South Africa

Maverick Life, South Africa

Theatre Review: Cirque Éloize iD – almost too much to watch

Theatre Review: Cirque Éloize iD – almost too much to watch

The power and energy of Cirque Éloize iD grabs you by the eyes and ears from the moment it begins. By LESLEY STONES.

A constantly changing cityscape of high-rise buildings daubed with graffiti, the noise of traffic and sirens and the pounding beat of hip-hop and Spanish rap. This is where the street punks play, dressed like they raided a jumble sale as they weave in and out of buildings, swing from the poles and goad their rivals in mock gang battles.

It could be downtown Joburg, except the youngsters in the Cirque are hugely skilled acrobats, aerialists, athletes and dancers who turn the city into a modern circus.

There’s a playful insouciance to their actions as they flip, flop and fly with joyful ease. The stunts and moves are magnificent, the setting superb, and the atmosphere electric.

Cirque Éloize’s 15 artistes even make skipping ultra-cool, with ropes turning within ropes and each character getting a chance to flaunt their thing.

There’s often almost too much to watch, with the main act backed by others dancing or doing acrobatics of their own in perfectly choreographed hyperactivity.

Amid the frenetic action are slower, carefully crafted duets, always with a twist. The contortionist interacting with a breakdancer is crazy – the way Nicole Winter can flex her body is astonishing. In fact, every scene makes you realise how little most of us demand from our bodies when this crew is demonstrating what they’re capable of. There are lots of wow moments and a lovely girlpower equality too.

Juggler Jean-Philippe Deltell is another highlight, juggling in a construction site and using the passing props delightfully.

The soundtrack by composers Jean-Phi Goncalves and Alex McMahon is nicely varied to suit the moment, with high-energy beats giving way to graceful music to accompany the swoops and swirls of the aerial acts.

The video backdrop is brilliant, with the scene constantly morphing and surprising us when a seemingly solid wall opens into windows. Boxes create various levels around the tenement blocks, and the way trail biker Thibaut Philippe jumps his cycle up the building is quite astonishing.

The show, directed by Jeannot Painchaud, came to Johannesburg three years ago and I was delighted to see it again. The trampoline scene finale that I still remembered as a highlight once again left me laughing, in between holding my breath at the sheer audacity of this carefree cast.

If you want your kids to grow up aiming to be dancers or performers – with a slight risk of becoming street brawlers instead – take them to the Cirque. DM

Cirque Éloize iD runs at Montecasino’s Teatro until December 24. Tickets from Computicket on 0861 915 8000 or www.computicket.com.

www.lesleystones.co.za

Gallery

Please peer review 3 community comments before your comment can be posted

X

This article is free to read.

Sign up for free or sign in to continue reading.

Unlike our competitors, we don’t force you to pay to read the news but we do need your email address to make your experience better.


Nearly there! Create a password to finish signing up with us:

Please enter your password or get a sign in link if you’ve forgotten

Open Sesame! Thanks for signing up.

We would like our readers to start paying for Daily Maverick...

…but we are not going to force you to. Over 10 million users come to us each month for the news. We have not put it behind a paywall because the truth should not be a luxury.

Instead we ask our readers who can afford to contribute, even a small amount each month, to do so.

If you appreciate it and want to see us keep going then please consider contributing whatever you can.

Support Daily Maverick→
Payment options