Thank you to Cirque du Soleil for providing tickets. All opinions are my own.
Yes I know the title is odd but so is Cirque du Soleil. That’s the charm of the worldwide phenomenon. The quirkiness of a circus, the quaintness of a live show, and the thrill of acrobatics. This time Cirque du Soleil is set in France, where we see Clown and lead character Mauro has passed and his loved ones are paying their respects. Angels fly overhead, acrobats do death-defying feats, and we get to celebrate his life with the cast.
I loved that the stage was set in the center of the theater with an intimate audience on either side of it. It made the entire show intimate but clever and able to entertain the masses. It was unlike any show I have seen before.
The clown Mauro has passed, but his spirit is still with us. Instead of mourning, the funeral cortege celebrates the here and hereafter with laughter and exuberance. Rich, extravagant memories frolic with the senses. The sound of laughter peals around the stage, visions of joyous tumblers and players fascinate the eyes. Regret and melancholy retreat in the face of a cavalcade of lively recollections of a life gloriously lived. A festive parade that entertains; the perfect accolade for an artist whose life was dedicated to revelry and making merry.
There were some amazing acts throughout the show, including my favorite The Suspended Pole, where the woman Mauro fell in love with dances a beautiful number around a suspended pole.
Another highlight was the Helium Dance because it involves audience participation. The dancer is small and light enough to be suspended from 4 large helium balloons and Mauro sets her sailing into the audience where she must rely on us to push her into the air.
Cirque du Soleil was definitely one of my favorites of the Cirque show library. It was like the Smashing Pumpkins video “Tonight, Tonight” came to life in front of me.
You can see Cirque du Soleil Corteo in Portland through March 17th or find out when it will come to a city near you.
