131rearn Weaver
Neil Goldberg, creator and artistic director
of "Cirque Ingenieux," melds the magic
of European circus with Broadway style.
SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to The Jewish News
E
ach time that Cirque
- — Ingenieux offers its dream
world to audiences, the per-
formance represents the real-
ization of a dream for creator and artistic
director Neil Goldberg.
The original score, sets and costumes,
enhancing the story of a young girl
drawn into a make-believe universe,
uphold the traditions of musical theater,
while the bold acrobats, aerialists and
illusionists, all performing without nar-
ration or dialogue, showcase the feats of
international circus.
The production comes to the Music
Hall Feb. 23-28.
"I think performers send a message to
viewers that it's OK to dream and it's
OK to reach out beyond boundaries,"
says Goldberg, who produced corporate
special events before coming up with the
Cirque concept in 1993.
"Being able to paint a picture on
singe while bringing a story to life with-
out narrative is the greatest feeling of
accomplishment to me because that's
really what my initial goal was and that's
really what Cirque Ingenieux does. I'm
rewarded professionally and financially,
and I'm fulfilled and love every day.
The Cirque Ingenieux story line
begins by presenting a single-ring circus
watched by Sarah, a young girl who
leaves and then returns to the tent after
everyone else is gone. As she grasps the
trapeze, Sarah finds herself pulled
upward into a fantasy universe of wild
sights, including trapeze artists moving
among the stars, bizarre creatures made
of fabric and contortionists transforming
themselves into outlandish shapes.
Sarah's journey takes her to a place
and people formed of precious stone,
with new and innovative acts. She meets
up with her brother and a girl intro-
duced in the old-fashioned circus that
started the show.
"The little girl becomes a performer
and hangs 20 feet in the air by her feet,
1)
2/19
1999
42 Detroit Jewish News
"Cirque Ingenieux"
is a antasy universe
where actors, dancers
and sets move around the
stage amidst the dream
world of the circus.