I’ve seen two Cirque du Soliel shows – Zumanity and Love – and they were both amazing in different ways. Zumanity was risqué and absurd (I love anything with a little T&A…and P) and Love was beautifully choreographed with amazing costumes. I listen to the soundtrack regularly.

And it sounds like Banana Shpeel is a mix of the two – outlandish costumes, half-baked humor, and hard-core choreograph combined into a vaudevillesque spectacular with just enough sex-appeal to make things interesting! I’m already in love with the makeup from the few publicity photos I’ve seen – especially Annaleigh Ashford (she played Glinda in Wicked)!

In fact, the working title was actually Vaudeville until the big dual unveiling last week in Chicago and New York. Serge Roy, Cirque du Soliel’s director of creation says the show is hard-edge and slapstick – a far cry from the signature whimsical and dreamy style of Cirque shows!

In a nutshell – Shmelky is the tyrannical producer, Emmett is the naive actor, Katie is the beautiful young thing they are all lusting after, and the mysterious Banana Man – well, he’s sure to give Emmett a run for his money.

The Banana Shpeel tour is stopping in Chicago in November and New York in February and if it’s anything like the other two Cirque du Soliel shows I’ve seen, it’s sure to leave a lasting impression.

I think tickets to see Banana Shpeel would make an excellent Christmas gift hint hint.