Surrealist Steampunk on Parade: Cirque du Soleil's Kurios

An entrance which is on a train is a good entrance.A world created by imagination is a fascinating world.  A world populated by the artists of Cirque du Soleil is simply fantastic.

Cirque's Kurios is a wonderful addition to their repertoire. In a moment (between 11:11 and 11:12, according to their clock) a man with unicorn hair creates an entire world from his imagination, filled with the very best of acts. We have tea parties that happen both on the ceiling and on the ground simultaneously and symmetrically, fishermen and fish trampolining together through a net, letters delivered by bicycles in the air, airplane pilots with mad balancing skills, and surrealist puppet shows.

The whole set is very steampunk, with gears and phonographs.  The cast arrives via a train pulling onto the stage, and exits with amazing hats, llamas on sticks, and all other things necessary for good steampunk fantasy.  The musicians were a particularly wonderful touch, decked out as they were in fantastic hats, and having a tendency to drum on people's luggage. One of the drummers is from Georgia!  Given the national reputation of Georgia, I am always pleased when Georgians are seen to excel in artistic pursuits.

Before the show, members of the audience with close-toed and heeled shoes are invited to walk across a shaky suspension bridge on the stage. This bridge serves no other purpose than to welcome the audience to this surreal world prior to the show, and I love that touch.  I have also never before regretted my fondness for beaded and bedazzled sandals.

I actually saw this show twice, thanks to a corporate outing sponsored by the company I work for, and having witnessed it from two different places, I was impressed by the choreography for presenting the acts to all sides.  Also, something I was really looking at this show, were the waiting moves.  What does a Russian Cradle flier do while waiting for her partner to chalk up?  She does pretty stylistic poses, that's what.  I go to circuses to learn things about performing as well as to be entertained.

Overall, this is a show that hangs together as a cohesive work.  It's charming, it makes sense, it has its own world with a consistent style throughout.  I loved it.