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After returning home from seeing the Globe’s “Duel Reality” I went rummaging through all my press kits and souvenir books (yes, I saved them all) of all the Cirque shows I’ve seen over the years. Funny thing, both shows originated in Canada. “Duel Reality” a production by Les 7 Doigts La Main ( The 7 Fingers) with direction by Shana Carroll (originally produced and created with Virgin Voyages and commissioned partner Artsemerson), is a 75 minute piece of theatre combining Ringling Bros & Barnum and Bailley circus acts with a Shakespearean twist. It will be showing through August 4th on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage.
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| Michelle Hernandez and Gerardo Gutiérrez |
There is no lack of talent as each of the twelve member cast outperform themselves as practiced and versatile acrobats effortlessly twisting turning, spinning hula hoops, juggling balls, bowling pins and any other device you might see in a circus act or circus type show.
There is evidence of a Capulets and Montagues riff and several passages posted on a screen in the background taken from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, but for the most part, it’s the athletics that stand out i.e.; trapeze acts, pole climbing, precision jumping through hoops, you name it.
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| Cast |
To make it more interesting teams were created; red and blue audience wrist bands handed out as we walked in to the theatre. A referee calls the shots and we cheer for our side. Some participate, others do not. But the rivalry seems real following the play on a more serious side. Star crossed lovers Gerardo Gutiérrez and Michelle Hernandez (playing Romeo and Juliet) find their connection without saying a word. The chemistry between the two needs no words. They are just beautiful together as they sway on a magical swing high above the wrangling to the musical soundtrack of jazz, rap and dance music (Colin Gagné)
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| Andreas De Ryck and Danny Vrijsen |
On the rivalry side Danny Vrijsen (as Tybalt) and Einar Kling-Odencrants (Mercutio) make an explosive duo mounting their actions and family anger on a Korean Plank (an apparatus that requires two acrobats jumping on something that looks like a see-saw). But the ending will surprise. In an effort to create harmony and change, in the end, both sides remove their blue and red tops creating a unified front. Nothing like changing the ending of a Shakespearean play. This is theatre after all.
Lighting Designer Alexander Nichols creates the atmosphere changing the lighting, Costume Designer Camille Thibault-Bédard created the circus like costumes and Francisco Cruz coached the performers in acrobatics.
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| Soen Geirnaert and the cast of Duel Reality. Photo by Liza Heinrichs. |
It’s a family show especially the circus part. The kids will never get the Shakespeare inferences. Yours truly had to struggle enough with that and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen “Romeo and Juliet”. As for being a “circus lover”, take me to a Cirque show and I’ll be a happy camper. No juggling please.
Have fun.
See you at the theatre.
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| Nicolas Jelmoni and Soen Geirnaert. Photo by Jean-Francois Savaria. |
When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays. 8 p.m. Fridays. 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays. 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through 2 p.m. Aug. 4
Where: Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego
Photo: Jim Cox and others.
Tickets: $39 and up
Phone: (619) 234-5623
Online: theoldglobe.org
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