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Run Away from the 'Cirque'

By Matt Windman | amNew York theater critic

11:44 AM EDT, June 26, 2008

Contorting Lizards in "Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy" , a Broadway staging of a european-style circus with an international cast of 25 aerialists, contortionists, acrobats, jugglers, musicians and characters performing in a jungle-like setting. (Newsday/Ari Mintz)

Don't be misled by the title. Cirque Dreams is not Cirque du Soleil. In fact, Cirque du Soleil even sued Cirque Dreams for trademark infringement. But in fairness to Cirque Dreams, the court found that "cirque," French for circus, is too generic for Cirque du Soleil to claim possession.

Created and directed by Neil Goldberg, "Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy" is touted in a press release as "an exotic encounter inspired by nature's unpredictable creations that are brought to life by an international cast of 25 soaring aerialists, spine-bending contortionists, acrobats, jugglers and musicians."

The South Florida-based Cirque Productions has already toured "Jungle Fantasy" in over 120 cities across the country. It now arrives as an underwhelming summertime attraction to fill the Broadway Theatre before "Shrek" arrives.

The only enjoyable part of the show for us involved reading the non-Equity performers' crazy bios. Take Uranmandakh Amarsanaa, a graduate of the Mongolian State School of Contortion. Or Stefka Iordanova, master of the rare Bulgarian art of hair spinning.

Whereas a typical Cirque du Soleil show combines European circus art with ambitious, often difficult concepts, Cirque Dreams, also a no-ring and non-animals circus, is far more straightforward, kiddy-friendly and bland.

Blown-up, air-inflated tree trunks cover the stage and the performers are dressed as amphibians and reptiles. The color design is meticulous and the individual feats are pretty impressive, but the G-rated, Disneyesque concept gets wearisome pretty quickly.

The backup musical score is pretty awful, but it was amusing to watch the female narrator sing about absolutely nothing for two hours.

Even though the Broadway Theatre happens to be one of the most mammoth spaces on Broadway, it is still not large enough for the kind of elaborate physical feats that are meant for a wider arena setting. Perhaps that's the reason why Cirque du Soleil has never bothered to do a show on Broadway. It knows better.

Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway, 212-239-6200, $25-85. Mon 8pm, Tues 7pm, Thurs-Fri 8pm, Sat 2 & 8pm, Sun 2 & 7pm. Thru Aug 24.