Claims extracted
20
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
10%
2 of 20 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
61/100
The Sydney Morning Herald's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Entertainment
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
A throwback to a more interactive, traditional style of circus, KOOZA was created in 2007 by director David Shiner as a departure from the huge theatrical spectacles that had, by then, almost defined Cirque du Soleil’s immensely popular style.
asserted
that → create → style
Under Shiner’s vision, Stéphane Roy’s set evokes an old-fashioned carnival, and Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt’s costumes are a rainbow of acrobat stripes in nostalgic circus colours.
asserted
costumes → evoke → colours
Shiner – a trained clown himself – sent in the clowns.
asserted
Shiner → train → clowns
The moment you enter the spiral-patterned big top theatre, it’s hard to spill popcorn without hitting one.
asserted
it → enter → one
Pacing through the audience, the clowns initially favour banter over slapstick, giving the impression that the cast of a North American comedy club has run away with the circus.
asserted
cast → pace → circus
Once the show begins though, the clowns pull out all the stops with mime, slapstick, and physical theatre.
asserted
clowns → begin → mime
While clowns in other Cirque du Soleil shows might have a touch more European arthouse whimsy, these clowns bear the stamp of Shiner’s modern American comedy and vaudeville interests.
uncertain
clowns → have → comedy
Their ringleader, Mark Gindick’s slouching, wise-cracking mad King, chants “CHUG, CHUG, CHUG!” as soon as he spies the cans of drink in my and my guest’s hands.
asserted
he → crack → hands
He’s accompanied by a bumbling henchman duo (Miguel Berlanga Madroño and Duncan Cameron) straight from a children’s action comedy film.
asserted
He → accompany → film
There’s even a fluffy clown-dog who urinates real water.
asserted
who → ’ → water
For those requiring a dose of schmaltz, the clowning frames the central narrative: a story about a child-like elfin character known as the Innocent, who arrives complete with kite and upturned red nose just in case you missed the fact he’s meant to represent your inner child.
asserted
he → require → child
Performed with great sympathy by Alexandr Yudintsev, the Innocent encounters Mitch Wynter’s dapper Trickster, who prompts him to explore the wider world.
asserted
who → perform → world
Enter the abundant buffet of circus acts the wide-eyed Innocent encounters along the way.
asserted
Innocent → enter → way
All are of Cirque du Soleil’s usual high standard: tightly choreographed, impeccably performed, and eliciting a constant audience rollercoaster of gasps and cheers.
asserted
All → choreograph → gasps
It’s all accompanied by a live band belting out Jean-François Côté’s original music from the top floor of the carnival set.
asserted
It → accompany → set
The music and its visual presentation are broad for Cirque du Soleil: following Shiner’s eclectic palette, it spans from the usual ethereal ambient to musical theatre, Bollywood, burlesque, vaudeville, and cabaret.
asserted
it → follow → theatre
The Day of the Dead-inspired “Skeleton Dance”, featuring Jessica Fox as the Soul Singer, even has a chorus of skeleton showgirls, ostrich feathers bouncing with every strut.
asserted
feathers → inspire → strut
Other commentators have found the clowning excessive, so whether you enjoy KOOZA may come down to personal tastes in comedy style.
uncertain
enjoy → find → style
But with world-class acrobatics and Cirque du Soleil’s extraordinary production values, KOOZA makes an exuberant case for the pleasure of old-fashioned circus.
asserted
KOOZA → make → circus
Chantal Nguyen reviewed a preview performance of KOOZA.
asserted
Nguyen → review → KOOZA
The Aporia
