REVIEW: "Corteo"

A Review

A Carnival Procession

By R. J. Donovan

Cirque du Soleil always delivers a clever and entertaining escape. It's newest incarnation, "Corteo" is no exception.

Performed under its trademark blue and yellow-swirled tent at Suffolk Downs, "Corteo" presents a clown's dream of his own funeral. As angels quietly watch over the procedings, his colleagues present their tributes. The production draws together 55 artists from 16 countries.

As "Corteo" means "cortege" in Italian, what we have is an evening-long procession showcasing the large and the small, the ridiculous and the tragic, perfection mixed with imperfection.

Unlike previous Cirque productions, there are no life-sized insects and bugs sprouting from the stage floor, no headless trenchcoats clutching umbrellas, and no ethereal non-language created just for the show.

Instead, this is a more realistic (in comparison) showcase of circus acts. However, the style is still trademark Cirque, with sharp lighting, shadowy corners and lyrical characters.

Rather than setting the house with proscenium-style seating, the stage is theatre-in-the-round. The trick is that a center strip divides the stage in half, and it's curtained off with scrim as the audience files in pre-show on either side of the theatre. That center track then serves as a performance path for the acts to emerge and withdraw.

Among the standouts during the packed performance: a troupe of trampolinists who bounce around on two steel-framed beds (at left) ; four twirling acrobats who contort on three massive crystal chandeliers; a marionette artist (Rebecca Jose), who soars over the performance area on her "strings;" a quartet of giant Cyr Wheel spinners who roll around the stage with finger-crushing defiance; teeterboard artists; and two little people (Grigor Pahlevanyan and Valentyna Pahlevanyan), one of whom floats over the audience, sans wires.

That last one was a real crowd pleaser. Valentyna (at left) is inserted into a small harness-frame, suspended by a host of gigantic helium balloons (and I mean gi-gantic). She's so small that she actually does float -- which is accentuated when she's shoved out over the heads of the crowd, who gently propel her back and forth across the tent.

A Tournik finale of acrobats flipping and catapulting on horizontal bars caps the night.

Where the show falters a little is with some of its comedic bits, which are more circus than spectacle. They involve a short golfing segment as well as a Teatro Intimo sketch which is cute, but on too limited a scale to connect.

As always, the music (composed and directed by Philippe Leduc) is grand. Interestingly, this year the band is splintered into four small groups situated at various locations along the stage's edge.

The show's concept is from creator and director Daniele Finzi Pasca, who's got a creative team of 14 working with him, including Dominique Lemieux who designed the inventive costumes.

It takes a village to pull off Cirque du Soleil. And the "Corteo" troupe is more than up to the task.

"Corteo" is at Suffolk Downs, at the junctions of Routes 1A and 145 in Boston, through October 15. For tickets, call 800-678-5440.

-- OnStage Boston

09/13/06

			A Review A Carnival Procession By R. J. Donovan Cirque du Soleil always delivers a clever and entertaining escape. It's newest incarnation, "Corteo" is no exception. Performed under its trademark blue and yellow-swirled tent at Suffolk Downs, "Corteo" presents a clown's dream of his own funeral. As angels quietly watch over the procedings, his colleagues present their tributes. The production draws together 55 artists from 16 countries. As "Corteo" means "cortege" in Italian, what we have is an evening-long procession showcasing the large and the small, the ridiculous and the tragic, perfection mixed with imperfection. Unlike previous Cirque productions, there are no life-sized insects and bugs sprouting from the stage floor, no headless trenchcoats clutching umbrellas, and no ethereal non-language created just for the show. Instead, this is a more realistic (in comparison) showcase of circus acts. However, the style is still trademark Cirque, with sharp lighting, shadowy corners and lyrical characters. Rather than setting the house with proscenium-style seating, the stage is theatre-in-the-round. The trick is that a center strip divides the stage in half, and it's curtained off with scrim as the audience files in pre-show on either side of the theatre. That center track then serves as a performance path for the acts to emerge and withdraw. Among the standouts during the packed performance: a troupe of trampolinists who bounce around on two steel-framed beds (at left) ; four twirling acrobats who contort on three massive crystal chandeliers; a marionette artist (Rebecca Jose), who soars over the performance area on her "strings;" a quartet of giant Cyr Wheel spinners who roll around the stage with finger-crushing defiance; teeterboard artists; and two little people (Grigor Pahlevanyan and Valentyna Pahlevanyan), one of whom floats over the audience, sans wires. That last one was a real crowd pleaser. Valentyna (at left) is inserted into a small harness-frame, suspended by a host of gigantic helium balloons (and I mean gi-gantic). She's so small that she actually does float -- which is accentuated when she's shoved out over the heads of the crowd, who gently propel her back and forth across the tent. A Tournik finale of acrobats flipping and catapulting on horizontal bars caps the night. Where the show falters a little is with some of its comedic bits, which are more circus than spectacle. They involve a short golfing segment as well as a Teatro Intimo sketch which is cute, but on too limited a scale to connect. As always, the music (composed and directed by Philippe Leduc) is grand. Interestingly, this year the band is splintered into four small groups situated at various locations along the stage's edge. The show's concept is from creator and director Daniele Finzi Pasca, who's got a creative team of 14 working with him, including Dominique Lemieux who designed the inventive costumes. It takes a village to pull off Cirque du Soleil. And the "Corteo" troupe is more than up to the task. "Corteo" is at Suffolk Downs, at the junctions of Routes 1A and 145 in Boston, through October 15. For tickets, call 800-678-5440. Production Photos: Marie-Reine Mattera ©Cirque du Soleil, Inc. 2005 -- OnStage Boston 09/13/06

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