Run Away With the Circus
Many people can remember the warning not to run away with the circus but in the case of iL CiRCo founder Sam Trego, "I didn't listen."
The company's Viaggio show takes to the stage Tuesday June 7 at the Esplanade in what Trego promises to be a spectacular event for Hatters old and young alike.
The comparisons between iL CiRCo and Cirque du Soleil may be obvious but Trego said his show is no imitator to the Quebec-based troupe, rather a contemporary.
He said iL CiRCo performed its first major show in 1996, building on Trego's experience of stage and dance productions and incorporating the acrobatic traditions of circus.
"When people began to compare us to Cirque du Soleil, I started at that point to focus more on the theatre elements," said Trego.
That includes zany characters of the absurdist, surrealist tradition complete with masked dancers and acrobatics interacting with puppets.
"That is what we focused on," said Trego, "and character development."
In an age where audiences have many options to get their fill of visuals either through advanced special effects in movies or other media Trego said that has pushed the circus tradition to evolve.
"We expect more out of theatre now ... we are living in a generation that is so visually stimulated, when we get that experience in theater, we identify with it," said Trego.
With the iL CiRCo cast including sixth and seventh generation circus performers from the European tradition, that wealth of knowledge comes into play in making the physically impossible, possible on the stage.
"It's in their blood," said Trego, "and it's not a new concept."
He added that while Viaggio's main character is a child, the performance itself was aimed towards an adult audience. Children, however, have grown to love the show in a way Trego said he wasn't expecting.
"They find themselves getting caught up in it. . .I think it's a little bit unusual to find a show that truly entertains the adults as well as the kids."
iL CiRCo: Viaggio plays at the Esplanade on June 7 with two shows (6 and 8:30 p.m.) with tickets priced at $39 and $45..