THE BALLOON MAN

‘Zarkana’ delivers homage to classic circus arts

 

The Jovians are among the acts featured in Cirque du Soleil’s production of “Zarkana” at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas. |
 Lance Staedler 2011 Costumes: Alan Hranitelj ©2011 Cirque du Soleil
BY MIRIAM DI NUNZIO Reporter
from:suntimes.com
February 4, 2013 2:20PM
LAS VEGAS — For nearly 30 years, Cirque du Soleil’s colorful, vibrant, cutting-edge, mind-boggling, surrealist extravaganzas have shaken the circus arts to the core, resulting in some of the most breathtaking productions ­­­­— technologically, physically and artistically. From the playfulness of “Saltimbanco” and darkness of “Alegria,” to the watery wonder of “O” and the moodiness of “Mystere,” to the technical impossibilities of “Ka” and the mesmerizing soundtrack of “Love,” how we have marveled at the impish characters, glorious costumes, world-beat soundtracks and sensual athleticism. The unintelligible Cirque sing/speak, not so much.

Now there is “Zarkana,” fresh from its engagements in Moscow, Madrid and New York, and the seventh Cirque production on the famed Strip (replacing the much ballyhooed yet eventual disappointment that was “Viva Elvis”) inside CityCenter’s lush Aria Resort & Casino. The self-described “acrobatic rock experience that blends circus arts with the surreal” is a succinct and precise explanation. But the description can be applied to any number of Cirque productions — and therein lies the problem.
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