Around halfway through Kurios, running until Oct. 26, I caught myself with the cliched look of a slack-jawed spectator. What compelled me to such a trance state was a hypnotic spectacle I have never seen elsewhere: as an acrobat scaled a three-chair-high elevation, directly above him, attached to the big top, was an upside-down scenario exactly mirroring the ground-floor performance. The audience began to gasp, and I couldn’t help but join them in a round of appreciative applause.
Many moments such as these peppered Kurios, a show themed with steampunk costumes and Eastern European tunes. While the narrative is a bit thin — a portly fellow is transported to a fantastical world — the acrobatic strength and body movement and imaginative scenarios truly make Kurios a show unlike any other.
For instance, we’re treated to a bit of “hand theatre” where dancing finger-people skateboard, breakdance and saunter in front of quickly-changing sets, all displayed on screens for the packed crowd.
In another bit, small girls bend in ways that made my vertebrae twinge, turning yoga poses into incredible feats of contortion. Trapeze artists soared above our heads and flipped each other with the ease of kids tossing marbles. Humour overwhelmed clown David-Alexandre Després’s impression of a cat during a segment where he chose a spectator to join him on stage. And flying machines and men dressed in machine-ware added to the visual glory of the Cirque set.
The flaws were minimal, such as a few performers missing their jumps or grabs. But that only reminded the audience these exemplars of gymnastics are human, too.
If I had to recommend any live show to Toronto audiences, it would be Kurios. Few events have left me wanting another two hours of awesome spectacle.
Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities runs in Toronto (at the PortLands) until Oct. 26
