Cirque du Soleil: Kooza

Related Content

• Half-Pipe, With a Twist
  April 25, 2013
• Five Dance Shows to See in L.A. This Week, Including an Offshoot of Cirque du Soleil
  April 25, 2013
• 5 Creative Things to Do in L.A. This Week
  April 26, 2013
• Why Are L.A.'s Parks So Lacking in Good Food?
  May 20, 2013
• One Woman's Super Annoying, Super Lazy Quest to Meet Moby
  February 21, 2013

More About

• David Shiner
• Stephan Landry
• Natasha Patterson
• Circuses
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

It’s been about a decade since the blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (big top) was seen at Santa Monica Pier. This touring production marks the 25th anniversary of Montreal-based Cirque du Soleil, and also heralds a return to the simpler, less high-tech formats that informed earlier productions like Quidam and Allegria — the emphasis here being on the old circus traditions of clowning and acrobatics. But that’s not to say that there is something missing here. On the contrary, creator-director David Shiner, who made quite a name for himself as a clown in outings like Fool Moon, has packed this show with drama, comedy, whimsy, music, exotica, slick choreography, and plenty of how-do-they-do-that? moments. The show starts with an Innocent (Stephan Landry) opening a box containing a trickster (Mike Tyus), who reveals the magical world of the circus. And what a world it is! The clowns pull off some dazzling and funny routines, and interact throughout with the audience. Contortionists Julie Bergez, Natasha Patterson and Dasha Sovik twist their tiny bodies into letters of the alphabet, among other things. Lee Thompson amazes with a pickpocket routine at the expense of an unsuspecting attendee. Jimmy Ibarra and Angelo Lyerzkysky garnered a standing ovation for their superhuman feats on the Wheel of Death — a daunting contraption that resembles two interconnected hamster wheels. Marie-Chantale Valliancourt’s collage of costumes are stunning. Under the Grand Chapiteau at the Santa Monica Pier. Tues.-Thurs, 8 p.m.; Fri-Sat., 4 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 1 & 5 p.m.; through December 20. cirquedusoleil.com/kooza or (800) 450-1480.
Fri., Oct. 16, 8 p.m.; Fridays, Saturdays, 4 & 8 p.m.; Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Starts: Oct. 16. Continues through Dec. 20, 2009