Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

Cirque Du Soleil
Tickets (312) 421-3842
In the United Center Parking Lot
Through September 6th

There's always magic surrounding a circus, and the first sight of the circus tent is breathtaking. That has never been more true as in the case of Cirque Du Soleil, the phenomenon from Montreal with the big blue and yellow tent. If you're one of the few people in this country who have not heard of this marvelous troupe of performers, their latest offering, Quidam, will not disappoint.

I've never been a fan of the Barnum and Bailey type circus, but if you are, you need to know that this is no ordinary circus. There are no animals. No clown cars. No net. What it is, however, is a trip into a dream world, where the extraordinary becomes ordinary, where the impossible is possible. Quidam is the creation of Franco Dragone, the creative force at the center of Cirque Du Soleil. Dragone has created shows in the past that have thrilled audiences the world over. What is so special about Quidam, like the other Cirque Du Soleil offerings, is that it is not just acrobats and clowns. It has a point of view. Seeing Cirque Du Soleil is like being transported to another world.

Quidam is a child's fantasy, in which a little girl conjures up a life different from her ordinary home life, where her parents exist in a world of their own. Her fantasy converts their home into a red and purple dream world, where an odd Master of Ceremonies shows her and her parents that life is more than just the everyday activities that we fall into by habit. We see a human wheel, an air contortionist (this seems to awaken the passions of her father), fantastic aerial artists, the most interesting juggling act I have ever seen, and clowns that transcend the traditional definition. With the help of an incredibly inventive technical staff, people literally hang suspended in mid air with no visible means of support, and acts appear out nowhere. Quidam is a wakeup call for those people who are approaching the millennium with petty concerns. Cirque Du Soleil's message: Get Over It.

Quidam, as with all of Cirque Du Soleil's events, is truly the most unconventional thrilling"circus" you will ever see. A warning, though. If you go, please treat it like a theatrical event and not like a circus. Quidam is a non-stop event with one intermission, and there are no popcorn vendors roaming the aisles. This is something the family of five sitting next to me didn't know (the parents were at the mercy of the kids who seemed to constantly want more popcorn, drinks, to go to the bathroom, etc.). Unfortunately I was on the aisle, and I had to let them out every time. Please respect the performers and the other audience members by staying in your seat until the lights come up. It will be worth it.