It never ceases to amaze me how the hive minds behind Cirque du Soleil can come up with new inventive performances for the Royal Albert Hall. This week, to celebrate 40 years of dreaming the impossible, I was lucky enough to be at the premiere of Corteo, which is as intriguing and mind-boggling as the characters who are part of the show.
Corteo ay Royal Albert Hall
Created and directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, the performances of Corteo draw heavily on 19th-century Italian clowning and can be viewed in all their glory from both sides of the Hall in a completely immersive experience, as set designer Jean Rabasse has (for the first ever time) split the arena into two.
This was already a triumph for the acts as they had no room for error with the audience on either side facing each other, as we watched the story unfold. As with any Cirque show, the story is very loose, as it is all about the performance, nevertheless, we are welcomed into the world of Clown Mauro (the Dreamer), portrayed by Stéphane Gentilini, who is in his final hours on earth.
The show began with a whimsical procession of classic circus characters parading through the venue – accompanied by ethereal floating angels – which I could see in all their glory from my balcony seat; this elevated position also gave me a bird eye view of the Clowness (Valentyna Paylevanyan), a performer with congenital dwarfism, who is attached to three enormous helium balloons and released to the roof, sailing past the crowds who could reach out and touch her (should they wish).
Making a show for adults and kids is always something that the Cirque family has been great at, and this time, beds are transformed into trampolines, angels are spun between two high platforms as though they are rag dolls and core strength is tested as one performer mounts a 15-foot ladder that does not lean against anything!
From Stephanie Waltman’s ‘pole dancing’ which demands the mind and strength of steel as she balances and contorts her body without flinching for a good five minutes, to the more ‘clownish’ interludes where Grigor Pahlevanyan, is goaded by The Giant (Victorino Lujan) into attempting some see-saw gymnastics with him, and a rather cheesy golfing scene, which is bound to please the kids, the show is one of a celebration – and Maura’s death becomes a celebration of his life.
Minor characters all deserve a mention including the ringmaster, pierrot, harlequins and angels who all have a part to play with their energetic flips and walkovers – whatever you expect, you will be surprised and mesmerised. Once again, Cirque has pushed the boundaries of acrobatics.
Corteo is showing until 2nd March. Book your tickets for Royal Albert Hall here.
