Since its inception in 1984, the Canadian troupe Cirque du Soleil has been thrilling audiences worldwide with an impressionistic blend of dance, acrobatics, music, and drama. Their 17the production, Corteo, is an ironic festive funeral procession imagined by a clown dreaming about his death, and his life before and after the event.

The round, rotating stage literally comes alive with colorful images such as Baroque style angels, a trapeze act with girls twirling on crystal chandeliers, a tightrope walker performing with hula hoops, gymnasts using beds a trampoline and men in Renaissance style costume juggling hoops. The circus style acts are punctuated periodically by comedy skits with clowns trying to play golf with a disappearing ball, comedic remote controlled Eiffel Tower shaped robots, and empty shoes pulled along on a string, projecting a memorable creative illusion.

The centerpiece of the show is a segment in which the Ringmaster whistles classical melodies by Bach and Mozart, with Tibetan bowls and crystal glasses used and musical instruments. The show concludes with several acts including multiple gymnasts on the parallel bars, mimicking a three ring circus.

The entire show is an entertaing blend of art and theater, with a Gothic, Renaissance style theme, featuring an eclectic blend of musical styles including classical, jazz, and rag-time, with a spontaneous mixture of tragedy and comedy. Although the acrobatic acts are not particularly creative or challenging, the overall result is a visually captivating spectacle, that will appeal to audiences of all ages.

The performance film uses low light photography that contributes to the grainy quality of the picture, with some images appearing crisper than others, depending on the camera angle. The audio, recorded in Dolby Digital 5.1 is first rate. Extras  include a 45 minute in depth look at the production, featuring interviews discussing the development of the show from its conception to premiere, a brief day in the life of Corteo Artists, and another brief segment on the filming of the show. The package also includes a still photo gallery and deleted scene.

While it is very difficult to capture a live 3 ring circus type show on film, the Cirque du Soleil prodution of Corteo translates quite well on screen, with a rather seamless flow of action, filmed with creative camera angles and plenty of close-up shots, including a particularly intriguing and moving sequence of a marionette puppet manipulated by invisible strings, in which the clown revisits his childhood.

I have seen a variety Cirque du Soleil productions on The Bravo Channel, and found this show to be one of their more creative and intriguing presentations. Filled with religious symbolism, humor, elaborate costumes, and artistry, Corteo is a unique theatrical experience captured with joy and spontaneity. Although the visual quality on the Blu-Ray is a bit inconsistent, it is a nicely choreographed, charming and whimsical story with a crowd pleasing ironic twist.

My Rating: ***1/2

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older