Back to their roots Cirque du Soleil goes. Proud papa Guy Laliberte offers British Columbians a chance to see a show rooted in slapstick clowning and high flying acrobatics that will leave eyes bulging out and mouths wide open. Director/writer David Shiner takes us on an unforgettable journey beginning with something as innocuous as a little boy lost with a kite that opens up an imagination vista unparalleled in the arts world.
Lucky guests will sure take a shining to Shiner as his group of actors and acrobats give their all in this tour de force farcical make-believe world that’s punctuated with heart-pounding moments on sets that never stand still. Part of 20 touring shows as well as anchored sites in Las Vegas, Kooza lets locals get up close and personal with impressive talents both on stage and behind the scenes.
Audiences Get In The Mood with Warm-Up Clowns Sure to Delight
Almost two-and-a-half hours long, Kooza is a two act spectacular that boasts awesome sets and truly unique performances. Prior to the big event clowns get the audience warmed up before getting on with the show. Three comically done up jesters interact crazily with the audience when they’re not trying to flee some equally inept officers of the law.
Think Keystone Cops, and you get the gist of the whole fun atmosphere that explodes throughout the big tent. Wildly flamboyant and funny, this sets the whole tone for the show as the zaniness continues to pile on. Set designs show the top go up and curtains drape skyward as the performers take their marks. Precision choreography timed to exciting music turns the guests on as the adrenaline of both participant and voyeur clicks in for unparalleled tension and excitement.
And what a show it is! Think of class acts from the days of Barnum and Bailey and spice them up with state of the art story-telling and you get only a partial outlook on the wildly entertaining show that’s about to unfold.
Balance Stunts and High Wire Acts Defy Gravity in Rousing Display That Thrills
Gasps occur throughout this presentation as brave men and women from all nationalities take on challenges that truly defy the ordinary. Extraordinary work with high wires, unicycles, hoops and other tricks of the trade are refined to such an extent you literally won’t believe what you see when the performers here strut their stuff. Not a dull moment occurs. Forget about fake Hollywood special effects, here you see unbelievable stunts unfold right before your eyes.
Showstoppers happen on occasion in live performances. Not so with Cirque du Soleil. During Kooza there are breath taking edge of your seat moments interspersed throughout its run. Among the highlights in this show are a romantic unicycle ride where your hearts will pound and a death defying chair stunt where the performer literally climbs to the sky. Balance is everything in this act and it’s uncanny that the performer doesn’t fall down.
During act one you get to see a limber woman do all sorts of moves with her body that takes stretching to a whole new dimension. Act 2 begins with a unique ring contraption where the chase is on between two acrobatics running seemingly in circles going higher and higher and higher above the ground. And just when you think the acrobatic actions have reached their zenith they take things further leaving your jaws open wondering how can this be? How they do it must be some sort of trade secret. Where these prime physical athletes learned their craft does not matter; the end results are truly phenomenal.
Humour runs throughout the course of Kooza and there’s a sultry singer that belts out tunes to further ramp up the adrenaline as the audience awaits each new move. Gasps go out often as you fear that some of the performers may miss a cue or miscalculate a move. Not so here as not a beat is missed as the men and women of Kooza give their all and pull off remarkable feats of physical prowess second to none.
Concentration, dedication and bravery make up the genesis of the performers on view. Audience participation is another highlight of this show where members are brought forth and are only too happy to partake in the controlled insanity that’s going on in the ring.
Stunts with hoola hoops, high flying wire acts and a host of other special talents make Kooza unstoppable fun that all ages will enjoy. Worth every penny and more Cirque du Soleil has again outdone themselves. Story-wise, it’s hard to know what the heck is going on or how it weaves together. Suffice it to say that the individual acrobatic acts and stunts are so spectacular they will simply amaze.
Robert Waldman - Hi. I'm a film critic from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, considered to be the number one city in the world and third largest film ...
