Cirque Dreams Boosts Broadway at the Bass

Cube aerialists perform in Cirque Dreams Illumination

Cirque Dreams: Illumination takes vaudeville for a sophisticated spin, with top-notch gymnastics, aerial performances, juggling, balancing acts, and more contortionists than you could shake a Gumby at. Last night’s opening show at Bass Performance Hall (the first of 8 performances) was outstanding.

The show itself has no plot, but consists of a series of circus routines set on a stylized inner-city train platform. These segments are tied together with live vocals (Onyie Nwachukwu), jazzy saxophone (Marybeth Kern), and Broadway style choreography. The music balances melody with electronic edginess, while the singing and sax brings freshness to the recorded soundtrack.

Space prevents me from going into detail about all 23 cast members, but here are a few highlights from the show:

Think video games are a waste of time? Robert Muraine turned his Dance, Dance Revolution obsession into a career. Completely self-taught, the 23-year-old brings his unique brand of street dance to Cirque Dreams: Illumination. Fans of “So You Think You Can Dance” may remember Muraine from Season 4, when he wowed the judges and fans with his amazing flexibility and creative moves. The woman seated beside me said that after her 3 middle school aged sons viewed Muraine’s videos on Youtube, they begged her for tickets to the show.

Full disclosure: I am a sucker for jugglers, but Andrey Averyuskin is phenomenal. Not only can he handle 9 balls at once, but he plays a full drum set with the balls while doing so. It is a wonderfully creative routine.

Martin Lamberti descended from a long line of vaudeville performers and it shows. His antics kept us giggling while the stage was rearranged and equipment set up. Lamberti’s clever improvisation with audience members had everyone laughing – young and old.

It wouldn’t be cirque without moments of surreal beauty, and the 4 women who comprise the Cube Aerialist team performed synchronized routines of fluidity and grace in tandem. Watching them at Bass Performance Hall last night was truly mesmerizing.

Cirque Dreams: Illumination is an excellent show to share with the children in your life.  I was surrounded by half a dozen kids where I sat, and while they were restless and talkative before the curtain rose, the fast-paced circus routines kept them in rapt silence throughout the show. Cirque Dreams: Illumination runs 2 hours and 10 minutes (including a 20 minute intermission) so take that into consideration when bringing little ones.

Cirque Dreams: Illumination is the inaugural show of Broadway at the Bass Series, which also includes the following upcoming performances:

• The Ten Tenors (February 22-27, 2011)
• A Chorus Line (March 29-April 3, 2011)
• Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (April 19-24, 2011)
• Jesus Christ Superstar (June 16-22, 2011)
• 9 to 5: The Musical (July 26-31, 2011)

I highly recommend Cirque Dreams: Illumination as a family outting or special date night this holiday season. Tickets are going fast, of course, so visit the Bass Performance Hall to purchase yours. For more information, check out this article, as well as the details below.

What: Cirque Dreams: Illumination
When: November 30th – December 5th, 2010, with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 30-Dec. 2nd; 8:00 p.m. Dec. 3rd; 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Dec. 4th; and 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Dec. 5th.
Where: Bass Performance Hall (map)
Price: $22.00-$49.50
More information: Visit the Bass Performance Hall official website for more information, or to purchase tickets online.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Bass Performance Hall

NOTE: While tickets were provided to me for purposes of review, the opinions expressed in this article are wholly my own.