Broadway meets circus on stage

By NIGEL GEARING

Take elements of traditional European circus performed under marquees, add all the ingredients that make for good storytelling, plus state-of-the-art effects, and turn the whole thing into a night at the theatre.

You have a formula for success that has been seen by millions around the world and is about to tour here for the first time.

Cirque Dreams is the brainchild of Neil Goldberg, artistic director of Florida-based Cirque Productions, whose background is in set design on Broadway.

He wanted to create a new style of circus show, a theatre piece a little out of the box, says Cirque Productions general manager Richard Kilman.

The result has 18 performers - including a pair of female Canadian trapeze artists, two Mongolian contortionists and a trio of musclemen from Russia - taking to the stage in a performance that combines traditional circus with a universal story that appeals to the widest possible demographic.

"It's not unlike a Broadway show with a full set, scenery, original costumes and music," says Kilman.

The five drop-panels that comprise the scenery are all standard-looking props under normal lighting conditions, yet at a key moment at the beginning of the show the regular lights fade to black, and special UV lights reveal multi-dimensional images which evoke a dreamworld for the entire show.

"The vocalist sings in an imaginary language ... so there is no language barrier," says Kilman. "The action can therefore speak for itself. That's important because our work is so international."

Cirque Dreams is the seamless story of a comedy figure's journey of self-discovery.

It debuted in the US in 1999 and has since toured Germany, Lebanon, Hong Kong, Uruguay, the Philippines, Guatemala, El Salvador, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Canada. The group has just returned from the Dominican Republic.

This Australasian tour is the first time Downunder for Cirque Productions.

The US-based performance company should not be confused with its Canadian rival, which has toured here in recent years and played in marquees with productions including Cirque du Soleil.

"We only play in theatres," Kilman says. "What is unusual about our tours is that everyone has been with us for five years. We are a tight family unit.

"We have three shows performing consecutively around the world so we may move cast from one to another. They don't bring family with them as they will return to the United States after the 12-week New Zealand and Australian tour."

Cirque Productions was formed in 1993 to provide entertainment at corporate events. Clients have included American Express and IBM. The move to public shows came in 1996 with Cirque Ingenieux, a variety show that toured the US until 1999.

"If you can present variety in a way that is stylish and has a little twist, then it doesn't matter how old you are or your background," Kilman says.

"That show played at Atlantic City, New Jersey, for three summers. The demographic there means if you are 50 you are young. That same show played in casinos across middle America where we would do family days which would be packed with kids. People love variety shows."

Cirque Productions' as-yet-unnamed third show is already in production and Kilman hopes to bring it Downunder.

"Of course. We'd love to take our shows everywhere."

On Stage

* What: Cirque Dreams

* Where and when: Civic Theatre, Auckland, February 17-20; Founders Theatre, Hamilton, February 21, 22