Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...But what makes "Kurios" so superb is how well it contextualizes those routines into its distinctive whole. The danger of this kind of conceit is that you can end up close to freak-show territory--but Laprise takes the opposite tack, empowering the performers, forging an arc of palpable narrative logic, and thrilling the crowd."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"..."Kurios" has been imagined in a lushly baroque steam punk style - with all the once newfangled wonders of electricity, light bulbs, gramophones and aircraft it suggests. And this is all marvelously conjured by the sets and props of Stephane Roy that fly, glide, and circle on an imperceptible track; the costumes (especially those fabulous accordion pants) by Philippe Guillotel, which have a life of their own; the lighting of Martin Labreque that sculpts each motion; and the makeup by Eleni Uranis that utterly transforms faces while revealing souls."
Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...But the marvels overwhelm the doldrums—and the design is eccentrically, exquisitely anachronistic in the spirit of movies ranging from Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! to most anything by Terry Gilliam, but especially The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen. More important, Kurios puts human beings back at the center of the circus, which is where they belong. Because if it isn't humans doing the defying (of death, of gravity, of our usual bungling lack of grace), then who cares?"
Chicago Stage Review - Highly Recommended
"...In a world where mediocrity is routinely marketed as marvelous and garbage is pawned off as glamour, Cirque du Soleil continues to shine through the fog of talentless fraud to beautifully give the world genuine and uncompromised brilliance. DO NOT MISS this mysterious marvel under the big top! KURIOS ~ Cabinet of Curiosities is the closest you'll come to time traveling back to the White City and the most delightful show you'll see this summer."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...The stage is mostly bare, with new set pieces rolled out for particular acts, sometimes in clever disguise: An aviator flies in on a propeller plane that, after landing, unfolds into a platform for his anxiety-inducing balancing act; a trio of contortionists performs on the back of a giant mechanical hand; an acrobat performs aerial stunts not on silks but on a tricked-out bicycle. The silly comic acts go on long enough to wear thin, but a driving score and inventive twists on the usual circus skills keep Kurios's pace feeling furious."
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"...Despite the usual predictable Europop score, Kurios sets new standards for the Cirque. The conversion to steampunk energy has recharged the empire's batteries-visual, thematic, conceptual and audio-like nothing before. Curiosity, after all, is the causation as much as effect of the circus experience. Kurios fully exploits and rewards it. Let the Soleil shine in!"
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...When it comes to contemporary circus, there's no beating Cirque du Soleil. With the addition of new talent, the commercial giant is not resting on its laurels, nor has it sacrificed artistic innovation. Rather, the sprawling grand chapiteau houses the best of both touring company accommodations and entertainment. Of course, such quality costs money, but it is well-spent by anyone who even thinks they might have an interest in a clean, highly technical, human-act centered circus (perhaps the recent tour of Pippin will attract some new fans). I know Kurios brought out the inner child in many of the adults sitting around me on opening night, and the children sat raptured. The best of theatrical spectacle will remain in town for several more weeks."
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...In between the circus acts, there were bits of pure vaudeville often led by Facundo Gimenez. Although Gimenez and the others are very talented, these shticks served more as a respite from this adrenaline-charged, wild ride. Mr. Laprise, thank you! I absolutely LOVED this show. In a word, it was AMAZING!"