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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=text-textragright1p0indent align=center><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Holiday ‘Cirque Dreams’
show at PlayhouseSquare leaves you dazed</FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=text-textragright1p0indent align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
</I></SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">on
12/17/10<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p></o:p></B></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=text-textragright1p0indent align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Seeing <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Cirque Dreams Holidaze</I>, the dazzling,
touring holiday circus spectacular currently on stage at PlayhouseSquare, is a
déjà vu experience.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>You’ve experienced it
before if you’ve eaten bad shellfish or run a high fever.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>It will seem familiar if
you’ve taken in a prefabricated entertainment on a cruise. Or at a corporate
trade show.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Or at one of the lesser
Vegas hotels, off the strip and out of peak season.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><FONT size=3><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Cirque Dreams</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> is a poor man’s <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Cirque du Soleil</I>—a less creative, less
original and less hallucinogenic international collection of circus clowns,
contortionists, plate spinners, jugglers, acrobats, aerialists and tightrope
walkers.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They perform to inane,
repetitive music tied loosely to a vague and contrived
storyline.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>It is a multi-sensory,
oversized kaleidoscope of a production; an ever-changing array of vivid colors,
loud sounds and theatrical activities that constantly rotate, gyrate and pulsate
with little rhyme or reason.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Cirque Dreams</I> fantasy factory has
several themed variations of the same over-the-top, big tent production in the
works and on world-wide tour.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
one on stage at PlayhouseSquare is the holiday show—a Christmas-themed
extravaganza, which means that circus performers dress as gingerbread cookies,
tree ornaments, elves, drummer boys, toy soldiers, lollypops, snowflakes and
penguins as segues to their specific routines. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The storyline summary in
the program simply states: “Once upon a dream, time awoke suddenly… he turned,
smiled and gave a wink… then saw the ornaments no longer
asleep.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Bad shellfish
indeed.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The thing is, this is
actually very entertaining stuff.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>No, it is not soul-enriching, thought-inducing, provocative
entertainment.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is not fulfilling
by any means.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is of the
titillating and awe-inspiring variety.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Seeing gravity and human
physiology defied in so many ways, and ogling at a stage saturated with dramatic
lights, a parade of bright costuming, oversized set pieces and perpetual motion,
is loads of fun. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>It helps that these
performers are very professional, enthusiastic and engaged, and that their
antics—while familiar and extremely old-school—are really rather amazing.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Everything is a blend of athleticism,
artistry and eye candy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While
nothing is death-defying, everything has risks and is performed
flawlessly.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Three very talented
featured singers—an angel (Cleveland’s own Kelly Pekar), an Ice Queen (Emily
Mattheson) and a Charles Dickens of sorts (Jared Trolio)—phase in and out of the
production to move the storyline along, such that it is.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most of what they sing is innocuous and
vacant, but it is all performed dramatically and very well. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A few pop-rock Christmas tunes are worked
into the mix.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>One odd ingredient is the
religiously themed “O Holy Night,” which not only seems woefully out of place in
this very secular and commercialized extravaganza, but it serves as odd
accompaniment for a fairly sensual aerial act. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The acid test for
productions like this is whether children love it.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They certainly seemed to on opening
night.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Two very young, adorable
and, according to their mom, mildly autistic children sat next to me during the
performance.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While initially put
off by the show’s volume and its visual assault, they quickly adjusted and were
at the edge of their seats for the full two hour
entertainment.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Adolescents in the
vicinity seemed a bit insulted by the prancing gingerbread but quickly got over
themselves when the acrobats took to the stage. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Several children at
heart, who arrived via bus from their assisted living facility, noted that the
show was just like watching the 1960’s TV variety program “<I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ed Sullivan Show,” </I>only in
color.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They marveled at how young
everyone still looked.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Déjà vu all
over again.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=text-textragright1p0indent><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Cirque Dreams
Holidaze </SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">continues through
December 19 at PlayhouseSquare’s Palace Theatre.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For tickets, which range from $10.00 to
$65.00, call 216-241-6000 or visit <A href=""><B><FONT
color=#15688d>www.playhousesquare.com</FONT></B></A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>