RtS: Cirque du Soleil - Delirium

[Stan4dSteph]

Rank the Swank - Theater and Movies


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Cirque du Soleil - Delirium
Pepsi Arena

Albany, NY
Feb 4, 2006
http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/showstickets/delirium/Default.htm (http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/showstickets/delirium/Default.htm)


The Lowdown
Went solo to Cirque du Soleil's latest extravaganza - Delirium

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The Scene
The latest show from Cirque du Soleil is a departure from their usual shows. For one thing, the shows are being performed in arenas around the country, instead of the familiar yellow-and-blue Grand Chapiteau. This allows for a larger-scale performance, and the introduction of multimedia elements.

The stage is a rectangular shape in the middle of the floor flanked by two large screens on either side. In addition to the stationary screens, moveable scrims are utilized throughout the performance to integrate projected images with the movement on stage. I was seated close to the floor near the mixing station, so I got a good view, but midway up the lower tier might have been better to fully take in the images on the screens and the performances on stage.

The music for the show is from previous Cirque shows, that has been remixed with lyrics added. Some songs worked better than others, but I enjoyed the fresh look at some old favorites, especially the finale number, "Alegria" and those performed by the Senegalese Diouf Brothers.

Delirium is a departure in another way for Cirque in that the focus is more on the music and dance elements, rather than acrobatics and other traditional circus arts. That's not to say that these elements are absent from Delirium, but that they take a backseat to the music and dance. There are some really great moments in the show where live performance, music and projected images all combine for a massive spectacle of movement and sound. Awesome stuff.

Fans of modern dance will really enjoy this show, as will rabid Cirque fans (like myself). Those expecting to see nonstop high-wire acts and death-defying feats may leave disappointed.

Whatever your opinion though, Delirium is a show as only Cirque du Soleil can do. See it if it comes to your town.

[innerSpaceman]

Thanks for the report. I thought there was also going to be a more Cirque-traditional touring company of, oh grrrrr can't remember the name of the new piece I read about over a year ago.

This arena show sounds interesting and enjoyable, but I'm not liking the general trend away from acrobatics and such, as has been evinced in Zumanity and Ka. Each is a worthy departure ... but if this is the third in a row that's barely circussy, I'll find myself less of a fan than I've been in the last 2 decades.


And Greatest Hits or no, I can't see how the absence of an original score is anything but a big disappointment. (New music is something I look forward to the most about Cirque.)

[Stan4dSteph]

Thanks for the report. I thought there was also going to be a more Cirque-traditional touring company of, oh grrrrr can't remember the name of the new piece I read about over a year ago.

This arena show sounds interesting and enjoyable, but I'm not liking the general trend away from acrobatics and such, as has been evinced in Zumanity and Ka. Each is a worthy departure ... but if this is the third in a row that's barely circussy, I'll find myself less of a fan than I've been in the last 2 decades.


And Greatest Hits or no, I can't see how the absence of an original score is anything but a big disappointment. (New music is something I look forward to the most about Cirque.)The new touring show is Corteo. I've seen it in Toronto and I thought it was fantastic. It's in NYC now.

Delirium is separate and it appears that they're going to cities that don't normally get the regular touring shows. I think that's a great way to give people a flavor of Cirque. Right now it's not scheduled for LA, so you don't have to worry about not liking it. ;)

[innerSpaceman]

Well, it did come to L.A, and I did like it. Very much, in fact.

It had great Cirqueitude. Lots of fun and interesting characters, some great acrobatics and stuff, trippy visuals and artistic presentation up the ying-yang. Although we were so close we missed some of the stuff on the stage surface (way above us), I loved seeing the performers faces in detail, and the bulging muscles on those gorgeous bodies.

It was indeed like a Cirque primer, introduction-to-Soleil. But it worked amazingly well, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was not up to most of the touring shows or most of the Vegas shows, but it was a beautiful, splendid Cirquette.