Cirque du Soleil's Corteo

cirquelover · 05-04-2005, 12:39 PM

We saw Corteo while we were in Montreal, so I thought I'd give a review. I don't know how to do spoiler tags and I think the whole review will be a spoiler! So if you don't want to know about the acts, please don't read on.

You have been warned:

The show begins with the dead clown(their verbage, not mine) laying on his death bed with many people passing by to pay last respects, an angel is floating down from above. In center stage are three giant chandeliers two of the female mourners climb up into the end ones. A third one follows later. What follows is a very unusual trapeze and contortion on a chandelier. It is very fast paced and energetic.
As the chandeliers are being spirited away, more beds are being wheeled around the stage. Two of them stop in the middle of the stage with two performers on each bed. They are made to look like children. What starts as a pillow fight turns into trampoline and duo trampoline act. It was very high energy and flawless watching the two guys fly from bed to bed and perform some amazing feats! The act ends as the dead clowns bed flies overhead surrounded by angels.
The next act is hard to explain, if you know what the German Wheel is cut that in half, otherwise picture a really big hoola hoop. Three guys "capture" the girl and put her in the middle, stand her up and spin her. She screams, she twirls and then the guys take over. This act was fun to watch. It started with two guys rolling together, then they add the third. At the end the girl joins in the middle with one of the guys in the same hoop, I'm not sure how two people can stand in the middle of a hoola hoop and rotate themselves around but it was fun to watch!
Then came a comedy skit with four performers in two horse costumes and the little clown trying to get them to perform.
The funeral procession was next, as most of the performers came from left stage and sing and chant their way across the stage. It was good to see all the performers singing or playing an instrument.
Then was the high wire act, if you've seen a wire act you've seen this one. Not very impressive and her guide wire was taut the whole time. I also hate it when they do the fake "stumble".
Another comedy sketch, with the giant clown this time, as a golfer trying to hit a ball which is a guys head sticking out of the stage.
The four young jugglers were amazing to watch. I don't think they had their real costumes yet but they were great to watch. They juggled pins and these circular things, like a frisbee with no center. They glowed different colors on each side so it could be visually stunning when they had the colors right!
Next was a marrionette act. She was hung up with wires and pulleys and I liked checking out the apparatus she used.
The next real act was the little clowness being brought out attched to four weather balloons. The dead clown or giant clown, I can't remember which, pushes her out over the audience and the have to keep her airborn. It was a cute act, but I worried about the little ladies safety as the audience was responsible for catching and pushing her

The last act of the first half was a Korean Plank(Teeterboard) act. They played it like the two sides were waring or vying for who was better. The guys did some good tricks but if you've seen this act before it was a little boring with just the two, sometimes three, mostly jumping up and down to gain height. At least in Mystere they switch in and out or use two jumpers to gain that extra lift for heigth.

So that was the first half! If you made it this far congratulations! I'm sorry if I've gone on way to long on parts, honestly I'm trying not to be longwinded. I need to feed the boy, I will finish later with the second half.

innerSpaceman · 05-06-2005, 05:00 PM

Well, I couldn't read a word of your review, because I want no spoilers. So, um, was it good?

(Being that there's been only one Cirque show I didn't care for since they first started coming to L.A. in '87, I think chances are good that I'll like this one when it eventually gets here.)

cirquelover · 05-11-2005, 10:06 AM

Sorry, guess maybe I should have just told everyone about the headquarters tour

Corteo is very different for Cirque.
I don't think I like the theater in the round idea. It's strange to see other people when you are looking at the stage.
The curtain is beautiful and the male singer is great.

Overall it was not what I had hoped for, hopefully it will improve. They have already removed one act but I think that was for the best.

If anyone actually read the first post and wants to know more just let me know and I'll finish.

Claire · 05-11-2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cirquelover

The show begins with the dead clown.

Oooooh, me likey! I'm of the opinion that the only good clown is a dead clown!!

Stan4dSteph · 05-11-2005, 11:58 AM

I've got tickets for Labor Day weekend in Toronto. If I remember, I'll post a review here. Right now I'm avoiding your spoilers.

Stan4dSteph · 09-05-2005, 07:45 PM

Just saw it this weekend and loved it!

SzczerbiakManiac · 09-06-2005, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

there's been only one Cirque show I didn't care for since they first started coming to L.A. in '87

Which one didn't you care for?

innerSpaceman · 09-06-2005, 04:15 PM

Quidam. Hated it.

Although there was one act that I loved, but can't remember now.

Generally downbeat, unexciting, lame acts and crappy music. I would have bought the CD anyway (cause an earlier one grew on me afterwards) but - starting a stupid marketing trend that continues to this day - it wasn't available at the early performances.

