Opening Night for Banana Shpeel
Banana Shpeel, the new show from Cirque du Soleil is opening on Thursday in Chicago. There are a couple of tickets still available for opening night, according to ticket master, but not a large amount. Cirque tickets have historically been in the $50-75 range. However, if you are flexible on date, I did find $35.00 tickets, which would make it more affordable for a family to go.
It is a complete departure from Cirque du Soleil’s typical fare in that the show is 100% devoted to slapstick comedy. Previous shows have included interludes and interruptions of comic relief, but the over all, the theme has been perceived as moodier or more dramatic. The new show is a tribute to vaudeville and broad humor. The show follows Emmett, a hopeful actor being encouraged for ill or for gain by the irritable producer, Shmelky. Emmett falls in love with the beautiful Katie, and encounters all sorts of strange characters, such as the mysterious Banana Man.
Slapstick seems to be a universal mode of comedy, where people around the world can all understand. They seldom need to understand the social context. Returning to the basics could be the sign of times, when people are looking for something proven, familiar and comfortable, versus looking for entertainment that pushes the envelope or reminds folks of gloom and doom.
In the past, I flew to Chicago and took in as many shows as I could while I was there. I purchased tickets ahead of time for the newest show, or the one I was most interested in seeing. Then, I purchased tickets to local troupes while I was there. If the spectacle of past shows is any indication, this should be your anchor show.
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