Cirque du Soleil

CORTEO

Suffolk Downs in East Boston

A dying clown closes his eyes in the opening moments of Corteo and his entire life unfolds before our eyes like a surreal dream in the abyss between heaven and earth.

In Corteo, which is the title of the current Cirque du Soleil production, a clown imagines his own funeral underway in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by angels.

Corteo, which is Italian for joyous procession, is not a morbid funeral procession instead it is a joyous production full of life, love and laughter.

Director Daniele Finzi Pasca's creates a fantastic world that exists just beyond the reach of mere mortals in this breathtaking production, which juxtaposes comedy with tragedy and the real with the surreal, in a feast for the senses.

The Dead Clown is the central character of the story and what we see in Corteo is the fantastic world of the circus through the memories of one who lived it.

World class acrobats, Olympic caliber gymnasts and top notch acting meld to create a production in which the sum is greater than its parts. This one of the rare shows that flows seamlessly and each element is a vital part of the whole experience so it’s almost impossible to pick out one or two of the most memorable moments.

That said! My eight-year-old companion said her favorite part was when regal angels strapped fluffy wings on Mauro Mozzani, who was portraying the dead clown, and taught him to fly.

The audience was delighted when Valentyna Paylevanyan, one of the little people, was attached to six helium balloons and drifted out over their heads. The crowd gently pushed her until she drifted back to the stage.

One of the most touching scenes was when the Dead Clown, a former member of the troupe that surrounds him, dons his old stage costume to perform one final time.

By highlighting the strengths and human frailties of the clown, Corteo invokes the humanity within each of us and puts us in touch with our own mortality- it is a show not to be missed. We saw it in East Boston and this is one show that I would not hesitate to see again. It is worth the ticket price and then some! Be sure to look for discount tickets on eBay!