what the "story" was supposed to be, and the sound level was overwhelming at times.  The best acts and visual effects were excellent though.

Sue takes in Times Square

After the show we went to see Times Square at night, a bit apprehensive as to whether we should expect to be mugged or robbed.  Halfway there, hanging on tightly to my camera, I realised I no longer had my cellphone!  I thought I must have dropped it at my seat in the theatre, so we hurried back.  I had to talk my way past security guards who had cleared everyone out and were locking up the theatre, but they let me in and escorted me back to my seat, where I was relieved to see my phone lying on the floor.

Times Square was packed with thousands of people at 11 pm, the majority obviously tourists like ourselves, so we relaxed and took in all the lights and people for a while.  We even decided to walk home, which also felt reasonably safe due to the number of people around, although it was much quieter towards our hotel.  Anyway we are still here, having risked the mean streets of New York at night!