Alana’s Score: 5 steampunk clocks
Wonder. Awe. Excitement. Thrilling anticipation. And that’s even before you enter Cirque du Soleil’s iconic stripy Big Top tent, or The Grand Chapiteau as it’s known here.
There is an undeniable buzz outside the Chapiteau on opening night, and it’s not hard to understand why. Cirque du Soleil has become an international household name, touring their breathtaking shows to just about every corner of the earth.
Kurios is their latest delight, following the story of the Seeker and his Cabinet of Curiosities. It follows the same formula as most of their shows, but when it’s been tried and tested (and loved) around the world, there’s no reason to change. Written and directed by Michell Laprise, Kurios is an absolute triumph.
Watch in awe as the Seeker’s steampunk creations come to life, and see him dream of bigger and better things. As a reward for daring to dream, he’s taken on a journey where imagination has no limits. Thankfully, we get to go along for the ride.
It really is a cabinet of curiosities, with weird and wonderful things and characters to ogle at all times. It harks back to the circuses of yesteryear, where sideshow freaks, valiant acrobats and glamorous showgirls were all the stars. With a glorious a steampunk-inspired aesthetic and hallmarks of a traditional circus, you’re in danger of event wanting to leave.
The show is one slick steampunk machine, with every part moving in perfect synchronicity. Everything is performed with complete and utter precision and passion, no matter how big or small. And there is always something to see, whether you’re straining up to the rafters or peering into a dark corner.
Costumes by Philippe Guillotel are whimsical and magical, with pops of colour amidst the mechanical browns and bronzes. There is an astounding amount of detail for every character, and I only wish I had more time to see it all more closely. Even the tech crew have elements of costume — a nice touch.
The acts themselves are, unexpectedly, spectacular. Highlights include the four mesmerising contortionists, maniacally writhing and bending their bodies into inhuman shapes and tableaux, a mind-bending, gravity-defying chair balancing act, the Siamese twins flying high above the audience in a majestic dance through the air, the giant trampoline net hurling lithe and limber acrobats almost to the ceiling… you get the idea.
With daily lives dictated by schedules and meetings and deadlines and responsibilities, it can be hard to let go of structure and let our minds wander to the extremities of our imagination. But Kurios reminds us that awe and wonder and curiosity and imagination are also imperative to life. And not only that, but that they’re so incredibly rewarding.
Enter the Cabinet and allow your imagination to fly.
Alana Kaye – Theatre Now
2 Oct – 24 Nov 2019
Venue: Big Top at the Entertainment Quarter
Theatre Company: Cirque du Soleil
Duration: N/A
Standard $50 – $335
Tuesday – Friday: 8:00pm
Saturday: 4:30pm and 8:00pm
Sunday: 1:30pm and 5.00pm
By Written and directed by Michel Laprise
Step into the curio cabinet of an ambitious inventor who defies the laws of time, space and dimension in order to reinvent everything around him. Suddenly, the visible becomes invisible, perspectives are transformed, and the world is literally turned upside down.
Since its debut, critics across North America and Japan have been raving about KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities. In an alternate yet familiar past, in a place where wonders abound for those who trust their imagination, a scientist (“The Seeker”) is convinced that there exists a hidden world – a place where the craziest ideas and the grandest dreams await. Out of his curio cabinet steps a collection of otherworldly characters made up of world-class gymnasts, acrobats, contortionists, hand-puppeteers, yo-yo wizards, clowns, actors and musicians. Together they turn the Seeker’s steampunk world upside-down as they are guided by an energetic gypsy jazz, electro swing soundtrack.
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