Cirque du Soleil creates a canvas-wrapped world peopled by freaks and supermen on an Atlanta parking lot. The French-Canadian Cirque is unique in weaving outstanding acrobatic acts into a unified story of human relationships.

"I thought it was a fantastic show," said Scott Fugate of Gainesville, who saw the Atlanta show, "Alegría," opening night. "Of all the Cirque du Soleil shows, it's my favorite."

An ugly hunch-backed character hobbles into the ring in a ringmaster's red velvet costume. A crowd of grotesque bird-people in fancy dress follows. Then one beautiful person dressed in glorious colors steps forward to perform amazing physical feats.

Fugate especially noticed Fleur, the ringmaster, watching contortionist Chimed Ulziibayar's act.

"These acrobatic acts of skill are so amazing, yet they (Cirque du Soleil) make them accessible by having these grotesque people representing Everyman," he said. "It brings it full circle."

Vanessa Hiatt of Gainesville saw the live show for the first time last week and was impressed by the flying man, Alexandr Dobrynin. That act puts a gymnastic rings exhibition on a bungee cord in a form of contortion in motion.

"He went up and down and around -- I thoroughly enjoyed that," she said. "It's just magical. The whole thing is magical."

The clowns represent humanity's humorists: the practical jokers, sad sacks, good-hearted bumblers and the indignant butt of all the jokes. Their antics range from side-splitting to poignant.

The Fast Track act turns the floor into two criss-crossed trampolines across which the entire troupe flips, jumps and spins. They fly under, over and across each other at the intersection.

Heads tilt and jaws drop as Gaston Elie and Tuuli Paulina Raasaanen perform aerial maneuvers at the top of the tent on their synchronized trapezes. And nine Russian acrobats fling themselves through space 40 feet above the stage on the aerial high bars.