Set in a mutant French speaking railway station in full Gypsy swing, Cirque du Soleil’s new show Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities expands the mind with the possibilities of what the human body can achieve. That the members of Cirque du Soleil have unreal physical abilities is beyond question but what always strikes one is how graceful these achievements look in the context of the show.
Pacing is all with Kurios and the ebb and flow of intensities is what keeps the interest of the audience on point. It would be easy to overwhelm them with the pure physicality of the endeavour, so mixing things up is a successful strategy. Some of the quieter moments are quite revealing to the performer’s on-stage personas.
There are a few of these dulcet moments that don’t work as successfully as others but seen in the context of the overall show, it gives onlookers a moment to catch their breath and engage in anticipation of the next miraculous human feat. The production is as always, fantastic with an amazing steampunk look to both costumes and set design.
The show is also enhanced by a cracking live band and live vocals that provide emotional nuance. There are no other live shows out there that have the impact of a Cirque du Soleil performance and this new edition is strong with amazing new feats and the quirky Continental sensibility that has alway made these productions stand out from the rest.
Cirque du Soleil: Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities will be playing in Brisbane until February 23, 2020. Head to www.cirquedusoleil.com/kurios for more information and tickets.
Rob Hudson
