by Li Mi, Zhang Baoping
CHICAGO, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Hat juggling, chair stacking, contortions,aerial gymnastics, Chicagoans and tourists are again enjoying a summer of breath-taking performances by "Cirque Shanghai" from China.
This is the sixth straight summer Cirque Shanghai has come to Chicago. Under the name "Cirque Shanghai Extreme", this year's production features an even more "extreme" line-up of new death-defying acts and aerial stunts which show director Chen Miaomaio says are certain to shock and astound.
"We have taken the production to a new level of 'wow' this year, and are thrilled to share the world premiere of 'Cirque Shanghai Extreme' with Chicago," said Gary Fjelstad, vice president of International Special Attractions, Ltd. (ISA), which works in conjunction with Cirque Shanghai on this year's show.
Audiences agree. Emily, a college student visiting Chicago, summed up her impressions thus: "The choreography is beautiful and delicate yet strong and wonderfully executed, we truly enjoyed the part that the performers involved with audience, which is so entertaining."
An elderly lady told Xinhua that she and her sister from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, had seen the show every year for the past four years and it had almost become a routine when her sister visits Chicago in summer. "It is such an astounding show and it gets better and better each year," she said.
As well as breath-taking moments, the audience also had a good laugh when entertainers interacted with them and brought audience members up on stage to be part of some tricks.
Jay Cochrane, an acrobatic company manager with ISA, told Xinhua the young Chinese performers, who had tremendous talents, had already learned the American way of entertainment.
"The thing is when these young performers take the stage, they are having fun, and the audience is having fun, they got good vibes," Cochrane said.
Chen said the troupe had also been invited to perform at Disney and Broadway this year. "The show business is highly competitive all around the world, so for a troupe coming from China, to go to Disney and Broadway in the same year, you have to be special," Cochrane said.
The show runs Wednesdays to Sundays through Sept. 5 at the Pepsi Skyline Stage in Navy Pier, one of the most popular tourist and leisure destinations in the U.S. Midwest.
