Cirque du Soleil: Anniversary Collection, 1984-2005

Celebrating the world-renowned Canadian circus troupe's 21st anniversary, this 12-disc collection offers excellent value (individually these programs would cost more than $300 total if purchased separately) while compiling in one amazing set all of the trademark exotic blend of music, comedy, and stunning individual and group performances that define the Cirque experience. Granted, the opening and closing volumes are a bit disappointing—1986's La Magie Continue (VL Online-1/02) is a theme-less compilation of balancing, bicycle, and trapeze acts highlighted by an admittedly inventive comedy routine with a "mechanical" classical conductor; 1989's Cirque Réinventé (VL Online-1/02) offers more of the same, but adds now-staple acts involving contortionists and chairs, and beefs up the costuming and skits; and the 2004 outdoor-filmed 20th anniversary celebration Midnight Sun (VL-11/05) feels like the equivalent of a Whitman candy sampler, and can't begin to compete with the indoor stage productions. But starting with 1991's Nouvelle Experience (VL Online-1/02), the unique contemporary Cirque elements finally coalesce—the master (or mistress) of ceremonies, the wonderful comic skits, the aerial strap sequences, and the eye-popping and graceful acts of the contortionists, jugglers, trapeze, and balancing artists. From there on, the hits—as they say—just keep on a comin': 1992's Saltimbanco (VL Online-1/02), an explosion of kaleidoscopic color featuring pushing-the-envelope set pieces (including a bungee ballet); 1994's Alegria, which features one of Cirque's best soundtracks; 1996's Quidam (VL-11/99), with astounding acts that include a quartet of Asian girls whose juggling and acrobatic work is simply amazing; 1998's La Nouba (VL-1/05), featuring a pair of BMX bicyclists who can make their mechanical steeds "walk" up steps or stop on a dime; and 1999's Dralion (VL-3/01), featuring a happy-go-lucky juggler whose seven-balls-in-the-air-at-once act is only topped by his extraordinary down-the-back catches. In 1999, Cirque du Soleil reached a new audience through their IMAX production Journey of Man (VL Online-1/02), 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. And in 2002, Varekai (VL-1/04) scaled new performance heights with guys spinning their mates in the air with their feet, a juggler who juggled balls with his mouth, and a woman whose balancing act on a slender post is absolutely breathtaking. Rounding out the set is 1994's A Baroque Odyssey (VL Online-1/02), a 10-year anniversary historical overview of Cirque du Soleil that vacillates between interesting details (the originator, Gilles Ste-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. While the DVD extras here are pretty slender (Varekai and La Nouba were originally issued as two-disc sets, but are only single discs here), this is a remarkable visual history of an artistic and cultural phenomenon. May the next 20 years bring as many wondrous sights, and the DVD releases of Mystère and O. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (R. Pitman)