Cirque du Soleil KURIOS

A Steampunk Show

Wildly inventive acts with a steampunk vibe and a recurring transportation theme emerge from the lab of a mad scientist in Cirque du Soleil’s “KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities.” After sitting on the edge of their seats for most of the show, my kids, ages 10 and 12, summed it up as, “So cool!”

Don’t expect the typical clowns and animal acts in this circus. Even the more traditional acts like trapeze artists defy expectations by swinging from flying bicycles.

Some acts gave my kids a taste of the heart-stopping anxiety I feel watching them perform their own daring stunts. They loved the trampoline performance, and even as the “flying fish” nearly grazed the top of the tent, fun outweighed danger. Another favorite was on a much smaller scale – so small, in fact, that a camera zoomed in on the action to show a performer’s hand transform into a breakdancing virtuoso.

The kids also were impressed by the live music. My daughter especially liked the vocalist (with a Victrola-horned head dress) and my son liked watching the drummer’s antics. The contortionists were amazing, but my son was “creeped out” by their hyperflexibility. Nothing in the show was overtly scary, but some of the costumes were bizarre and the show’s length and lack of clear story line might make it harder for very young kids to enjoy.

The unique feats of strength, flexibility, coordination, and creativity awed and entertained our whole family. We can’t wait for next year’s show!

Know Before You Go: Atlantic Station has a mix of sit-down and quick dining options; some offer discounts if your show your Cirque ticket. If dining before the show, allow plenty of time as waits may be long. Make the same allowances for traffic – late comers must wait to be seated during a break in the show to avoid distracting the performers. Parking deck is $10 cash, instead of the normal pay-when-you-leave parking ticket system.

– Helen Lawson