Cirque du Soleil’s “KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities™” is a Marvelous Feat!

It has been four years since Cirque du Soleil graced Chicago with its presence. The latest triumphant production, KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities™, written and directed by Michel Laprise is a larger-than-life ingenious creation that transports you into the world of curiosity – challenging your visual and perceptive senses. “Is it real, or just a figment of my imagination?”, wonder the attendees. The action takes place until September 20^th, under the iconic blue-and-yellow Big Top near the United Center, 1901 W. Madison Street.

The name of the show refers to the peculiar characters that inhabit the Seeker’s Cabinet of Curiosities. The Seeker, a scientist who has created a time-travel machine, takes us on a journey inside a fantasy world inspired by the late mid-19^th century imagery, with a steampunk theme. There you meet acts as performed by the cast of “Kurios” that seemingly defy time, space, and physics. Audience cannot help but smile at the sight of Nico the Accordion Man, or delicate Mini Lili (Antanina Satsura, Belarus), a lilliputian measuring at only 3.2 feet and weighting 39lbs – making her one of the smallest people in the world. Then there is a display of impossibly amazing feats – from aerial acrobatics, to contortionist, to gravity-defying dare-devils launching themselves on the trampoline to stratospheric heights. The Russian Cradle left the audience gasping with every hurl, as the strongman Roman Tereshchenko launched his tiny blonde partner, Olena into high-flying somersaults. Talk about trust for one another by this married couple. The Upside Down World arrangement bespeaks to acts that keep you wondering, whether a feast on the ground is mirrored by the upside down feast happening up in the ceiling. All perceptions are thrown out the window and flipped upside down… It’s a world where the impossible hints on plausibility. Where suspense is just around the corner, causing the audience to curiously marvel at what’s unfolding right in front of their eyes.

The Montreal-based Cirque blossomed from a 20 street performers to a world-renowned company with over 1,300 artists from more than 50 countries. “Kurios” production features a cast of 46 performers from 14 different countries, and 109 tour members. The company that celebrated its 30^th anniversary last year has thrilled and awed more than 150 million spectators in over 300 cities worldwide.

This family-friendly production is undoubtedly a must-see that promises to keep you gasping and shrilling from excitement, while keeping on the edge of your seat.

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Leonard Mogul
Media Personality
kontinentmedia@gmail.com

Photos by Martin Girard

Banner Photo by Koninent Media