“Corteo: Cirque du Soleil” reviewed by Julia W. Rath

[rating=5]The word “corteo” means cortege in Italian, having to do with a funeral procession. This is the name of Cirque du Soleil’s latest iteration of its outstanding acrobatic and carnival performance, currently playing at the NOW Arena, outside of Chicago. Director Daniele Finzi Pasca  has “transformed the round big-top experience” into a sophisticated feat of the imagination, framed around the story of how Mauro the Clown dreams of his own death. Despite this superficially gloomy theme, the show is actually lighthearted, fun, and funny and is meant to appeal to family members of all ages.

This is a tale about an elderly Italian gentleman named Mauro, who envisions an exuberant and festive parade among the clowns and other revelers after he dies. But the show is loosely structured not just around his funeral but also around the fate of Mauro’s soul after death. This means that he has a life review with reminiscences of his time on earth. He also sees his guardian angel and a series of flying angels, who tend to him in the afterlife and indicate how he will ascend to Heaven. All of this becomes the basis for the circus: from women spinning and somersaulting within large chandeliers to those spinning within human-body sized hoops to a variety of juggling, gymnastic, aerialist, and clown acts. There are trampolines meant to look like bouncing beds of Mauro’s youth. There is the man who balances on a ladder and tries to ascend to the stage ceiling, akin to Mauro’s desire to fly and become an angel too.

Songs and dialogue are mostly in Italian, but English finds its way into the program when the performers want to get the audience’s attention, such as having us return a beachball that has accidentally strayed from the stage. In fact, one of my favorite acts has to do with a woman of small stature who is held up in the air by four helium balloons and rises above all of us; the audience is instructed to touch her heels with both hands in order to bounce her into the air. Another personal favorite has to do with symbiotic and simultaneous teamwork when gymnasts perform on parallel bars at the same time. Although the Romeo and Juliet scene is a bit too much of a throwback to 18th century clownery (and is less than successful), nearly every other act is big, bold, and beautiful! The detailed choreography throughout this show is splendid!

Then there’s the music! I loved the scene with the sounds made by Tibetan singing bowls and crystal goblets filled with water, plus that of the whistler, who could carry all sorts of sophisticated melodies. Of course, there are the live musicians (voice, accordion, violin, percussion, etc.), located for the most part in four corners of the stage—quite a distance from each other—yet they are extremely well-coordinated. Arranged in theatre in the round style (although looking somewhat like a bowling alley with the audience on two sides), the NOW Arena has a certain intimacy about it, despite its capacity of approximately 6,000 people for theatre-type productions.

The 62-member cast are clad in one-of-a-kind costumes that are eclectic and range the gamut of time. Costume designer Dominique Lemieux “was inspired by ‘raw and luxurious’ European fabrics from the early 20th century and commedia dell’arte characters from the 16th to the 18th centuries.” The garb includes harlequin designs as well as 19th century dresses plus modern-day wear, such as tight-fitting leotards—and everything in between. The circus ringmaster with his red cape is clearly identifiable as is Mauro with his white clothing. Lighting could not be any better, and sound (while on the loud side) is perfectly balanced, considering the size of the venue.

“Corteo” originally opened in 2018 in New Orleans, and today we see the touring company making its rounds. Today it is in the Chicago area for only five performances. Each is 100-minutes long plus a 20-minute intermission.

Cirque du Soleil always satisfies—and provides us with a marvelous feast of delights! This unique circus introduces us to a world where fantasy and reality collide in a joyous theatrical presentation. It depicts the strength of the human body as well as the vulnerability of the soul. Above all, this particular production “Corteo” provides one type of perspective as to what might happen beyond our current existence on earth. The spectacle points up the mystery of human existence and its relationship to how we may choose to navigate through life.

Cirque du Soleil’s “Corteo” runs from Thursday, June 1 through Sunday, June 4, 2023, at the NOW Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway (off I-90) in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

Performance schedule:

Thursday, June 1 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 2 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 3 – 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 4 – 1:00 p.m.

Tickets start are $44 to $145+ depending on date and seat location.

For information about this show, go to: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/corteo#about-the-show and scroll down.

To purchase tickets, visit: https://www.ticketmaster.com/cirque-du-soleil-corteo-tickets/artist/30809?venueId=33096#_ga=2.131695944.678962123.1685495766-1600291872.1683393619

Save up to $25 for bookings of 10 or more. Visit: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/usa/hoffman-estates/corteo/group.

The show contains flashing lights and may cause difficulties for people with photosensitive epilepsy.

“To see if the arena can accommodate those with disabilities, please reach out to our customer support team at 1-877-924-7783.”

Note that parking fees are determined on a per-event basis and range from $12 to $20.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Corteo  Cirque du Soleil”.