” ‘Twas the Night Before” Cirque du Soliel reviewed by CJ Hyland

★★★★When was the last time you were amazed by something – and, when I say amazed, I mean really, truly, jaw-droppingly, awe-struck amazed? It seems to me that the older one gets, the less opportunity there is to experience that kind of total and complete astonishment, and that’s a shame. We took such experiences for granted when we were children. Heck, as a tot, I couldn’t wait to grow up and become world-wise and adult. Now, in the irony that is adulthood, I long for those days of innocence and wonder, and wish I could go back to a time when everything was fresh and new. I long to feel that kind of stupefaction again, to be momentarily struck dumb, or swept away by some awesome and unexpected occurrence.

Since I am now, unfortunately, world-wise and adult, there is very little that can cause me to feel such stirrings of excitement, but one thing that still seems to have that power is Cirque du Soleil. Maybe it’s my love of the performing arts, especially dance and acrobatics, maybe it’s the power, grace and athleticism on magnificent display, or maybe it’s the sheer joy that radiates from the performers themselves but, whatever the reason, attending a Cirque du Soleil show never fails to get my heart rate soaring. So, imagine my thrill to discover Cirque is in town for a limited engagement, premiering their brand-new production ‘Twas the Night Before, at the Chicago Theater, and that I was asked to cover it. A critic has never said YES!!! to an assignment faster, so, last night, my husband and I made our way downtown to see what this world-renowned circus arts troupe had in store for us, and, let me tell you, we were not disappointed.

Unbelievably, in all of the years Cirque du Soleil has been producing and putting on shows, they have never created a holiday piece. ‘Twas the Night Before, is their first and, if I were a betting woman, will likely become a yuletide tradition, right up there with The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol. Conceived by Vice President, Creation, Daniel Fortin, and his uber-talented team, ‘Twas the Night Before is loosely based on the holiday classic poem, of the same name, that was anonymously published 1823. In this reimagined story, a young girl, named Isabella, who has become jaded by all of the hoopla surrounding the holidays, is magically whisked away to a wondrous world where everything is, quite literally, upside down and inside out. Meeting characters inspired by the timeless poem, Isabella is reconnected with the true meaning of the holidays, and the joy that comes of friendship and sharing in a series of rip-roaring, high-flying, athletic feats, that’s enough, for even the most cynical among us, to find our holiday spirit again.

Kicking off the acrobatic fun were performers Nicole Faubert and Guillaume Paquin on the Aerial Duo Straps, two cords suspended from the rafters and utilized to execute a dazzling aerial duet that demonstrates and exemplifies true partnership. Attired as snowflakes, and surrounded by a glittering set that evokes images of snow-covered, moonlit fields, the pair spun, twirled, and spiraled their way through athletic endeavors that challenged the body’s ability to bend and contort. At times the performance is soft and gentle, as in one gorgeous pass where Faubert hangs from her strap by one arm, her legs a perfect split perpendicular to the stage, while Paquin, also suspended by one arm, grasps her bottom foot keeping his body completely parallel to the ground, in a jaw-dropping display of core-strength, and grace. At other times, things move blindingly fast, as when Paquin sends Faubert spinning off like some kind of crazy satellite, only to scoop her right back up as the pair veers off into another sequence of heart-racing revolutions.

In another aerial performance, Tuedon Ariri, costumed in a ruby leotard festooned with sparkling petals that caught the light as she careened through the air, performed on the Aerial Hammock, a length of red silk hung impossibly high above the stage. On this amazing apparatus, Ariri astonished the audience with unthinkable flips, turns and pirouettes, both executed right-side up as well as upside down and with her, at times, suspended by her hands, feet and even her neck. In one such movement, Ariri, silk cradling her neck, executes a full split, head back, spine arched, holding her leg behind her ear, all while rotating like a whirling dervish. A true marriage of strength and beauty in flight.

As stunning as the aerial performances are, the floor work is not too shabby either. Rosie Axon and Adam Jukes, adorned in twinkling turquoise and fuchsia sequin complete with electrically colored hair, delight on in-line skates. Their daring stunts, amazing lifts, complicated jumps and fancy footwork had the crowd whooping with glee. In one death-defying move, Jukes holds Axon by her ankles as he spins furiously fast, moving her up and down so her body dips impossibly close to the stage, making one wonder exactly where Axon would end up if ever Jukes were to let go.

In another display of grounded gymnastics, six male acrobats, dressed as a variety of mythical and woodland creatures, albeit in a crazy get up of colorfully striped blanket sleepers, delighted the audience with their playful antics beneath, atop, and around an oversized blue table. Their energy, enthusiasm and joie de vivre was enchanting and had us all in love with this delightfully, goofy group. Lucky for us, the limber six appear again, this time attired as the most bodacious reindeer I’ve ever encountered, to romp, cavort and hurl themselves through all manner and size of hoops set up around the stage. Hand-springs, cart-wheels, flips, rolls, tucks, this band of merry-makers utilized any and all gymnastic maneuvers, launching themselves off of every conceivable surface, including each other, to get through those hoops. A perfect blend of lithe locomotion and levity.

Michele Clark was utterly enchanting as the young Isabella. In pigtails and knee socks, she performed seemingly miraculous feats with hula hoops, like tossing them into the air, three, four, five at a time and catching them on all manner of body-part, or getting them to spin inside of each other, reminiscent of gyroscopes. In another exploit, Clark manages, at one time, to spin six hoops on her body, neck, arms and legs all while hip-swiveling herself around the stage in a glorious dance routine. Watching her made me long for eighth grade and my own hoop to hula with. She was a joy to behold and her inquisitive innocence and radiant charm made her the perfect guide on this calisthenic crusade to rediscover the joy and wonder of the holidays.

I could rhapsodize about last night’s entertainment for pages, but I will spare you my gushing and say simply that ‘Twas the Night Before was a marvel and a spectacle totally worth the trip downtown. It’s the perfect antidote to the frenzy of the season and will enrapture, enchant and entertain anyone with breath in their body and joy in their heart. I left the theater feeling like a kid again, enwrapped once more in the awe and wonder of my youth. There is no better feeling than that!

‘Twas the Night Before runs November 29^th through December 8^th at the Chicago Theater 175 North State Street Chicago, IL with performances as follows:

Show Type:  Family

Box Office: 312-462-6300

www.thechicagotheatre.com
Buy Tickets   tickets start at $30

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