I've been waiting 25 years to attend Yuri Kuklachev's cat show, Mau-Gli, and I finally made it. Let me tell you, it was either love it or hate it – but at least I can scratch it off my bucket list.
The good stuff:
1. We took our kid along, and she gave it 5 stars. I guess that's the most important thing, since the show is geared towards kids, and if we managed to entertain the kid, then it was worth it. Although, the kid was bored for the first 20 minutes.
2. The main stars are senior artists, and I love that about it – it's great to see people who've been around for a long time, still living their dream, working, and enjoying themselves. I mean, Yuri Kuklachev is now 73 years old. Many of us are lucky if we can move at 30, and here's a clown dancing and performing.
3. I think the animals aren't being mistreated, which is a question about animal rights. Maybe in 2022, it's embarrassing to go to circuses with animal performances, but I think this isn't the case.
Although, I'm not a psychologist, so I don't really know how to understand the animals' psychology. I just noticed that they do tricks for food. But would a fed cat want to do a trick for food? That's my question, and I think the answer is no. But I don't really know cats well.
Cats aside, the dogs on the show are some of the best performers. They're the ones who really bring the house down. They do tricks for food, but I know dogs well – they'll do tricks for food, praise, or just about anything. My dog will do tricks for a treat, and she loves people, kids, and playing. She'd be happy to perform just for the joy of it. So, a circus with dogs? Absolutely.
4. The show is bright and colorful. I love neon lights and similar colors.5. To wrap things up, the clown came out and talked to the audience from the hall, telling us to go after our dreams, just like he did. It was really inspiring and sweet.
5. I finally achieved a childhood dream.
Okay, I guess it's time to wrap things up, but I wanted to say how great and wonderful the show was, but I just can't.
The not-so-good stuff:
1. The bazaar.
Right from the start of the show, they play an audio clip with Kuklachev's voice, trying to get you to come up to the stage and, I guess, buy some of his merchandise.
They're selling balls, books...
2. The Attraction.
This one flows from the first minus. Although the intermission is a good idea, it feels like a bit of a business intermission. Kuklachev himself is trying to get you to go to the intermission and buy more stuff (toys, books, cat pictures). To be honest, I've got enough of all that clutter from my kid's childhood – I just took out three trash bags full of junk from the attic last summer.
And, honestly, a short show doesn't need an intermission. It's just a way to get more money out of you.
3. For the Fans.
At the end of the show, Kuklachev invites everyone to come up to him after the show, if you've bought any books, pictures, or merchandise – he'll sign them. For those who bought a ball, he made a dog out of it. In general, what's the point of all this for people who paid 600 rubles for tickets?... Well, in general...
We didn't bother to ask for autographs, take photos, or try to get in line – Kuklachev was busy signing books and pictures, and we didn't feel like waiting in line.
The show seems to be very focused on selling merchandise and making extra money. I don't like that anywhere. It's like they're sucking money out of parents for their kids to buy unnecessary junk at inflated prices... That's just low. One thing is when it's done quietly in the corner, and those who want it can find it. Another thing is when it's forced down your throat.
Of course, kids won't notice this minus, but for me, it ruins the mood.
4. Boring.
The first half hour was extremely boring – even my kid was looking at me instead of the stage, and I was crossing my fingers, hoping something would finally happen.
Then, things started to happen.
But the show is dragged out, there aren't enough tricks, and the cats don't do much of anything. If you're expecting a spectacular cat show, you won't get it. But, I guess, that's not necessary either – it's not like they're torturing the cats or anything. Maybe they could have done more inserts – introducing the cats, meeting the performers...
It just feels like there's no clear direction or purpose to the show.
5. The Plot.
I didn't understand what was going on the whole time. I still don't get it. If I hadn't read the description, I would have been completely lost.
There's no plot if you don't read the description first. You'll be lost... I was lost.
And why is that?
There's just not enough interaction with the audience. Maybe they should have added some audio explanations of what's happening, how it's like a fairy tale, and the clowns could have said something, called the kids up on stage more often... In general, there needs to be more interaction with the audience.
No, I'm not saying there was nothing – but it was just very little.
6. Kids.
No, this can't be a minus for a show designed for kids, but just a heads up for adults – be prepared for the high-pitched screaming of hundreds of kids right in your ears... Your ears will thank you.
Let's be real, trying to enjoy the show with a kid on your lap can be a real challenge. You'll be kicking the seat in front of you with your feet, and if you've got back problems, you'll be feeling those herniated discs and protrusions... it's a joke with a grain of truth.
I'm about to get hate from a hundred mom-bashers reading this review, but I've got a kid, so I think I've earned the right to say it: stop taking your kids to shows until they're at least three years old. Your kid isn't ready yet. I know it's great to take them on a single ticket, but they're not going to enjoy it. They'll be fussy, they'll cry, they'll wipe their dirty boots on your clothes and the person's next to you. I paid for my ticket, and I want to sit comfortably, not have your kid on your lap hitting me in the face or wiping their feet on me every five minutes. Please, for the love of all things good, consider your child's feelings – they're not interested.
I'm not talking about kids who are six months old or even six months old who came to see a show. What's going on in the heads of these people? We're still in a pandemic, and you're putting your child's life at risk. And no, this isn't aggression towards kids – it's shock at adults who are just messing with their kids. I saw kids crying, wanting to leave, but their parents are forcing them to sit through it. Maybe it's time to acknowledge that kids aren't ready for this and wait a bit – two or three years until they start enjoying these shows, not stressing out.
People should respect each other, and yes, I'm only starting to take my kid to shows now that she's six years old and wants to go. We didn't miss out on anything, and for younger kids, there are better options like kids' attractions and play areas – they love running around, touching things, not sitting still and watching something.
7. No filming allowed.
At the beginning of the show, Kuklachev's voice on the recording asks us not to film. It feels like a command. What can I say? It's an old story. I'm getting flashbacks from my childhood when people used to take money for photos everywhere... although they weren't allowed to. By law, you can film – you know that. They can't stop you, but they can ask politely. If it's about the flash that might scare the animals, it's probably a good idea to turn it off. And who's going to film in the dark with a flash, anyway? Although, I'm sure there are some crazy people out there, so it's worth mentioning the flash. But with the neon lights for the show... your flash is like Sirius in the sky.
My verdict on the show:
I'd say I was a bit disappointed with the 6,000-seat venue. The show was dragged out, boring, and the plot was confusing. There weren't many cats, and the tricks were lacking.
My husband was on the verge of dying from boredom.
But the kid loved it. She gave it a solid five stars.
I think it's better to take kids with a class – it's more fun and cost-effective.
The show is indeed geared towards kids, and kids from five years old and up enjoyed it.
For me, it was nice to relive a childhood dream and see a national artist. That's it.