'Cirque Eloize' dazzles in its own way

Could there be such a thing as too many “Cirque”-style shows saturating the Chicago market? This question might come to mind while watching the Windy City debut of “Cirque Éloize iD” at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, now through Sunday, May 8.

There's no denying the many amazing physical feats to be seen in “Cirque Éloize iD.” This circus-meets-urban-hip-hop-dance spectacle is well directed by company founder Jeannot Painchaud and features 16 risk-taking performers who can contort, balance and break dance with the best of them (the spiderlike flexibility of contortionist Emi Vauthey elicits gasps, while trial bike cyclist Thibaut Philippe stunt hops his way to plenty of applause).

But if you're a veteran of many shows by Cirque Éloize competitors, then some of the routines (like those involving the aerial hoop, Chinese pole or stacking chairs) might not seem quite as fresh or awe-inspiring as similar feats by the likes of Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Dreams or Cirque Shanghai.

“Cirque Éloize iD” also has the misfortune of following the recent memory of Seven Fingers' much more personable and multitalented performers in “Traces.” Though presented on a much smaller and intimate scale late last year at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, “Traces” allowed audiences to get to know its international performers as individuals in a similar gritty urban setting.

“Cirque Éloize iD” offers much more visual spectacle to surround its performers, but they come off more as super-talented and physically impressive automatons rather than characters the audience relates to. Director Painchaud initially groups his performers as if they're from opposing gangs, but he drops that promising dramatic thread when all the performers come together in big group sequences (particularly the big and energetic jump rope sequence).

What definitely works for “Cirque Éloize iD” is its startling use of video projections and computer animation against its angular back wall set featuring doors, windows and a trampoline. The perspective-twisting imagery featured during the climactic “Trampowall” sequence is mind-boggling and clever as performers in precision-time choreography seemingly test gravity with each and every bounce.

For first-time viewers of any kind of “Cirque”-style show, “Cirque Éloize iD” will definitely impress. But for seasoned veterans of similar shows, “Cirque Éloize iD” won't recapture those initial feelings of wonderment experienced by all these amazingly agile and athletic performers pacing through their series of high-risk feats.