‘Corteo’ will enchant audiences at Ford Park

At the dawn of the 1980’s, a troupe of performers founded by Gilles Ste-Croix took their talent to the streets of Baie-Saint-Paul near Quebec City. Known to the public as Les Échassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul, this group would form the core of what would grow into Cirque du Soleil. This crew had an eclectic show, highlighting jugglers, dancers, fire breathers, and musicians who pleased local fans with their act.

Little did these early fans and performers know that these embryonic beginnings would lead to something magical, exciting, and revolutionary on a global scale.

With years of honing their craft, Guy Laliberté, a member of Les Échassiers, decided that the show they had developed was ready to delight fans outside of their hometown. He dubbed this new mobile troupe “Cirque du Soleil” because, in his own words, “The sun symbolizes youth, energy, and strength.”

With expansions of ideas and laying roots in the desert in Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group has become a world leader in live entertainment.

Since its creation in 1984, more than 400 million people have been inspired on 6 continents and 86 countries. The Canadian company now employs more than 4,000 employees, including 1,200 artists from 80 different nationalities.

After a 10-year hiatus, Cirque du Soleil returns to Beaumont on Feb. 16-18 at Ford Arena with the enchantment of “Corteo,” which has recently been honored at the 35th annual Pollstar Awards as the Family, Event or Non-Music Tour of the Year beating out Blippi: The Musical, Disney on Ice, Monster Jam, Dude Perfect, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live! and Kidz Bop Live.

Four shows are schedule for Ford Arena beginning Friday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m., two on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 18, 1 p.m.

Tickets start at $55 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or to avoid extra fees, visit the Ford Park box office at 5115 Interstate 10 South.

Directed by the visionary Daniele Finzi Pasca, this unique production first graced the stage under the dazzling Big Top in Montreal back in April 2005.

“Corteo,” which means “cortege” in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.

Mauro the Dreamer Clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us.

The music, by turns lyrical and playful, carries “Corteo” through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.

In a Cirque du Soleil first, the stage is central in Ford Arena and divides the venue, with each half of the audience facing the other half, giving a unique perspective not only of the show, but also a performer’s eye view of the audience. It’s an atmosphere never seen before in a Cirque du Soleil arena show. The set’s hand-painted curtains, inspired by the Eiffel Tower, and the central curtains give a grandiose feel to the stage and sets the tone for the poetry of “Corteo.”

The cast is an international one, representing more than 18 nationalities. Performers are from Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States and Uzbekistan.

Jonathan Buese, who makes his home in Florida, was recruited by the company after watching him compete for the University of Iowa in the 2010 NCAA National Collegiate Men’s Gymnastics Championships.

The 36-year-old Buese has worked four tours with Cirque du Soleil, including “Mystère,” “Alegría,” “Totem” and the relaunch of “Corteo,” where he and a dozen or so other acrobats perform in the show’s finale, Tournik – a group of artists cross paths in an act which marries horizontal bar techniques with circus arts. The artists perform on a central cube-shaped structure, with two additional bars on each side of the cube. The complexity of the fright pattern and the defiance of gravity will keep you on the edge of your seat. A final farewell to Mauro.

“This show is really fun with amazing acrobatics that go along with a beautiful story and stunning costumes,” said Buese. “You even have good acting from everyone with some artistic freedom and you don’t see that in other Cirque du Soleil shows. It’s both interesting and different from the other ones I’ve worked before.”

In the final act of “Corteo,” Buese and 10 or 11 others all swing on six gymnastic high bars together. He described it as, “the exclamation point of the show.”

Buese found his interest in gymnastics at the age of 6, when he and his older brother watched the Olympic Games. “Working with Cirque du Soleil has been an amazing journey,” he said.

“I’ve never left the United States before joining Cirque, but now I’ve toured Japan, Australia and Europe. You get to travel and have the privilege of working with such professionals that make great friends.”

Chad Cooper is the Entertainment Editor. Contact cooper@theexaminer.com