A Modern Circus: Cirque Eloize iD, Merriam Theatre, Philadelphia, Review

by EJ on 01/01/13

Last week, Philadelphia's Merriam Theatre hosted Cirque Eloize iD, a modern circus show created in collaboration with Canada's Cirque du Soleil by contemporary cirque director Jeannot Painchaud. This stage show, set like the lively streets of a city with dream-like video projections against a cityscape, features the amazing stunts of fourteen international masters of break dancing, acrobatics, contortionists and stunt biking. With the hypnotizing beats of hip-hop and electronica and a loose plot mirroring that of West Side Story, Cirque Eloize iD that also shows off artists of rollerblading, modern dance, juggling and our favorite, the Cyr wheel.

While many contemporary cirque shows aren't always suitable for younger children, Cirque Eloize iD is a family-friendly affair. It's an experience that our family will never forget. We brought our eight year old, KM and our five year old, LT. Like me, KM has become quite the theatre junkie while LT had never attended a live theatre performance before. I was particularly excited for him, since this show promised non-stop action and stunts that he'd appreciate and likely attempt to reenact in our basement playroom.

Cirque Eloize iD did not disappoint. Many acts left us in awe and breathless while other moments sent us into applause and cheers. The talent was immense and the set was nothing short of beautiful. The addictive beats of the accompanying music kept me tapping my feet from beginning to end (I was in marching band) and swaying LT in my lap. Unfortunately, LT didn't take to the theatre setting as I'd hoped and was totally grumping out about halfway through. We fed him some chips and peanuts which kept him calm for the last half. KM, as expected, loved every second of the energetic talents in Cirque Eloize iD, especially when the cast pulled an unexpecting volunteer from the audience to participate in a daring stunt with the biker on stage.

Every moment was perfectly choreographed, especially the Trampo Wall finale which required each of the six or more artists jumping simultaneously to do so at precise moments and in precise spaces in order to avoid each other on the way up or down, while some hopped right from the trampoline below into open doorways above in the cityscape walls.

Cirque Eloize iD draws on the memory of its ancestral circus acts but nothing about this show is old, ordinary or expected. This is the modern cirque, utilizing extreme sports, extreme stunts and extreme talent and artistry to amaze and ignite awe in the audience. A stunt biker and an in-line skater hop off the stage into the aisles of the theatre, racing back toward the exits at dizzying speed, a ribbon gymnast dangles and dances above the stage, a juggler controls the movements of ten balls without a single mistake and break dancers spin on their heads atop the cityscape. A little humor here, there, with great music and all of the above, makes for an incredible and magical experience for the family.

Four Little Monsters received tickets to see Cirque Eloize iD for the purpose of promotion and review. All opinions belong to the blogger.