Theater Thursday - Cirque Eloize and Made in China

We were given tickets to Cirque Eloize at State Theatre New Jersey for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Cirque Eloize

Where: State Theatre New Jersey
             15 Livingston Ave.
             New Brunswick, NJ

When: January 12, 2017
            (For future tour dates go to http://www.cirque-eloize.com/en/shows-tickets/)

Who: All ages

Me - Cirque Eloize is a different kind of circus.  There is no tent. there are no clowns, and there are no animals. It is all acrobatics like Cirque Du Soleil. The show we saw Saloon had a country theme. The girls looked like dancing girls and the guys looked like cowboys. There was supposed to be a story, but it is kind of hard to follow because there is not really any talking. There was music and there was singing. The music was very loud. Most of the show seemed very much the same. However, there were a few parts that were different. There was a guy who juggled. There was a girl who did an act with  a hoop. I have never seen anything like it. Instead of having an act with the hula hoop around her, she did an act with herself inside the hula hoop. It was cool and strange at the same time. It was my favorite part of the show. I would recommend Cirque Eloize Saloon for people who really like westerns and Cirque Eloize in general for people who really like acrobatics.

Mom - Cirque Eloize is  a circus troupe very similar to Cirque Du Soleil. They too are based in Montreal, Canada and they too have several touring shows although not as many as Cirque Du Soleil. Their shows like Cirque Du Soleil's  consist mainly of acrobatics. The show which was presented at State Theatre New Jersey was called Saloon and as the name would suggest had a Western theme. It allegedly had a plot although the plot was hard to follow without dialogue. It was like an action movie full of stunts. Anybody who likes nonstop action would enjoy this show as there weren't really any breaks between the acts, but the showed just moved quickly from one thing to another. The show was very musical. There was music and singing throughout the whole show. However, the music was mostly just loud, and the singing was hard to understand. This is a good show for kids (and adults) who like constant movement and a lot of noise. However, anyone who does not like loud noise and/or likes a show with a lot of variety might not like it. If you have never seen a show of this type the acrobatics will  probably amaze you, and you will enjoy the show. If you have seen similar shows before, you may be disappointed. For more information about Cirque Eloize go to http://www.cirque-eloize.com/en/ . For more information about Cirque Eloize Saloon go to http://www.cirque-eloize.com/en/spectacle/saloon/. For more information about upcoming events at State Theatre New Jersey go to https://www.statetheatrenj.org/events

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We were given free tickets to Made in China for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Made in China

Where: 59E59 Theater
             59 E. 59 Street
             New York, NY

When: Now through February 19, 2017

Who: Ages 18 and up

Mom - At its heart Made in China is a story about two very different people learning to understand and appreciate each other. However, it is a very strange journey which leads to this end. This show about Mary, an American citizen and Eddie, her Chinese neighbor is entirely performed by puppets. It is  definitely not a show for children, however, as it is filled with anatomically correct naked puppets and a lot of cursing among other things. The plot is also way over children's heads (at least young children's) as it deals with Mary trying to save slave factory workers in China. The show is a mix of realistic elements, such as the interactions, between Mary and Eddie and fantasy, such as, singing household products and foods and a fall down a toilet into another country. Anyone who does not like fantasy definitely will not enjoy this show.  However, if you are interested in something that is completely different, you may enjoy the show. The puppeteers are talented and portray their characters well. The staging of the show is very interesting. This is not a puppet show where the puppets are confided to a little puppet stage, but the entire stage area is made use of. The show is a musical although most of the songs are not very memorable. The final number, All I Need to Change the World is You is very catchy though. All in all the show is a very unique theatrical experience just not for children.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Funtivity Friday.
Photo credits: All Made in China productions photos by Heidi Bohnenkamp.