The Circus Comes to Town!

What do clowns, acrobatics and funerals have in common?

They are all part of Cirque du Soleil’s show Corteo that is currently touring around North America.

Corteo, which means ‘procession’ in English, tells the tale of Mauro the dreamer clown, who – on his death bed – imagines his funeral.

While Corteo sounds like a tradegy, according to ariealist Erin Cerventas, it is actually a celebration of Mauro’s life lived in the circus, a life all-too familiar for Cervantas and her fellow performers in the show.

“I just love the story of it and the celebration of life that it is. A lot of people say ‘oh its about a funeral, it’s going to be dark,’ or ‘I don’t think it will be good for kids,’ but it is actually a celebration of life – the life of the main clown Mauro” she said. “He is looking back on all the beautiful times he had, and all the beautiful people he has known in his life, before he finnally ascends into the light at the end.”

The story of Mauro’s imagined funeral is told in Cirque’s characteristic style using high flying achrobatics, death defying stunts, stunning costumes, moving original music and precise choriography.

This style is why the show’s art director Mark Shaub loves working on Cirque du Soleil shows like this one.

“Every show that we do is an opportunity and excuse to highlight all of the different types of performances that we can do,” said Shaub. “At Cirque we combine acrobatics with music, with choreography, with lighting, with costumes to bring you something new. When you find a story that you can do all that in, which we have in Corteo, you find a shape to do what we do.”

Corteo premired last month at Little Ceasar’s arena in Detroit and has since moved on. But if you missed the show, you have another chance to see it at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, where it will be performed from May 15-19. Tickets are on sale now at the WFCU Centre website, or visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.