Paramour @ The Lyric Theater

Spectacle. Wonderment. Awe-inspiring. These are just a few words that come to mind when thinking of the legendary Cirque du Soleil, the contemporary circus group that focuses on theatricality and is the largest theatrical producer in the world. Having permanent shows in Las Vegas and Florida, Paramour is the group’s venture to take on the Big Apple. The show combines Cirque’s signature circus arts with original songs, dance, and film, to create a new and breathtaking night at the theatre.

Paramour is billed as “A Cirque du Soleil Musical”, being the first of the entertainment company’s productions to have a fully integrated book/story attached to it. The plot follows three main players- renowned film director AJ Golden played by Jeremy Kushnier (Footloose, Rent), Ruby Lewis as redheaded singer striving to be a star Indigo James, and aspiring young songwriter Joey Green played by Ryan Vona (Once). After AJ recruits Indigo to be his new leading lady and enlists Joey to write the perfect love song for his film the three set off on a journey through the Golden Age of Hollywood, deciding between love, art, and one another. The musical features several songs, performed beautifully, but the main attraction of course comes with the circus acts.

Featuring a cast of 40 wonderfully talented artists, the Cirque performers are the real stars of the show. Performing mesmerizing tricks and stunts such as trapeze, contortion, trampolines, juggling, tumbling, and much more, the ensemble steals every moment they set foot on stage. The circus sections are absolutely enthralling and transport you back in time- leaving the audience feeling amazed and filled with wonder and wondering “how is that even possible?”. The dance sequences are extremely enjoyable, as the full cast comes together to show off their specific talents- whether that is singing high notes, doing four back flips in the air, or tap dancing (even in roller skates!). The number “Love Triangle” provides a wonderful hybrid of Paramour’s features, while having the three actors expressing their feelings through song a mirror-set of acrobats provide the physical exemplification of these words through their incredible movements, as the woman travels between one man on the ground and another up high in the trapeze. Identical twin acrobats Andrew and Kevin Atherton, through their absolutely astounding aerial-straps routine, present one of the standouts of the show. The two soar through the air above the audience, contorting their bodies and managing incredible feats, providing the most captivating minutes of the night.

Paramour is an all around spectacle. Aside from the amazing acrobatic and aerial routines, the design is remarkable. Playing at the Lyric Theatre, the second largest Broadway house seating almost 2,000 people, the gorgeous house provides the perfect aesthetic for the Golden Age era of the ‘30s and ‘40s with magnificent sets that transform between film sets, speakeasies, and city rooftops. The film theme is illuminated throughout the show with its use of live video, multimedia projections, and amazing lighting and shadow work, creating an integrated and immersive experience. There is always somewhere to look, around, above, even in the aisles.  

Paramour on Broadway is so much more than a show, it is an experience. For those new to Cirque, it is a good entryway, providing a sense of story to hold onto in between the incredible circus artistry, which will fill you with a child-like sense of amazement. If you’re looking for a spectacular evening of entertainment, with glitz, glamour, and gigantic talent, then hop, flip, or fly on over to the Lyric Theatre for Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour.

Review By: April Sigler
Photos BY: Sara Krulwich

Cirque Du Soleil: ZARKANA @ Radio City Music Hall

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Cirque du Soleil has once again returned to New York City, however, this time the craziness has been unleashed in the “Showplace of the Nation” – Radio City Music Hall.  Zarkana, being marketed as “An Irresistibly Odd Escape,” is just that ~ a strange and twisted escape into a world of snakes, spiders, clowns, and space creatures that are all impossible to resist.  With acrobatics, jugglers, aerialists, and a sand painter all meshed together with that signature Cirque du Soleil flare, this latest creation is the perfect summer show that the whole family will love.  Zarkana is the perfect summer attraction!

Known for its complex storylines, Cirque du Soleil pulls back a little bit for Zarkana gearing the show towards families.  Zark, a magician who has lost his magic powers, is going on the adventure of a lifetime in order to find his lost love, Lia.  Along the way he discovers a world that is truly bizarre.  Launched from an abandoned theatre filled with clown ghosts with tons a humor, an amazing juggle, and a high climbing ladder-balancing duo, Zark soon finds himself in a land filled a gracious aerial duet, a death defying Russian bar, a quartet on a high wire, and images of his love in both flower and snake form.  Before the audience even has time to process the jungle that they are in, two lead clowns Hocus and Pocus are blasted into space with creatures that are masters of the cyr wheel and aerial hoops.  If at any point the audience gets lost, there is no need to fear; a sand painter comes up from the bowels of the theatre to recreate the entire show in sand.  With no means of stopping, Zark now envisions his wife as a spider amidst a high flying grand volant team.  Close to finding his love, Zark now passes through two daredevils on a “Wheel of Death,” a gravity defying hand-balancer, and a team of leaping and balancing banquine. At the end of this twisted world, will Zark regain is powers and find his one true love, Lia?

In creating the exciting world of Zarkana, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté assembled a team of highly skilled creators and designers all lead by writer and director François Girard (films The Red Violin and Silk).  Girard does a fantastic job of bringing this idea from paper to stage, creating images that are a true feast for the eyes.  While the story was simple, it jelled the different world class acts together perfectly, allowing for stunning transitions that were filled perfectly with the comedy styles of performers Daniel Passer and Wayne Wilson as Hocus and Pocus.  The backdrop to this is created by Nick Littlemore (member of art-rock band Teenager and close producer to Sir Elton John) who provides the lush rock n’ roll score.  With songs that advance the storyline and add an element of awe and wonder to the acts, Littlemore goes above and beyond the work of some of today’s best composers.  Bringing this new world to life is a team of extremely talented designers.  Stéphane Roy dazzles with an extremely large and complex set that fills the large space of Radio City Music Hall perfectly; Alan Hranitelj provides costumes that are bright, vibrant, and perfectly weird; Alain Lortie sets the mood for this rock opera with a great blend of concert and theoretical lighting; and, Eleni Uranis makes the whole cast pop with a make-up design that forms just who these characters in the unique world truly are.  The whole piece is done with normal Cirque du Soleil flair – which is definitely a good thing!

Zarkana comes to Radio City Music Hall this summer with death-defying stunts, beautiful design, and amazing talent.  This is without a doubt the perfect summer show for the entire family!  This summer, skip Dorney Park and treat the whole family to a day in the Big Apple with tickets to the performing arts!