SHANGHAIED
It takes a rare courage to brave Chicago’s Navy Pier during the summer. A combination of lines and advertisements threaten to ensnare you and your wallet with just a simple misstep. And amongst all this, Chicagoans like myself will be confronted with the Kafka-esque fear of feeling like one of them—by “them,” I of course mean the tourists. This year’s edition of Cirque Shanghai: The Year of the Dragon does nothing to quench that fear, but actually exacerbates it with its over-the-top, overpriced (at twenty dollars), cheap-feeling spectacle, the type one would find in an amusement park. And in suit with its China theme, red silks dominate the stage for most of the show, as if that’s the only color they have in China. All of this is the backdrop for stunts performed with somewhat uncomfortable uniformity.
But I’m being wholly unfair—for those who don’t share my aversion to this type of tourist trap, Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon is 75 minutes of bright colors, incredible acrobatics, and high-anxiety stunts. The athletes are all unwavering in the face of danger. Director Miao Miao Chen even manages to convince the Imperial Thunder motorcycle troupe to don bright smiles even as they enter the “Globe of Death,” a giant metal sphere that packs in five speeding motorbikes. The children around me watched in joyful amazement, while I was on the verge of a panic attack imagining every possible fatal outcome. What’s particularly incredible is that much of the cast is involved in multiple acts—it wasn’t enough that one guy could ride a unicycle across a slack rope and juggle, but he also could flip through unrealistically small hoops with ease. These people seem superhuman, and they are certainly talented entertainers.
It’s somewhat hard to judge this type of attraction. For travelers, families, and others in search of a mindless spectacle surrounded by the sights and sounds of Navy Pier, this is perfect. Cirque Shanghai is certainly exciting, even for the anxiety-prone and crowd-shy like myself, but it feels like a tourist machine stunt show, and may not be for those who seek something new.
photos by Paul Natkin
Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon
Navy Pier Pepsi Skyline Stage
ends on September 3, 2012
for tickets, call 800-745-3000 or visit Ticketmaster
