**** Highly Recommended **** A Magical Cirque Christmas isn’t just magical, it’s enchanting, a perfect blend of holiday music, magical sleight of hand, awesome circus acts, amazing projections and dramatic lighting. The show is full of OMG moments – stunts that will have you on the edge of your seat! I have to say my favorite segment was the awesome light show – the entire theater was flooded with moving white lights – accompanying Audri Bartholomew’s rendition of classic carol, Silent Night. Truly marvelous! Hurry and get your tickets, A Magical Cirque Christmas is only in Chicago for a few more days. 4 BIG Spotlights
A Magical Cirque Christmas is narrated by the intriguing magician, Lucy Darling (Carisa Hendrix). Darling appears frequently throughout the show – always in a different sparkly gown – often stopping to do a little magic. Watch for the multiplying wine bottles!
In order to begin the holiday season, the timekeeper must turn the key in a giant clock, but this year, he’s depressed. Darling tries to cheer him up, when that doesn’t work, she turns the key herself, breaking it in half. Suddenly, the inner workings – gears, levers, interlocking wheels – of the time piece fly apart, sending the show hurtling back in time.
Whenever that broken timepiece appears, you’ll hear short clips of holiday songs, then with a spin some random date in the past will appear, followed by a performer. The ten performers are all versatile and able to do more than one amazing act – and they can dance! Aerials, tumbling, balancing, juggling, unicycles, contortionism, spinning wheels, even pinpoint archery!
In addition to Darling and Bartholomew, the cast includes: Jonathan Rinny – Rola Bola, Unicycle; Christopher Stoinev – Guardian of Time, Juggler; Itzel Salvatierra – Hand to Hand Duo, Lyra; Scott Cooper – Hand to Hand Duo; David Locke – Cyr Wheel; Nicky Faubert – Duo Straps, Hand Balance; Olivier Belzile – Duo Straps, Diabolo; Kevin Demaro – Hula Hoop, Flying Pole, Lyra; Aryn Shelander – Contortion, Archery; and Vlada Romanova, winch operator/supporting cast.
Note: Masks are encouraged but not required in the theater.
A Magical Cirque Christmas runs through December 11th at the CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe, Chicago. Running time is just under 2 hours including an intermission. Performances are
Wednesday, December 7th, 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm- Thursday, December 8th, 7:30 pm
- Friday, December 9th, 7:30 pm
- Saturday, December 10th, 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm
- Sunday, December 11th, 2:00 pm
Tickets start at $16.50. FYI www.BroadwayInChicago.com or www.MagicalCirqueChristmas.com.