It is a rare experience the Cirque du Soleil, and one that fills me with extraordinary hope. What capacity humankind has for creativity, for courage and for beauty! It is deeply compelling to feel, if only for a few moments, that so many hearts and minds have been so readily, visibly stirred.
The Cirque du Soleil is more than mere entertainment. It can unite cultures and transcend time, while inspiring unbridled enthusiasm in anyone -young or old – who is fortunate enough to witness a performance. Watching leaves memories that will stand out, even as others fade and years pass.
Yesterday, I stepped into that world beyond where I had been once before. Different from the darker, more abstract Quidam, the last Cirque du Soleil production to visit Ottawa, Corteo was somehow familiar. Instead of recognizing acts or tricks, it was the imagery of the clown, the elusiveness of angels and the comic caricature of the ringleader that seemed to reawaken my childhood dreams.
Corteo or “cortege” in Italian is a funeral procession, and Daniele Finzi Pasca’s interpretation of this final passage from the perspective of a circus clown is both poignant and joyful. The 2 hour show evokes an old fashioned carnival atmosphere, and is an astounding combination of splendid artistry, haunting music and sheer physical achievement.
Guy Laliberté, founder of the Cirque du Soleil has managed risk, innovate and create his way to enormous fame and fortune. Most importantly though, he has made a genuine contribution to the world we live in. Guy Laliberté, his collaborators and the Cirque du Soleil remind us all that the power of imagination is unparalleled.
