Susan Granger’s review of “Cirque du Soliel: Kooza” (Randall’s Island)
Could it be that the most awesome, amazing show in New York this spring is on Randall’s Island in the East River? That’s where Cirque du Soliel has set up its distinctive bright blue-and-yellow striped tent known as Le Grand Chapiteau.
The name “koza” is derived from the Sanskrit word for ‘box’ or ‘treasure.’ Written and directed by David Shiner (“Fool Moon”) with original music by Jean-Francoise Cote and dazzling costumes by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt. Often in mime, it relates the story of the Innocent (Stephan Landry), a clown searching for his place in the world. As he naively tries to fly his kite, he’s given a mysterious jack-in-the-box out of which jumps the mischief-making Trickster (Adam Mike Tyus), who whisks the Innocent into a magical, dreamlike world of wonder that’s ruled by an imperious Clown King (Gordon White).
There’s a slithering trio of contortionists (Julie Bergez, Natasha Patterson, Dasha Sovik), nimble acrobats (Diana Aleschenko, Yuri Shavro) who execute a complicated ‘pas de deux’ on a unicycle, a graceful trapeze soloist (Yulia Korosteleva), and a daring, heart-stopping, double-decker quartet of highwire artists (Angel Quiros Dominguez, Vincente Quiros Dominguez, Flouber Sanchez). And that’s just Act One.
Act Two is dominated by the gravity-defying aerial artistry of Jimmy Ibarra and Carlos Marin Loaiza on the “Wheel of Death.” They dash, dance and cavort in a perpetual motion on two rotating wheels that are attached to one another and suspended above the stage. Thrilling! That’s followed by more energetic acrobatics, more clowning, including a bawdy pickpocket, and general merry-making with audience members. Astounding!
Priced on a par with Broadway with an extra charge for the extravagant, surprisingly delicious Tapis Rouge buffet/bar, tickets for the astounding, inspiring, fast-paced 2 ½-hour Cirque du Soliel’s “Kouza” are a great value for the money and can be found discounted on several websites, including TheaterMania.