Photo Coverage: Cirque du Soleil's Banana Shpeel Slides into Toronto 9/19-10/10

Cirque du Soleil's "Banana Shpeel" slides into Toronto for a month long limited engagement with the official opening Sunday September 19th.  This is a new style of production for Cirque du Soleil that features a colourful combination of slapstick comedy, eclectic dance and unique acrobatic acts.  The action follows a diverse spectrum of performances including tap, hip-hop and eccentric dance, physical comedy and distinctive acrobatic acts performed by elite International Artists - plus madcap characters spreading chaos in all directions. 

Always a great time at the theatre, Cirque du Soleil productions are known for their lavish costumes and fancy acrobatics, and this new production adds a new element of comedy that is different from what they have done in the past.  The Toronto Star describes Banana Shpeel as "an amusing, engaging, pleasing way to spend two hours in the theatre" and Variety Magazine calls it "a boisterously winning funfest."  

Banana Shpeel features an international cast of 38 performers including the main character of Schmelky, played by Broadway veteran Danny Rutigliano, best known for his role as Timon in The Lion King. Assisting Schmelky are two slapstick sidekicks performed by Daniel Passer and Wayne Wilson and his wacky assistant Margaret played by Shereen Hickman. As Schmelky works to complete his latest show, he is disrupted by a comedic trio: Claudio Carneiro, Patrick de Valette and GorDon White. The show offers incredible acrobatic performances, including Russian hand balancer Dmitry Bulkin; Vietnamese hat juggler Tuan Le; Spanish foot juggler Vanessa Alvarez; Canadian Hand to Hand duo Preston Jamieson and Kesley Wiens; and Russian contortionists Tsybenova Ayagma, Tsydendambaeva Imin and Zhambalova Lilia. Banana Shpeel features diverse dance elements, including brother-sister tap dance duo Joseph and Josette Wiggan and a talented ensemble comprised of Robyn Baltzer, Kassie Brown, Adrienne Jean Fisher, DeWitt Fleming Jr., Karida Griffith, Luke Hawkins, Kathleen Hennessey, Adrienne Reid, Anthony J. Russo, Melissa Schott, Josh Scribner, Alexis Sims and Steven T. Williams.

When and Where?

Cirque du Soleil's "Banana Shpeel"

The Canon Theatre

244 Victoria St, Toronto, ON

Performance Schedule:

Sept 14 to 26 - Tues-Fri 7:30 PM; Sat 1:30 & 7:30 PM; Sun 1:30 & 6:30 PM

Sept 28 to Oct 10 - Tues 7:30 PM; Wed 1:30 & 7:30 PM; Thur & Fri 7:30 PM; Sat 1:30 & 7:30 PM; Sun 1:30 PM

Tickets range from $25 to $110 and be purchased www.cirquedusoleil.com/bananashpeel or www.mirvish.com or by calling 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333.

For more information visit the Mirvish website at www.mirvish.com

All pictures credit to OSA Images 2009 Cirque du Soleil Inc

All costumes credit: Dominque Lemieux