Mulan, the Legend
Located in the Videopolis building is one of
the best shows you will find at Disneyland Paris. Mulan, the Legend
opened in the French Park in April 1999 and has been performing every
day since.
Based on the story as told in the Disney
film, the show features a cast of 50 performers who tell the tale
through acrobatics, juggling and a lot of hard physical work.
The show originally opened with the "Hebei
Acrobatic Troupe of China" but in August 1999 the "Flag Circus
of China" took over the performing duties. It
is currently performed four or five times as day, with more show times
added during the summer months.
The Videopolis Theatre
I'm never quite sure how to define the venue
used for the presentation of Mulan. Is it a theatre that serves food, or
is a restaurant with a stage? Basically this large building contains a
large stage, with excellent technical facilities. It also houses the 'Hyperion
Cafe' which serves fast food.
The seating in the theatre consists of two
main areas. Down at the front of the theatre directly in front of the
stage are three sections containing rows of wooden bench seats.
Immediately behind them is a wide walkway, this area is also used to
seat guests with disabilities. Behind the walkway is by far the largest
seating area in the theatre, it consists of tables and chairs where you
can bring you food to eat. As with most Disney theatres there are
generally no bad seats in the house, but you can be unlucky if people
decide to stand along the walkway. (I will be covering the Videopolis
building in detail in a later 'Unique Journey'.)
The Show
The Mulan show is thirty minutes long and is
delivered in a very unusual way. The melodies are from the film, except
they have been orchestrated differently. You may be surprised to hear
that no voices are heard throughout the entire performance, there is no
speaking nor singing. The story is told totally through mime, gesture
and acrobatics.
The show begins in front of a huge red
curtain, as a group of the Hun's men burst on to the stage from all
sides. They tumble, build human pyramids and use aerial equipment to
tower over the audience. This section represents the attack on the Great
Wall of China that can be seen in the film. They end their attach by
demolishing a stone structure built into a circular hole in the great
wall.
After the smoke clears the Great Wall rolls
back to reveal the garden belonging to Mulan's family. Here we are
treated to a wonderful display of plate spinning to the music
"Honor to us all". Mulan performs in this section using a
Diablo.
Mulan then enters the house of the
Matchmaker and quickly exits in disgrace. The show quickly moves on to
Mulan's realization that she must replace her father in the war with the
Hun.
The show now moves into the Chinese Army
training camp where to the music of "I'll make a man out of
you" and "A girl worth fighting for" the new recruits
perform ever more daring feats.
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