Everything else that's played U.S. west of the Mississippi has been great.

05-04-2005, 12:39 PM	#1
cirquelover Cruising around in my automobile... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,617	Cirque du Soleil's Corteo We saw Corteo while we were in Montreal, so I thought I'd give a review. I don't know how to do spoiler tags and I think the whole review will be a spoiler! So if you don't want to know about the acts, please don't read on. You have been warned: The show begins with the dead clown(their verbage, not mine) laying on his death bed with many people passing by to pay last respects, an angel is floating down from above. In center stage are three giant chandeliers two of the female mourners climb up into the end ones. A third one follows later. What follows is a very unusual trapeze and contortion on a chandelier. It is very fast paced and energetic. As the chandeliers are being spirited away, more beds are being wheeled around the stage. Two of them stop in the middle of the stage with two performers on each bed. They are made to look like children. What starts as a pillow fight turns into trampoline and duo trampoline act. It was very high energy and flawless watching the two guys fly from bed to bed and perform some amazing feats! The act ends as the dead clowns bed flies overhead surrounded by angels. The next act is hard to explain, if you know what the German Wheel is cut that in half, otherwise picture a really big hoola hoop. Three guys "capture" the girl and put her in the middle, stand her up and spin her. She screams, she twirls and then the guys take over. This act was fun to watch. It started with two guys rolling together, then they add the third. At the end the girl joins in the middle with one of the guys in the same hoop, I'm not sure how two people can stand in the middle of a hoola hoop and rotate themselves around but it was fun to watch! Then came a comedy skit with four performers in two horse costumes and the little clown trying to get them to perform. The funeral procession was next, as most of the performers came from left stage and sing and chant their way across the stage. It was good to see all the performers singing or playing an instrument. Then was the high wire act, if you've seen a wire act you've seen this one. Not very impressive and her guide wire was taut the whole time. I also hate it when they do the fake "stumble". Another comedy sketch, with the giant clown this time, as a golfer trying to hit a ball which is a guys head sticking out of the stage. The four young jugglers were amazing to watch. I don't think they had their real costumes yet but they were great to watch. They juggled pins and these circular things, like a frisbee with no center. They glowed different colors on each side so it could be visually stunning when they had the colors right! Next was a marrionette act. She was hung up with wires and pulleys and I liked checking out the apparatus she used. The next real act was the little clowness being brought out attched to four weather balloons. The dead clown or giant clown, I can't remember which, pushes her out over the audience and the have to keep her airborn. It was a cute act, but I worried about the little ladies safety as the audience was responsible for catching and pushing her The last act of the first half was a Korean Plank(Teeterboard) act. They played it like the two sides were waring or vying for who was better. The guys did some good tricks but if you've seen this act before it was a little boring with just the two, sometimes three, mostly jumping up and down to gain height. At least in Mystere they switch in and out or use two jumpers to gain that extra lift for heigth. So that was the first half! If you made it this far congratulations! I'm sorry if I've gone on way to long on parts, honestly I'm trying not to be longwinded. I need to feed the boy, I will finish later with the second half.
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05-06-2005, 05:00 PM	#2
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Well, I couldn't read a word of your review, because I want no spoilers. So, um, was it good? (Being that there's been only one Cirque show I didn't care for since they first started coming to L.A. in '87, I think chances are good that I'll like this one when it eventually gets here.)
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05-11-2005, 10:06 AM	#3
cirquelover Cruising around in my automobile... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,617	Sorry, guess maybe I should have just told everyone about the headquarters tour Corteo is very different for Cirque. I don't think I like the theater in the round idea. It's strange to see other people when you are looking at the stage. The curtain is beautiful and the male singer is great. Overall it was not what I had hoped for, hopefully it will improve. They have already removed one act but I think that was for the best. If anyone actually read the first post and wants to know more just let me know and I'll finish.
	Submit to Quotes

05-11-2005, 11:58 AM	#5
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	I've got tickets for Labor Day weekend in Toronto. If I remember, I'll post a review here. Right now I'm avoiding your spoilers.
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09-05-2005, 07:45 PM	#6
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	Just saw it this weekend and loved it!
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09-06-2005, 04:15 PM	#8
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Quidam. Hated it. Although there was one act that I loved, but can't remember now. Generally downbeat, unexciting, lame acts and crappy music. I would have bought the CD anyway (cause an earlier one grew on me afterwards) but - starting a stupid marketing trend that continues to this day - it wasn't available at the early performances. Everything else that's played U.S. west of the Mississippi has been great.
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