‘Twas the Night Before…’ – Conceived and directed by James Hadley. Production by Cirque du Soleil. At Boch Center Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston through Dec. 11.
If you’re looking for an alternative to the myriad of (sometimes unrecognizable) adaptations of A Christmas Carol to rev up your holiday spirit, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining way to do so than grabbing a ticket to Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Twas the Night Before…. The production is Cirque’s first-ever Christmas-themed show, which debuted back in the pre-COVID days of 2019 at the Chicago Theatre. Inspired by Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 poem ‘A Visit From Saint Nicholas’, ‘Twas uses the iconic work as the launching pad for their trademark acrobatics and other circus arts, producing more “oohs and ahhs” than a Fourth of July fireworks display, along with some thoroughly entertaining dance and comedy bits.
It’s Christmas Eve and teen Isabella (Alicia Beaudoin) is sitting up in her bed, immersed in her own little world, courtesy of her smartphone and noise-cancelling headphones. Her dad (Benjamin Thomas Courtenay) enters the room, hoping to spark some Christmas spirit for himself and his daughter (no idea what happened to Mom) by reading ‘A Visit From Saint Nicholas’ together – a ritual they share each Christmas. But Isabella may have outgrown the tradition, and remains disinterested, even when dad presents her with a shiny new bike. But when the frustrated dad leaves her to her devices, a snowstorm suddenly erupts, separating the two and setting the stage for what Boston audiences have come to expect from Cirque productions over the years, beginning with an exhilarating aerial routine by a young couple (Karyna Konchakivska and Suren Bozyan).
Isabella is quickly befriended by Jolly, a strange character whose true identity will be revealed later, who also doubles as an awe-inspiring juggler, and she begins her journey through an alternate universe. Along the way she meets a cast of characters loosely connected to the poem, which merely serves as a springboard for the acrobatics and dance routines. Of particular note are the roller disco couple, who dance and spin wildly on their skates; a wildly athletic display of hoop diving by Santa’s reindeer; a mesmerizing diabolo act, which features a four-person team flinging and catching an iridescent yo-yo-ish object (for lack of a better term) across the stage and incorporating a pair of audience members; a women suspended by her hair in a fascinating and somewhat unsettling aerial act; and another aerial act featuring a young woman and a hotel luggage cart that you’re unlikely to see at The Four Seasons. There’s also a mischievous group of elves, ‘Les Tuques’ who provide much of the comic relief throughout the evening, as well as the Kijanz dance crew, which kept the energy level up throughout the night.
The music, consisting mostly of classic Christmas Carols given new treatments – from hip-hop and disco themed renditions to the hauntingly beautiful “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is a huge plus, even if the volume is pushed a bit far on some of the numbers. And while ‘Twas may lack the sophistication of other Cirque offerings (most notably, The Tempest-themed show in the Seaport a few years back), it’s near the top of the list for sheer entertainment among shows by the troupe. It’s a high-energy blast that has very few lulls (although one elf should have been dragged off the stage for his relentless applause mongering), and it’s a show that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s a fun way to bring in the holiday season and highly recommended. For more info and tickets, go to: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/twas-the-night-before
