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Corteo
Cirque Du Soleil
Created and directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca
At the United Center Parking lot
Grand Chapiteau (Big Top)
Damen & Madison Streets
Chicago, IL
Call 800-678-5440, tickets $50 - $85 (adults)
$35 - $59.50 (kids 2 to 12 years old)
Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 8 PM
Thursdays at Saturdays 4 & 8 PM
Sundays at 1 & 5 PM
Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
Through August 27, 2006
Corteo from Cirque Du Soleil is an amazing theatrical event.
I’m not a fan of circus shows so I have passed several times on seeing Cirque Du Soleil’s shows. Big Mistake! These guys sure know how to produce spectacular performance art events. Since 1984, Cirque Du Soleil, the Montreal based company, have produced unique performance art programs that are circus based and visual stunning shows featuring 57 artists from 14 countries. Over 7 million people will see a Cirque Du Soleil around the world in 2006. Count me in as a fan.
After a three year absence from Chicago, Cirque Du Soleil returns with a completely new show, Corteo featuring a ramp stage with the audience on each side and the performers with their real hair and natural make-up enabling us to see the artist’s faces and expressions. This surprising show in the round is a technologically-advanced event in the state-of-the-art Grand Chapiteau (big top) in an air-conditioned tent and a 58 foot curtain.
This thrilling shows pushes the limits of acrobatics as it challenged director Daniele Finzi Pasca to produce a clown oriented show that is fresh and completely unique. The press notes aptly describes the show:
“Corteo, which means "cortege" in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.
The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music, by turns lyrical and playful, carries Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.”
Artists from Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canda, France, Italy, Romania, Russia, Spain, UK, USA and Ukraine inhabit the show where dance, contortion, hand-balancing, vertical ring on a pivoting platform leads the way.
The show opens with the grand parade of clowns in a funeral procession in honor of the old clown complete with floating angels. Aerialists twirling and spinning, tight-wire walkers and trapeze artists all play homage to the dead clown. We see the old clown see a live puppet, an artist marionette that depicts the dead clown on bouncing beds. Next aerial acrobatics on three giant chandeliers spinning feature four women high above the stage.
Cry wheels and a whistling virtuoso perform on a crystal glasses. Next, we see Duo-Straps in a mesmerizing act with terrific agility, balance and strength. Four jugglers do fast-paced feats of prowess where juggling and acrobatics combine to thrill us.
The golf scene was a hoot as the sound of bagpipes lead the way. The eight musicians underscored the show with an energetic blend of haunting Eastern European melodies, stirring rhythms and toe-tapping tunes that created a hypnotic tone to this amazing show.
We see the Helium Dance where the Dead Clown and his Little Clowness that bespells the audience with child-like delight. The cute little lady swept above the audience who deftly help push her back onto the stage.
A ladder specialist thrilled us with his deft finesse as he tries to reach the ever present angels. We enjoy the ‘pantomime horses’ offer comic. The trampoline-like net and the three Korean frame stations high above the stage where the flying woman are a breathtaking act to witness.
The above are simply a sample of the fast-paced thrilling acrobatic acts that completely engage us throughout. This is world class entertainment that is family friendly and slickly presented. This is a visually stunning show that will leave you impressed as you witness many of the finest artists in the world doing their specialties in amazing feats of heart-stopping skill.
There are so many near impossible performances in this intoxicating show that defy proper explanation that can only be seen to be believed. This is a wonderful show that stretches circus into a theatrically engaging show.
High Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: July14, 2006
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