Why Everyone Should See Cirque du Soleil’s KURIOS

My seven-year-old daughter is an out-of-the-box thinker.

She certainly doesn’t get it from me, though. I’m a Type A, rule-following, first-born female who likes to be applauded for adhering to directions and exceeding expectations. Color inside these lines? Sure. Well … that is, as long as I get to pick the colors.

Not my girl, though. She takes after her dad.

She once completed a math assignment in invisible ink and turned it into me (her homeschool teacher) along with an ultraviolet decoder pen. I indulged her imaginative methods, shone that new little light of mine, and started grading.

While it may seem that she has her sights set on being a spy, when she was six, she shared with me her aspirations to be a “mad scientist.” Apparently, all the bathroom mixing of soap and toothpaste and shiny treasures found during gem panning at our local science museum were her efforts to create an ice power potion.

But what do invisible ink and potion-making have to do with Cirque du Soleil’s KURIOS?

Like my girl, there is nothing ordinary about it.

When I was given the opportunity to see the show here in Atlanta, I immediately determined that of my four girls, this out-of-the-box thinker should be the one to go. Even though I’d never seen a Cirque du Soleil show before, I’d heard enough to know it would be no ordinary circus. I was confident my invisible-ink-writing, potion-making girl would love it.

What I didn’t expect was just how much I would love it. And I did. Immensely.

From the moment it began, KURIOS mesmerized me. I’m a big steampunk fan, so I loved the set design, costumes, and props of this, as the show’s program says, “Thomas-Edison-meets-Jules-Verne-retro-future.”

I loved Mr. Microcosmos’ overcoat that housed Mini Lili.

I loved Klara’s antenna-hoop skirt.

And most of all, I loved the music performed by the live band. 1930’s French jazz and swing meets contemporary.

There are no boring moments in this show. No time to yawn, or make a quick trip to the bathroom. From start to finish, it’s incredible. There were moments in it when all of the elements — music, lighting, costumes, performance — came together so beautifully and so perfectly that I was speechless.

When it comes to favorite acts, there were many.

The Russian Cradle Duo.

The Aerial Bicycle.

The Rola Bola.

Banquine.

Right before intermission, my seven-year-old, out-of-the-box-thinker turned to me and whispered, “This is amazing!”

I whispered back, “I know!”

And you know what? I found myself wishing I could have taken all of my girls to see KURIOS, even the fellow Type A, rule-following ones who do take after me. Because I knew they too would have loved it.

MORE ABOUT KURIOUS: CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

In an alternate yet familiar past, in a place where wonders abound for those who trust their imagination, a Seeker discovers that in order to glimpse the marvels that lie just below the surface, we must first learn to close our eyes.

In his larger-than-life curio cabinet, the Seeker is convinced that there exists a hidden, invisible world – a place where the craziest ideas and the grandest dreams await. A collection of otherworldly characters suddenly steps into his makeshift mechanical world. When the outlandish, benevolent characters turn his world upside down with a touch of poetry and humor in an attempt to ignite the Seeker’s imagination, his curios jump to life one by one before his very eyes.

What if by engaging our imagination and opening our minds we could unlock the door to a world of wonders?

10 CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE SHOW

• To make the Accordion Man’s attire, the costume-maker spent an entire week sewing inside the costume.
• Antanina Satsura, the artist who plays Mini Lili, is 3.2 feet tall and weighs 39 pounds. She is one of the 10 smallest people in the world.
• The mechanical hand weighs 750 pounds and measures 15 feet by 6.8 feet.
• More than a hundred costumes were created to dress the cast of KURIOS.
• There are 426 props in the show, the most of any production in Cirque du Soleil’s history.
• Some 65 trucks transport close to 2,000 tons of equipment for KURIOS.
• The 116 tour members come from 22 different countries. Some have been touring with Cirque du Soleil for more than 20 years.
• This is the first time that Cirque du Soleil presents a welcoming act on top of the big top before the show starts. When weather permits, 3 artists climb up the big top and greet the guests from above while playing music and acting. Guests get a taste of the KURIOS experience as soon as they enter the site.
• It took the team of props makers approximately 250 hours to build Mr. Microcosmos’ round belly.
• All performers are responsible for applying their own make-up every show, which can take them between 40 minutes to two hours

SPECIAL ATLANTA TICKET OFFER

If you live in the Atlanta area and want to see KURIOS, it is performing under the iconic blue and yellow big top at Atlantic Station until May 8, 2016. The great part is they currently have this special offer: $25 kids ticket with purchase of full price adult ticket. CLICK HERE and take advantage of this offer now! It’s valid on select show dates and times while supplies last. It may not be combined with other offers or applied to previously purchased tickets.

[Disclosure: Tickets provided for review, but all opinions are my own.]