Several weeks ago, as I was riding the T to Mission Bay, I remember seeing another “building” going up. Several stories tall, this one seemed a bit different. First of all, it was going up in the AT&T parking lot. Second, this one had a festive blue and yellow motif to it. And then it dawned on me … the circus was back in town: Cirque du Soleil, that is!
Every time Cirque du Soleil rolls into town, one can expect an amazing show filled with gorgeous costumes, magnificent sets, original music and some of the most entertaining acts around. Cirque’s latest, "Kooza," which started its tour of the US here in San Francisco, is no different. Or rather, I should say, it is just as stunning and entertaining as previous Cirque performances.
"Kooza," inspired by the Sanskrit word for treasure chest, tells the tale of the Innocent, a melancholy loner who encounters strange and enchanting characters including a wand-wielding wizard called the Trickster, the wily Pickpocket and the burlesque King. Rather than follow a coherent storyline, it is actually a montage of death-defying acts, clowning and audience interaction pieces stitched together. Add costumes that allude to Alice in Wonderland, Baron Munchausen and the Wizard of Oz, set it to music blending and inspired by ’70s funk, orchestral music and traditional Indian music played by a live band, and the result? A veritable treasure trove for the senses to be enjoyed by kids of all ages.
Packed with some mind-blowing stunts, the over 2½-hour evening began with 19 artists that performed Chairvari, a combination of acrobatics, trampolines and human pyramids. Based on the Inuit game of “blanket toss,” performers took turns flying through the air and diving into a fabric held by the others (think of how firefighters catching someone jumping out of a burning building). Other acts, though less elaborate, were equally stunning. One such act, which was my wife Lucky’s favorite act, was by the three female performers in Contortion. Flexible beyond belief, these women take turns balancing on one another in unimaginable configurations and positions. Even as we watched them bend and move, it was often difficult to comprehend how what they did was humanly possible.
There were also acts that are seen at most any circus, including trapeze, highwire and unicycle. But if you’ve ever seen a Cirque du Soleil show, you know that even the most ordinary is made extraordinary. In the case of the highwire act, two taut wires cross diagonally at 15 and 25 feet above the stage with a total of four walkers performing. One frightening moment came when one of the walkers lost his balance and fell, grabbing the wire just in the nick of time. It was a frightening reminder of just how difficult and dangerous these acts were.
My favorite act was the Wheel of Death, in which two artists leap and counter-rotate in a three-story tall, 1,600-pound contraption consisting of two opposing large metal wheels spinning on its axis at dizzyingly high speeds. Inside, and occasionally on, the two wheels are two crazy men balancing on either side. I apologize to the children who sat within earshot – expletives accidentally left my mouth on more than one occasion as we watched in both amazement and terror as these fearless men thumbed their noses at gravity and laughed at the laws of physics while using their weight and movements to make the contraption rotate. For the most part, I was transfixed on every move. But part of me wished they would just finish the act and put an end to their flirtations with death.
Bits of clowning were interspersed between death-defying acts to allow the audience to catch its collective breath. While I admit that I am not a big fan of most of it, when it was mixed with audience interaction, it was very entertaining. The Pickpocket, in particular, was just phenomenal. It was amazing that he was able to remove a patron’s wrist watch without his cognizance. But it was absolutely mind-boggling that the Pickpocket was able to remove the man’s tie without him being any wiser. The Obnoxious Tourist was on the other side of the spectrum – an annoying character with few, if any, endearing characteristics or skills.
Any evening out is likely to cost a pretty penny, especially for the starving student, but here are a few tips you may want to consider to keep the cost down. 1) Take the N to the end. You can then jump on the T or take a 10-minute walk to the Grand Chapiteau (the blue and yellow tent). Either way, a $3 roundtrip Muni ride beats the price of gas+parking ($20 at AT&T Park’s lot A). 2) Eat before or after the show. A hotdog meal was selling for about $12. 3) Cirque du Soleil offers student discounts for those with a valid ID for shows on Tuesday through Thursday as well as the 4 p.m. shows on Friday. Discounted prices range from $49.50 to $81, not including any handling charges.
Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA
Under the Grand Chapiteau at AT&T Park
Through January 20
$55-90 for adults; $38.50-$63 for children under 12
www.cirquedusoleil.com or call (800) 361-4595 for tickets
Originally published: www.ucsf.edu/synapse/articles/2007/Dec/6/kooza.html
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