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by Daniele Finzi Pasca and Jeannot Painchaud,

directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca

Cirque Éloize, Canon Theatre, Toronto

April 12-May 20, 2006

For anyone who has begun to think that Cirque du Soleil has lost some of its heart since becoming a huge organization, there is Cirque Éloize.  The Cirque Éloize show Nomade, on a world tour since 2002, recalls the very first Cirque du Soleil shows before they became glitzy and production-heavy.  Nomade is on a distinctly human scale with only 14 circus performers and four musicians who, unlike Cirque du Soleil, show off multiple talents throughout the show.  This and the 1940s design create a deliberately homey feeling as if a troupe of travelling performers had stopped off in a small town.

Familiar stunts have been tweaked to give them freshness.  It’s clever to give contortionist Lena Ries a sponge to wash her body in ways you can’t imagine.  It adds excitement to give trapezist Suzanne Soler a microphone to explain what she’s doing as we hear the air whoosh by her.  You’ll get a pec-ache watching Stefan Wepfer work himself up and down the Chinese mast and emcee Bartlomiej Soroczynski is amazing unicyclist.  The seven-person juggling spree and the group teeterboard act are beautifully choreographed.  The clowns’ feeble attempts at comedy drag the show down, but at its frequent best Nomade is like a Fellini film live.    

©Christopher Hoile

Note: A version of this review appeared in Eye Weekly 2006-04-20.

Photo: Cast of Nomade. ©Cirque Éloize.