Life’s a circus at this funeral
By Vanessa Frigillana
Aug. 19, 2007 10:03 p.m.
While bearded ladies, clowns and giants fit right in at a circus, you probably wouldn’t expect to see them in a funeral procession.
But Cirque du Soleil, known for its death-defying stunts and acrobatics, returns to town with the show “Corteo,” about a clown who envisions his own bizarre funeral.
“Corteo” ““ Italian for a “joyous procession” premieres Thursday at the Forum to celebrate Cirque du Soleil’s 20th year touring in Los Angeles.
As the performance unfolds, a clown takes the audience on a journey of his life. But before proceeding to stories of his childhood and later years in the circus, the clown imagines the day of his funeral. Though viewers might expect that such an event would create a somber atmosphere, artistic director Alison Crawford claims that the exact opposite is true of “Corteo.”
“It’s not sad; that’s always been a big question,” Crawford said. “It’s actually a celebration of life. … It’s quite a moving show; (it’s) very different from others.”
Instead of observing figures dressed in black, the funeral is set in a carnivalesque environment with rich purples and reds strewn across an open stage referred to as the Grand Chapiteau. From moments of elation to times of tragedy, the narrative story engages the audience as much as the acrobatics.
From earth, to middle earth, and up the heavens, “Corteo” emphasizes the beauty and preciousness of life despite its many obstacles.
UCLA alumna Yvonne Tousek, an actress who performs in “Corteo” as a small child in a trampoline act, explains that the juxtaposition of acrobatics and beauty in “Corteo” is rare.
“The show itself is beautiful and spectacular at the same time, and it’s very hard to find that combination,” Tousek said. “You get the acrobatics, and you get a really beautiful story that leaves you thinking at the end.”
Artistic coordinator Richard Dagenais says it is this focus on humanity and the relationship between audience and actor that sets “Corteo” apart from previous Cirque du Soleil shows.
“It’s very human,” Dagenais said. “Unlike some of our other shows, we don’t have masks or creatures. They’re performers; they’re real people, and the audience is able to identify with them on a much more personal level.”
Although “Corteo” deals with deep issues, it also contains the lighter elements familiar to childhood memories of trips to the circus.
“We have tight wire acts and jugglers like a traditional circus,” Dagenais said. “But we do have acrobatic acts that are not so traditional.”
But underneath all the circus revelry, “Corteo” is about the greater theme of human love and compassion that makes humans different from other creatures.
“In this day and age of violence, this show tells us how incredibly lucky we are to live in this joyous world,” Crawford said. “It will move you; it will touch you and show you there’s hope for people all over the world.”
