09 January 10, 2009 - ObserverXtra

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, January 10, 2009 ENTERTAINMENT | 23
ENTERTAINMENT »
A production where circus meets Broadway
Theatrical flourish at the heart of performance of Cirque Dreams – Jungle Fantasy at CITS
STEVE KANNON
There’ll be no midway, no
sideshow barker and no car
packed with clowns at this
circus. No, make that cirque.
Instead you’ll find acrobatics
and feats of daring wrapped
in the spectacular music and
costumes of a stage play.
The shows, the brainchild of
Neil Goldberg, Cirque Productions
combine European
cirque-style performance artistry
with American circus
arts and Broadway theatrics.
The company’s 12th production
– Cirque Dreams - Jungle
Fantasy – puts the whole
package on display Monday
night at the Centre In The
Square.
A young adventurer wanders
into the jungle, and
finds himself immersed in a
world of fantastic creatures.
He encounters soaring aerialists,
spine bending contortionists
and vine-swinging characters.
“I’ve always found the jungle
fascinating. I think many people
are drawn to it – exotic and
mysterious,” Goldberg said in
a telephone interview from
Cirque Productions’ Fort Lauderdale,
Florida headquarters.
In his vision of the jungle,
contortionists become lizards,
violinists turn into trees and
percussionists start drumming
on mushrooms and toadstools.
As with all Cirque shows,
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Jungle Fantasy uses circusstyle
performers – acrobats,
contortionists, strongmen and
the like – in a setting akin to
a Broadway musical. Unlike
the circus, where acts are presented
as separate spectacles,
all of the performances are
woven into a story. As with
Broadway productions, there
are extravagant costumes,
lighting, choreography and
original music, all arranged
in-house at Cirque Produc-
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“It’s presented as a connected
series of scenes like a traditional
musical play,” Goldberg
explained of Jungle Fantasy.
As a child, he didn’t have
much of an affinity for the circus,
but loved the theatre from
the very first time his parents
took him to a production at
the age of six.
Later, travelling the world
and checking out cirque-style
performers in Europe, Asia
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and elsewhere, he saw a way
to link his new appreciation
of the art with his longtime
love of the theatre. In 1993, he
created Cirque Productions,
the first American company
to produce European, theatrical
and cirque-style shows for
corporate events, theatres and
tours.
“I always knew I wanted to
be involved with live theatre.”
Starting out with a handful
of helpers, Goldberg has seen
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now more than 140 full-time
employees. He receives some
50 job applications each week
from performers around the
globe. Much of his time these
days is spent travelling the
world in search of talent.
The type of spectacle that
has evolved will be familiar to
those exposed to the Cirque du
Soleil, which has brought the
style to international prominence.
There are plenty of differences,
however, Goldberg
stressed.
“They’ve certainly changed
the public perception of the
genre, but our shows are very
different,” he said, pointing
to the Broadway format (in
fact, the troupe has appeared
on Broadway for a successful
run).
Over the years, Cirque
Dreams has developed a show
that aimed at captivating
young people in the audience
with eye-catching acts while
weaving in elements of the
theatre for lovers of live musicals
and the like.
“The demographics are five
to 105. Everyone always says
it, but there really is something
for everyone – it’s really
a smorgasbord for the audience.”
Cirque Dreams – Jungle Fantasy
appears on stage at the
Centre In The Square Jan. 12
at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $55-
65, available at the box office
by calling 578-1570 or toll free
1-800-265-8977 or online at
www.centre-square.com.
starting from
$ 2 95
2009
calendars
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Selection will vary
$ 1 99
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Mon., Tues., Wed. 9-7
Thurs. & Fri. 9-9, Sat. 9-5; Sun. 10-5