A Baroque Odyssey; Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man; Cirque Réinventé; La Magie Continue; Nouvelle Experience; Saltimbanco

For those with the inclination and time (roughly six hours), sequentially watching this sextet (along with Quidam [VL Online-11/99] and the Emmy-nominated Dralion [VL-3/01]) offers a fair overview of the evolution of Canada's world-renowned circus troupe Cirque du Soleil. Playing to an audience of over 30 million people during the past 17 years, Cirque's 12 stage shows have reinvented and reinvigorated the traditional circus with a winning mixture of extraordinary physical feats, colorful costuming and staging, and a universal sense of humor. First up, and weakest of the six titles, is 1986's La Magie Continue, a theme-less compilation of balancing, bicycle, and trapeze acts highlighted by an inventive comedy routine with a "mechanical" classical conductor. 1989's Cirque Réiventé offers more of the same, but adds now-staple acts involving contortionists and chairs, as well as beefs up the costuming and skits. But it's really 1991's Nouvelle Experience that finally features the unique contemporary Cirque elements--the master (or mistress) of ceremonies figure, the addition of audience participation (here, a wonderfully comic scene involving a love triangle), gliding through the air on the aerial straps--grafted on to the eye-popping and graceful acts of the contortionists, jugglers, trapeze and balancing artists. Saltimbanco's (1994) explosion of kaleidoscopic color immerses viewers in a magical world of pushing-the-envelope set pieces--double tightrope act, duo trapeze, a bungee ballet--backed by a distinct musical score fronted by a lead vocalist. A Baroque Odyssey, also from 1994, offers a 10-year anniversary historical overview of Cirque du Soleil that vacillates between interesting details (the originator, Gilles St. Croix, founded a group of stilt walkers and was inspired by the legendary Bread and Puppet troupe) and fawning, self-congratulatory baubles from founders, cast and crew. Finally, Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man--a 1999 IMAX production--is an astounding featurette that uses the framing device of man's journey (child to adult) as a backdrop to amazing feats filmed in natural settings, including a synchronized underwater swimming routine that would make Busby Berkeley drool, colorfully-plumaged forest bungee-jumpers, and a fantastic acrobatic act filmed inside Severance Hall, home to the Cleveland Orchestra. To recap: La Magie Continue is for die-hard fans and completists only, Cirque Réinventé and A Baroque Odyssey are optional, Nouvelle Experience and Saltimbanco are recommended, and Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man is highly recommended. All of the DVDs are presented full-frame with no extras beyond Dolby Digital sound. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)