“Delirium” was a pastiche show, but still very well done.
The opening act, which consisted of world-music by Nitza, not so much. She can belt it out, but the vocals, etcetera, was uninspired and the performance generally self-congratulatory. Good enough for what an opening act is supposed to do — get the audience paying attention to the stage — but more like an NPR Sunday-night “also ran.” Definitely Nitza’s stuff is nothing I’d ever pay money to see or buy on a CD.
Cirque du Soleil, on the other hand, I’d buy on video and leave running for days like we were still in the ’80s and it was a favorite screen-saver by Beagle Brothers.
Cirque du Soleil has a good mix and match for a general audience. I prefer a heavier performer mix, rather than the mostly-dance-and-music with performers thrown in, which is how Delirium was constituted. I’m kind of a purist — I love European circus, and can jazz for days about the raw physical skill involved. I don’t even need a set, I’m so enthralled by what these folks can do with their bodies. But for a general audience, it’s probably about right, and the song and dance themselves were very, very good. The art involved in presenting the “circus otherworld” was absolutely awesome.
I left totally jazzed. Practically danced all the way to the car. Did car-dance in the parking lot, to the alternating amusement and embarrassment of Those Who Put Up with Me.
Well worth catching when they come into town.
