When the curtain rises at the 30th annual Northern Alberta International Children’s Festival, the magic of a cirque show will herald a world of fantasy that defies the imagination.
San Diego-based Il Circo, a production with 22 artists performing jaw-dropping feats of aerial acrobatics and daunting strength, is the centrepiece of this year’s magnificent line-up.
Running from Tuesday, May 31 to Saturday, June 4, this four-day festival promises to transport its anticipated 55,000 visitors into a world of bold colour, wacky characters and, most importantly, the wonder of magic.
The festival was moved to St. Albert’s downtown along the Sturgeon River in 1995 after it outgrew its original home at the Citadel Theatre. And it has continued expanding.
In this landmark year, festival director Nancy Abrahamson says, “I’m more excited about this lineup than in past years. It’s because of the variety and the new things Troy [Funk] is bringing in.”
Funk, the festival programmer, introduces nine acts from five different countries for 90 main stage shows. In addition, there will be an outdoor stage, roving artists, outreach programs and site activities.
But the hot-button production is Il Circo’s Viaggio. Combining the characters of Italian Commedia dell’arte and French-style circus arts, this enchanting spectacle tells the story of a child’s dream. The result is a hauntingly beautiful fantasy of music, dance, comedy, strength, agility and grace.
As Funk explains, “It’s stunning to look at the beautiful costumes and breathtaking acrobatics. And it’s very Wizard of Oz. You discover you have the power within. You just have to take the journey to discover it.”
The festival’s budget is $1.4 million with $250,000 spent on Viaggio alone. “It was expensive, but there’s no regrets. And there’s no problem selling out the show. It’s nearly sold out and I’d encourage people to buy their tickets early,” Abrahamson explains.
A family fun night is added on Wednesday and Thursday night in a special showing of Viaggio at 7:15 p.m. Prior to the show, free activities will be held at the plaza in front of the Arden Theatre from 6 to 7 p.m.
Other shows include the ever-popular St. Albert Children’s Theatre performance of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. This is a hot seller and only five shows on Friday and Saturday still have seats.
Several new companies make an appearance. Theatre Motus creates the puppetry of Baobab, a tale about a West African forest plagued by drought. A mysterious egg falls from a Baobab tree and it hatches a little boy destined to bring the water back.
Another fresh act is BBOYIZM’s The Evolution of B-boying. “This is a group that’s on the verge of breaking into the big time. While five dancers change costumes, a narrator talks about the evolution of hip hop from the ‘70s to what it is today,” Funk says.
From Australia comes Slingsby Theatre’s imaginative The Tragical Life of Cheeseboy. In this spacey tale, a meteor hits a planet made of cheese and turns it into a fondue. Cheeseboy becomes marooned on Earth where he navigates a series of adventures. “It’s incredible storytelling with incredible bells and whistles.”
The long-awaited Emilio and the Enchanted Cow from Mexico’s Marionetas de la Esquina finally get to tell their story. They were originally booked in 2009, but with Mexico’s outbreak of the H1N1 virus, the appearance was cancelled in the 11th hour.
“We definitely wanted them back. Kids will relate to the green cow and they will love to have the creature come to life.”
Returning to the festival are three old favourites with original shows: Germany’s Matthias Kutcha, a one-man puppetry show, spins Rumpelstiltskin; Mermaid Theatre steps up with the black-light Hungry Caterpillar; and Splash and Boots tell stories and sing songs.
Brochures can be picked up at the Arden Theatre. Downloadable brochures are available online at www.childfest.com. Tickets are $7.50 to $20. Call 780-459-1542 or purchase online at www.ticketmaster.ca.
