If you like Cirque de Soleil but lament the lack of plot development in their productions, then you will enjoy Cirque Mechanics’ Boom Town.
The first scene opens with saloon owners who tangle over customers with acrobatic fights while characters romp in and out of the scenery, introducing the audience to the full cast of characters. Life in the wild west of Boom Town is full of high-speed action as cowboys, ingenues and eccentrics scramble up swaying poles, swing on wheel-wagon chandeliers and even jump in and out of sliding ore carts. The cast reads like a who’s who of Cirque de Soleil. They are all talented artists who have honed their acts with precision, energy and enthusiasm. Though the scenery is sparse, it’s anything but static. Low-key explosions burst from the mine shaft, poles sweep in towards each other and chandeliers raise and lower depending on a suspended bicyclists’ pedaling speed. The production incorporates the use of innovative props that are based on principles of interaction and balance. It’s an engineers’, artists’ and kids’ dream to figure out the properties that make each of the stage elements work.
Though I felt the production was too long at 90 minutes (no intermission), we enjoyed the various minor plots that were intertwined with each other: the competitive saloon owners, star-crossed lovers and dynamite prospectors.
Our 4.5 year old son and 2.5 year old daughter were equally captivated by the mild dynamite explosions, the ballerina who danced on chairs and the various balancing acts including whiskey jug rolling and pole climbing.
Boom town continues for only two more weekends at the New Victory Theater through April 24th.
Theater-goers who buy tickets for three or more New Vic shows qualify for free Membership benefits, including a 35-percent savings. Tickets to Boom Town cost $25 (orchestra and front mezzanine), $18 (mezzanine) and $9 (balcony) for Members, and $38 (orchestra and front mezzanine), $28 (rear mezzanine) and $14 (balcony) for Non-members.
Tickets can be bought online or in person or by phone at 646-223-3010 (Monday-Friday 12 noon-8 pm; Saturday 10 am-8 pm; Sunday 10 am-5 pm) or in person at the Box Office; Box office hours: Sunday & Monday 11 am-5 pm; Tuesday-Saturday 11 am -7 pm. The performance schedule is April 8th, 7pm; April 9th, 2 and 7pm; April 15th, 7pm, April 16th, 2 and 7pm; April 17th, 12 and 5pm; April 20th, 2pm; April 21st, 7pm; April 22nd, 7pm; April 23rd, 2 and 7pm; April 24th, 12 and 5pm.