Endless opportunities: Consortium experiences Cirque du Soleil Alegria

Being a student in Worcester is a gateway for more exciting opportunities than most people give it credit for. With the benefits of the Worcester Consortium in such close reach, it is mind-blowing how much is available to students and is rarely taken advantage of. After having the pleasure of seeing "Cirque du Soleil Alegria," I understand what all the hype is. "Alegria" is a show spun-off from the original "Cirque" with darker themes and serious undertones. The title can be translated to mean "joy" in Spanish, adding to the irony of the melancholy play. The tagline for the show describes it as "an operatic introspection of the struggle for power and the invigorating energy of youth, Alegria relates the tale of power versus weakness, the king versus his jesters and age against youth." Franco Dragone, a Belgian theater director who worked extensively with Cirque, wished to call it "Alegria" because "where I come from, it is what you say when you're in pain. It means 'life goes on.'" Before the show starts, a live band moves through the crowded DCU Center arena, engaging the audience members. The opening number is a beautiful medley of song and dance on the grand stage built up using gothic arches and harsh angular designs. The music gathers inspiration from a plethora of influences including Spanish, French, Mediterranean and African. The show was converted from a big-top circus show to an arena style for the three-year tour that kicked off May 27, 2009 in Halifax, Mass. The set changes were smooth, and the main stage area converted from a flat surface for dance and aerials, to underground trampolines from some impressive acrobatics.

While watching, I can honestly say this was the most flexible group of people I have ever seen. Between all the dangerous aerials and intense acrobatics, there were comedic acts in between such as slapstick comedy between two clowns fighting over an imaginary motorcycle. There were a lot of modern elements in the show, which was surprising considering Cirque came about in the 1980s and was at one time a big-top circus show. At one point, a clown even breaks down into beat boxing and rapping on stage.

The clowns were most intriguing since they provided such a sharp contrast to the somber and serious themes of Alegria. It breaks the mold of a traditional show since the audience is more blatantly involved, such as dancing in the crowd and blowing a major snowstorm on the first six rows in front of the stage. The majority of the show contains a lot of visual stimulation and impressive acts. The clowns seem to be peppered in to provide a bit of normalcy to the show, and be a relatable character for audience members. For example, the average person will probably not perform a blazing fire-knife dance on a stage, but clowns come across as a bit easier to process since they do nothing that seems physically impossible-they just make comedy.

The costumes and special effects were very impressive. It seemed that no stone was left unturned in the process of fashioning the most decadent and ornate looking outfits, inspired by baroque ideals of grandeur. It also is interesting to realize the history of this show, and the fact that it made a stop in Worcester, Mass. for eight performances from December 9-13, 2009. Alegria is one of nineteen different shows around the world, ranging from touring to arena to seasonal shows. It's an incredible opportunity offered to the city of Worcester. College students alike should enjoy the break from drab dorm rooms and studying for a night out in the city they live in, especially to go see this rich and vibrant performance.

Keep up to date with what's going on in your city! Check with the Colleges of Worcester Consortium website to know what's going on at the Hanover Theatre and the DCU center.