Corteo = Awesome!!!

[vandy]

I just got back from seeing Corteo, the latest Cirque du Soleil show to come through Portland. It is excellent, by far my favorite of the last three cirque shows to come through town. The acts are talented, sexy, funny, and there is even a fairly developed sense of unity through out the show. There isn't a catchy main theme song, like in Allegria, however the music is excellent, and I think it is more integrated into the performance than in the last couple of shows.

Hank got me Tapis Rouge tickets as a birthday present, which is pricey but fun. Since Cirque seems to be coming through town fairly regularly close to my birthday, we did Tapis Rouge last year too. While I liked this show better, the Tapis Rouge experience wasn't quite as good as last time. For your $$$ you get private tent/lounge area with it's own set of bathrooms, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, chocolate fountain and more booze at intermission, and a complimentary CD. The food wasn't quite as good or varied as last year, but it is still awesome being able to get a g&t to take along to the show. We also had seats right up front. We have been really lucky and had excellent seats every time we've gone. H was actually somewhat nervous about sitting up front again - the first year we went he got dragged on stage and he did NOT want to have that happen again. This year he had a protective drink in hand, and sat me on the aisle. Smart thinking since other nearby men got measured (and molested) to see if they would fit in the coffin the clowns parked near us...

On to more about the show. If you don't want spoilers, stop reading NOW. As usual there is a loose story holding together the circus acts and music. This is one of the more successful uses of story by Cirque du Soleil, IMO. This show is reminiscent of the death of Grimaldi - it is based on the death and funeral of a clown, including acts based around people and events from his life. Thus it more naturally can be bent to include a variety of circus acts. This story retains Cirque's signature dream-like quality, silly and surreal clowns, and vivid costuming, but it also intensifies the action, music, and overall impact by great choreography and integration of the various elements. One thing differentiating Corteo from previous acts to come through town is the amount of automation used. There is a lot of use of hoists and wires.

The performances this time through are amazing. They include everything from the standard equilibristics and juggling to having a midget suspended by balloons being propelled by the hands of the audience. Having watched the IJA (International Juggling Association) group championships aout a year and a half ago, I can testify to the greatness of the jugglers in this show. They are polished, talented, and do some really hard stuff as well as crowd pleasing tricks. They easily stand up to any of the acts I saw at the last IJA festival I attended. I have seen better jugglers, but have never seen a better group juggling act.

The most amazing act in this show is the ladder manipulation. This guy is incredible. Not only is doing free standing ladder work really frikkin' hard, it is also one of the more dangerous acts around. If you fall and are tangled up, you are out of luck. There is no protection, you are going to hit the ground and break something. This guy does things with a ladder that I didn't know were possible.

My other favorite act from Corteo is where the clown's former lovers cavort on swinging chandeliers. Not only is it damn sexy, they are quite good, and the chandeliers are a nice innovation. Plus the fact that they are swinging over the audience with no protection at all is sort of impressive.

If you have been thinking about going, do it! This is the best piece of circus art I have had the pleasure of seeing.

Comments

[monkeyjunk.livejournal.com]

I second the recommendation!
We went on Thursday night..it was awesome!

[monkeyjunk.livejournal.com]

OH...I wanted to tell you...Sam was the most transfixed (with mouth dropped open)on the juggling.....
Sounds like he needs to spend some time with you in the future!

[aelfgyfu.livejournal.com]

Careful, next thing you know he will be saying, "Mommy, I want some torches for my birthday..." ;-) I am seriously considering starting to show up to 3M fighter practices early and bringing out my juggling stuff, btw. Always happy to share the sillyness.

[monkeyjunk.livejournal.com]

hmmm....when the weather gets better, we might take you up on the 3M fight practice thing....

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

Sounds like fun. Don't know if it will ever get close enough to me to go, but you never know?

Looks like we will be neighbors in the Merchant's room at KAS. I'm excited.

[p1kap1ka.livejournal.com]

*sigh* maybe next time. This is why i wanna be a lawyer, y'know? to afford the *good* tickets.

[aelfgyfu.livejournal.com]

I just married well. ;-)

[foxen.livejournal.com]

:-)

[de-foxley.livejournal.com]

ooooo, that sounds like a lot of fun! I've never seen Cirque.

[aelfgyfu.livejournal.com]

It is SO cool. You should go. It is very personal, the view is great even from the back because it is all in a tent rather than a huge building like a normal circus, and it is really circus art rather than just a show of tricks. Amazing choreography, great music, crazy talent... I wanna go again! ;-)