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Sun. Jan. 25 Last call! “Words don’t do it justice. It’s an experience with multiple layers of emotion and that’s what makes it appeal to so many age groups.” So says Dennis Schussel, co-owner (with his brother Bernie), of Cirque Le Masque. a company that began putting on touring theater shows in the mid-1990s. They’re bringing their latest, “Carnivale,” to the Cutler Majestic Theatre through Sunday Jan. 25. If you spot that “Cirque” word, you may have an idea what’s in store. It won’t be a circus with elephants and tigers; it will aim for something more artful, more sinuous and sexy, with performers well-skilled in acrobatics and aerial feats. Cirque du Soleil, which started as a small Montreal company, has, of course, become huge and international, with a my riad of shows and performers. “What brought me into this,” says Schussel, “ was I was watching Cirque du Soleil leave the smaller venues and going into the bigger venues. There’s early Cirque du Soleil and today’s Cirque du Soleil. I found early more entertaining and more and more touchy-feely, I wanted to take advantage and bring that back to theatre. We developed it with that quality.” “This show has aerial acts that are thrilling and death-defying,” Schussel continues, “as well as dramatic balancing acts mixed in with comedy that lightens it upa nd has them screaming with laughter. Complete balance. To me, with theater, tha’s what I try to achieve.” “Carnivale,” a 100-minute show which just finished six weeks in Greece, “is about a tourist in the big city, Rio,” Schuseel says. “She’s distressed over the constant city noises, and wants to find their dream of seeking the circus and becoming a member of a great circus. It’s a slight story line energized with the Cirque dancers,.” Cara Maher plays the lead role of Moira. What kind of performer is her character? “Her talents are not revealed as any one thing,” says Schuessle. “We call it someone wanting to break out and find her dream. At the end, she will achieve her dream.” Somehow, we don’t think Schussel has spoiled anyone’s party by revealing that particular plot point. And, as he says, the story line is “slight” – a hook upon which to hang the circus acts. (Check out their website www.cirquelemasque.com for a video that gives you a good idea of the action: a show of balance, strength, grace.) Schussel is not from Montreal. He’s from Long Island, and has a Boston connection. He went to Curry College many years back and that’s where he first thought of life as an entertainment entrepreneur. He and his brother started building that company 30 years ago. When asked how Cirque Le Masque compares to Cirque du Soleil, he says, “Our show is a high quality show, with a huge cast of 28 entertainers. We have the highest levels of acts in the world. A number of performers come from Cirque du Soleil. My show is the best show on the planet.” If you’re wondering, Schussel does not have performance in his blood. He says he takes to the old motto, “If you can’t do it, own it.” The performers range in age from their 20s to 40s, including, he says, a three-person slow motion statue act that’s a family from Mexico. Le Cirque Masque has no Canadian connection, but Schussel says “it has that French feel.” Remaining show is Sunday January 25 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35 - $60. 219 Tremont St., 800-233-3123, www.maj.org
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