For the first time since the pandemic began, Cirque du Soleil has returned to Canada. The Quebec-based touring circus’ oldest—and newest—show, Alegría, is playing under the grand chapiteau in Vancouver until June 5. But Alegría’s presence isn’t just a symbol of the return of the circus. The show itself is evocative of revolution, renaissance and rebirth.
The magic of the cirque, after all, is that every show has a theme. From the myth of Icarus to Shakespeare’s Tempest. In Alegría, a kingdom has been through a revolution and a king has lost his crown. The old aristocrats and the youthful nymphs now vie for power.
What’s New and What’s Old
Alegría began touring in 1994 and quickly became one of Cirque du Soleil’s best-recognized shows. The theatre troupe had a few failed starts before becoming the frontrunner in worldwide entertainment it is today, and Alegría was the show that launched it there. 25 years after its inception, the show received an overhaul. The same beloved musical arrangement and characters in re-designed costumes bring something old. A new stage and never-before-seen acts bring something new. With that, Alegría came back into the world.
I adored the new-fashioned costumes. The original costumes were beginning to look tired and dated, even though that is exactly what the show’s designers were going for. “A once-glorious kingdom”, now stuffy, dusty and decaying. The characters are styled as phantoms of the court of Versailles. Exquisite and ornate, yes, but shabby and tattered.
The clowns were an aperçu du soleil, even when they accidentally released a snowstorm from a suitcase. From a fire dancer who quite literally lit up the stage with his stunts to the high flyers who ended the show soaring through the air, it was brilliant from every aspect.
I was only disappointed that the hula hooper didn’t grace the stage. Russian acrobat Elena Lev created her own routine incorporating rhythmic gymnastics, contortion and dance with dozens of hula hoops when she joined the circus in 1999. When Alegría received its makeover in 2019, she revived her signature act, saying “I started with Alegría and I will close [this] chapter with Alegría.” I was so looking forward to her performance.
Alegría was an immersive, exquisitely-stylized spectacle that brought a touch of magic back to our city.