The Power Player Magazine had the profound pleasure of attending a performance of Cirque du Soleil’s IRIS, created specifically for the Dolby Theater (Formerly the Kodak Theater, home to the Academy Awards). IRIS delivers everything you would expect from a Cirque du Soleil production: the most amazing aerialists, contortionists and acrobatic tumblers in the world performing almost inhuman physical feats. Also as expected IRIS delivers scintillating visual and orchestral performances you will never forget.
Each Cirque du Soleil is built around a specific theme. IRIS centers on the world of cinema. It takes us on a magical and fantastical journey through many stages of film from its seminal stages to film noir, to modern day special effects and live multimedia streams.
Unlike most Cirque productions, this one boasts a storyline where a young man (Buster) pursues an actress (Scarlett) trying to pursue a movie career. The storyline, however, gets lost in the spectacular nature of the show. There is so much to see and so much to be amazed at that you might forget there is even a story being told. The first half of the show is entertaining but lacks in comedic elements seen in other Cirque shows. The second half of IRIS is the most compelling — it starts off with a jungle film set with acts going on above you, behind you, next to you and on the stage. This sequence is very action-packed but could come across a bit overwhelming as there are many things going on at once.
Perhaps the most memorable and most visually stunning sequence of the show is a trampoline act set on a New York City-like rooftop. In this act we see a vibrant Keystone Kops style action where police officers chase zoot-suited gangsters over rooftops.
Other highlights include: a comedic awards show sequence that involves participation from unsuspecting audience members; and a tightly choreographed act where performers walk though a series of identical rooms and perform actions for and interact with a time-delayed camera.
If you’re a Cirque du Soleil regular, the physical feats featured in IRIS will be familiar but you will still enjoy the delightful display of whimsy and fun. The fact that at times there might be too much to take in at once is reason enough to go se it again and again. – Report by Brent Lowe (Entertainment Journalist)
