last minute changes to Banana Shpeel before Chicago opening

retroDan — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:54:52 +0000

Speculation is at its peak now that there’s less than a week left before the world premiere of Banana Shpeel at the Chicago Theatre. With no sneak peeks or advanced reviews, most of us theater fans are pretty much left in the dark on what to expect from the brand new Cirque du Soleil show. Playbill.com recently reported that Serge Roy and David Shiner had to make the difficult decision to rewrite the whole show to streamline the plot. Unfortunately, the two love interests, Emmett and Katie had to written out of the show. The change was very unexpected especially when the initial press events heavily featured the two actors in those roles, Michael Longoria and Annaleigh Ashford.

But I suppose the creative team was simply doing what needed to be done to live up to “Cirque du Soleil” standards. And there seems to be a ton of interest in this show since Banana Shpeel is a bit of a departure for the successful entertainment brand. Cirque du Soleil is known the world over for their complex acrobatic trapeze acts and unique contortionists but with Banana Shpeel, they’re attempting to do a twist on vaudeville in a traditional theater-type setting.

My personal favorite show of theirs is “Love” but I’m sort of biased since I’m a life-long Beatles fan. The visual interpretation of Beatles classics was absolutely breathtaking and the newly remixed Beatles music in surround-sound was simply to die-for.

I can’t wait to hear more about Banana Shpeel once the show finally opens. With the show being promoted as being “light and fun”, expect big laughs and a lot of clowning around. Zany humor, clowns and slap-stick aren’t usually associated with the usual Cirque du Soleil show but I, for one, applaud the creative team behind Banana Shpeel for branching out and going for something completely different. Be sure to head on over to the Cirque du Soleil website for show dates and ticket information.

Banana Shpeel to premiere in Chicago

retroDan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:35:10 +0000

Cirque du Soleil has become a trusted brand for theater-goers seeking fresh and unique entertainment. Known the world over for their innovative fusion of circus acrobatics and dramatic theater, the Canadian entertainment company created 19 different productions over the years which were shown in over 271 cities. With such demand and popularity, Cirque du Soleil is continually working on something new to keep their audience coming back for more.

Their all new show titled Banana Shpeel will be premiering at the Chicago Theatre in November. This is Cirque du Soleil like you’ve never seen before!! It’s their own take on vaudeville which will blend comedy, music and dance into something new and exciting. The story centers around a struggling actor named Emmett who meets Shmelky, a cruel producer who enjoys power and control a bit too much. Emmett ends up falling for the beautiful Katie and encounters a variety of characters including the mysterious “Banana Man”.

Written and directed by David Shiner, Banana Shpeel looks to be another hit for the company which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. I absolutely enjoyed their Vegas show “Love” which is based around newly remixed Beatles songs. And I can’t wait to see this new show. I’m very intrigued about this Shmelky character and this so called “Banana Man”. If I had to guess, the banana guy will probably turn out to be the one to help Emmett find his happy ever after with Katie. But whether my guess is right or wrong, it doesn’t matter because the show is much more than just a storyline. One thing you can count on with Cirque du Soleil shows is the “wow” factor. This is no ordinary night at the theater. They want to expand your world and bring you something that you’ve never experienced before. Their creative use of music and visuals hava always impressed me over the years. And I’m sure Banana Shpeel will deliver in the same tradition.

Find out more about the new show on the Cirque de Soleil website.

retroblog.net » theater

last minute changes to Banana Shpeel before Chicago opening

Banana Shpeel to premiere in Chicago