Walking into The Grand Chapiteau of Cirque de Soleil’s latest acrobatic endeavor, Corteo, you can immediately tell the detail put into the spectacle. In the center of the room hang two tall screens with images of various individuals lost or exceedingly content in the chaos that surrounds them. Tapestry-like in their appearance, these screens surround the main stage, allowing a hazy view of the other side of the tent. Look up, and you’ll find French inspired railings and decor, appropriate given the program’s French origin. And to the side, a huge “Merci!” flashes, thanking those who have contributed to Corteo’s success. If you can admire the aesthetics, you will be floored by the performances.
To describe Corteo’s various acts would be unfair on multiple levels. Unfair because it would give away some of the most striking live visuals to come across the southland. Unfair because putting into words the talents and feats these performers accomplish does not serve them justice. Unfair because Corteo is not an act to read or be told about, but an experience that involves the audience more so than a DVD or newspaper ever can.
However, to say a little, Corteo’s plot is loosely threaded along under the theme of a man’s funeral. In fact, a corteo, according to the program, is “a grand procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown.†Thus, the juxtaposition of a funeral and the procession of such imagined by a joyous character allows for an entertaining and fascinating experience. While the tone starts out a bit somber, it soon morphs into a vivid and elegant spectacle, utilizing all aspects of the stage, and one the eye can feast on, never wanting to blink. But, to whet the eye’s appetite, Corteo’s performances include a very balanced individual on an inclined tightrope; trapeze artists that work without a net; a midget held up by balloons; angels that seemingly float gracefully across the sky; and a cast full of eccentric characters. If you’ve seen the commercials, you’ve only begun to imagine what awaits.
Part of the joy in watching Corteo is how the simple images ignite just as much enthusiasm in you as the more complex acts, such as when a large ring seductively glides across the stage, nothing around it but the light it reflects. In fact, when Corteo ends, you’ll exit the theater, humming the catchy music, waiting for a clown to pass you by or an angel to play ball with you or an acrobatic artist to swing in the air continuing to spark your imagination.
Corteo runs until December 23, 2007 at the Orange County Fairgrounds before heading to San Diego.
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