Review: Cirque Du Soleil Brings Childhood Whimsy And Imagination Back To Sydney With KOOZÅ.

Friday 26th August 2016, 8pm, The Grand Chapiteau, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park

Cirque du Soleil draws on their traditional origins to pair breathtaking acrobatics and hilarious clowning to reinvigorate a sense of wonder as the KOOZÅ box is opened. Part dream, part self-examination, KOOZÅ exposes human fragility, fear, courage and imagination through classic circus acts, beautiful music, detailed costumes and a beautiful set and space.

As the audience enters the purpose build Grand Chapiteau, they are greeted by the comical ringmaster, "The King" and his bumbling Clowns. The trio plus a practicing ballerina are entertaining the premium seats with madcap antics and a repeated security alarm until the mysterious Heimloss emerges from the depths below the stage to connect the power for the performance. Once the show starts, it is clear that KOOZÅ centres around a shy 'boy', the 'Innocent', who lives in a monochrome world trying to fly a kite. He takes delivery of a mysterious box that in turn reveals the colourful agile Trickster who proceeds to teach the Innocent about himself through the amazing colours, sounds, and activity of the circus that emerges from the box.

Acts include floor work like the Charivari human towers, the elastically limber Contortion duo and flying Teeterboard that makes the Olympic gymnastics vault work look like child's play. High into the peak of the Grand Chapiteau, the Double High Wire and heart stopping Wheel of Death elicit gasps of disbelief as performers run, skip and play on moving objects. Cirque du Soleil naturally pushes the limits with their interpretation of these traditional stunts, seeing a twin high wire suspended at 15 and 25 feet above the stage and a The Devilish acrobats on the spinning Wheel of Death displaying a remarkably playful demeanour when experiencing 'zero gravity' moments while running and jumping on the outside of the moving wheels.

Interspersed between the acrobatic elements, the bumbling King and his court Clowns take to the stage along with an anthropomorphised Mad Dog. The lanky, wild haired King is reminiscent of Geoffrey Rush's recent turn in Sydney Theatre Company's KING LEAR combined with Kanen Breen's Truffalindo from Opera Australia's LOVE OF THREE ORANGES. Rotund clowns are like Tweedledee and Tweedledum, bickering and displaying unique characteristics, from the more sensitive 'graceful' one to the other who seems to have a one track mind. The oversized mutt is a delightful inclusion and showcases Costume Designer Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt's skill to turn Mad Dog into more than a person in an animal suit.

In addition to the incredible performances, the wonder of the old world circus is enhanced by Vaillancourt's costumes. The lithe contortionists are clad in unitards with patterns reminiscent of Gustav Klimt's intricate gold embellished artworks. She has drawn on cultures that were considered exotic to the 18th and 19th century circus audiences. An 'army' of dancers and acrobats in leather armour reminiscent of Ancient Chinese warriors; Turkish or Eastern European High Wire quartet in heavily embroidered coats, leggings and codpieces; and Mexican 'Day Of The Dead' dancers that provide an introduction to The Devilish Mad Max styled Wheel Of Death duo.

The performances are rounded out by the beautiful music from the six piece band situated in the balcony of the gazebo that fills the rear of the performance space. As with the costumes, composer Jean-François Côté has drawn on a variety of influences to create an emotive and energetic soundscape that ramps up the energy or draws out the suspense. Whilst there are pop and funk beats, he has also drawn on the sounds of Asia and India and layered over vocals from the two singers.

KOOZÅ is a feast for the senses and a wonderful reconnection with an innocent wonder, whimsy and awe whilst balancing the optimism with the truth that there is a darker side within that needs to be acknowledged and controlled. A beautiful show for audiences of all ages and given its return to the old world circus, distancing itself from Cirque du Soleil's other works that draw on mythical creatures, may be more appealing to those that prefer a traditional circus.

KOOZÅ

Cirque du Soleil

Sydney:

The Showring at the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, Sydney

25 August - 6 November 2016

Brisbane:

Skygate, Next to Brisbane Airport DFO

24 November - 18 December 2016

Melbourne:

Flemington Racecourse

20 January - 12 February 2017

Perth

Belmont Park Racecourse

13 April - 7 May 2017

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