Endless opportunities: Consortium experiences Cirque du Soleil Alegria
Kristen Miller
Issue date: 3/3/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Being a student in Worcester is a gateway for more exciting opportunities than most people give it credit for. With the benefits of the Worcester Consortium in such close reach, it is mind-blowing how much is available to students and is rarely taken advantage of. After having the pleasure of seeing "Cirque du Soleil Alegria," I understand what all the hype is. "Alegria" is a show spun-off from the original "Cirque" with darker themes and serious undertones. The title can be translated to mean "joy" in Spanish, adding to the irony of the melancholy play. The tagline for the show describes it as "an operatic introspection of the struggle for power and the invigorating energy of youth, Alegria relates the tale of power versus weakness, the king versus his jesters and age against youth." Franco Dragone, a Belgian theater director who worked extensively with Cirque, wished to call it "Alegria" because "where I come from, it is what you say when you're in pain. It means 'life goes on.'"
Before the show starts, a live band moves through the crowded DCU Center arena, engaging the audience members. The opening number is a beautiful medley of song and dance on the grand stage built up using gothic arches and harsh angular designs. The music gathers inspiration from a plethora of influences including Spanish, French, Mediterranean and African. The show was converted from a big-top circus show to an arena style for the three-year tour that kicked off May 27, 2009 in Halifax, Mass. The set changes were smooth, and the main stage area converted from a flat surface for dance and aerials, to underground trampolines from some impressive acrobatics.
While watching, I can honestly say this was the most flexible group of people I have ever seen. Between all the dangerous aerials and intense acrobatics, there were comedic acts in between such as slapstick comedy between two clowns fighting over an imaginary motorcycle. There were a lot of modern elements in the show, which was surprising considering Cirque came about in the 1980s and was at one time a big-top circus show. At one point, a clown even breaks down into beat boxing and rapping on stage.
Before the show starts, a live band moves through the crowded DCU Center arena, engaging the audience members. The opening number is a beautiful medley of song and dance on the grand stage built up using gothic arches and harsh angular designs. The music gathers inspiration from a plethora of influences including Spanish, French, Mediterranean and African. The show was converted from a big-top circus show to an arena style for the three-year tour that kicked off May 27, 2009 in Halifax, Mass. The set changes were smooth, and the main stage area converted from a flat surface for dance and aerials, to underground trampolines from some impressive acrobatics.
While watching, I can honestly say this was the most flexible group of people I have ever seen. Between all the dangerous aerials and intense acrobatics, there were comedic acts in between such as slapstick comedy between two clowns fighting over an imaginary motorcycle. There were a lot of modern elements in the show, which was surprising considering Cirque came about in the 1980s and was at one time a big-top circus show. At one point, a clown even breaks down into beat boxing and rapping on stage.
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