Cirque du Soleil’s new show ‘KOOZA’ is world-class circus

The word of the night at Cirque du Soleil’s new show, ‘KOOZA’, was ‘no’. As in: ‘No, that’s not possible’. ‘No, they might fall’. ‘No, I can’t believe they can do that’. But this is Cirque du Soleil. It is possible; they never fall; and yes, the human body can do all of the mind-blowing feats. If you’re a world-class circus performer, of course.

Entering the big top tent set up in the Entertainment Quarter, my plus one and I were quickly transported into the world of ‘KOOZA’. Writer and director David Shiner aimed to celebrate the art of clowning combined with the fun of acrobatics. Between the acts of death-defying gymnastics, slapstick moments took the spotlight. It truly is a show for all ages, from 7-year-olds to grandparents.

Cirque du Soleil KOOZA

The over-arching storyline revolves around a lonely little clown, ‘The Innocent’. A package is delivered and out pops a magical figure, ‘The Trickster’, who introduces him — and the audience — to the world of ‘KOOZA’.

My breath was taken away when the magic wand did its work and the curtains opened. Behold: a three-story building emerged, populated with a king and his clowns on one level, a live band on another. The full cast marched out in unbelievable costumes. Think the cantina scene at Mos Eisley mixed with the Dinotopia books.

Cirque du Soleil KOOZA

‘KOOZA’ shines with its Olympics-level acrobatic acts. We kicked off with a wild contortion act by a trio of women so flexible they made the crowd gasp in awed horror. A minute later and the unicycle duo (atop a single unicycle) looked as if they were dancing across the stage.

At any Cirque du Soleil show, you can’t help but wonder: who imagines these acts? The first half ended with a double tightwire. Yes, two tightropes suspended over one another. It was crazy when the four men ran across it. But when they got out their bicycles… Yes, it’s that insane. We could barely watch.

GUY LALIBERTE, DAVID SHINER, SERGE ROY, STEPHANE ROY, JEAN-FRANCOIS COTE, CLARENCE FORD, MARIE-CHANTALE VAILLANCOURT, MARTIN LABRECQUE, JONATHAN DEANS, LEON ROTHENBERG, FLORENCE CORNET, ANDRE SIMARD, DANNY ZEN, ROGE FRANCOEUR, BENOIT MATHIEU

The second act had it all — hula hoops, an audience member dragged on stage to pal around with the clowns. But the two acts that had me screaming in delight were the Wheel of Death and the Teeterboard. It’s hard to explain the 1,600-pound Wheel, rotated only by the two acrobats inside. Suffice to say: at one point, they literally flew in the air. As for the Teeterboard: well, this one my friend and I will be trying to describe for months to everyone we meet. Imagine a seesaw. Add a guy on a single stilt (yes, just one). Now envision him flipping end-over-end in the air, only to land upright.

Cirque du Soleil KOOZA

At ‘KOOZA’, you can barely believe your eyes. As my friend said: ‘My mind is not functioning right now’. You watch in delight, you gasp in awe. The new word of the night: ‘Yes’. As in: ‘Yes, you should go see ‘KOOZA’ right now’.

– Theresa
Co-founder of The Plus Ones, Theresa feels privileged to have attended her second Cirque du Soleil performance.

KOOZA‘ runs until 13 November 2013 at The Showring at the Entertainment Quarter. Purchase tickets.

Disclosure: The Plus Ones were invited guests of Mollisons.
Image credit: Cirque du Soleil.