'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

Many are at least somewhat familiar with Clement Clark Moore’s famous poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas. Beginning with the lines above, the poem describes a quiet Christmas Eve. Full of anticipation, a family goes to bed – with the hopes that once they fall asleep, St. Nicholas can arrive. With the help of his eight reindeer, he flies through the sky, landing on house after house to leave toys under the Christmas trees of the town. Moore’s poem offers a brief window into the magic of Christmas, and the pure joy that spreads as St. Nicholas makes his rounds.

Moore’s poem acts as the inspiration for Cirque du Soleil’s first holiday show. At the center is a young girl, jaded about Christmas Eve. Wishing he could help his daughter see the joy, her father begins to read A Visit from St. Nicholas. Lights shift, and suddenly the young girl is taken on a magical journey into the land of the poem. As Moore’s words ring throughout the theater, we see grand circus acts take the stage – each corresponding to one of the magical moments described in the poem.

Conceived and directed by Cirque du Soleil Artistic Director James Hadley, the talented performers showcase a range of acts from the aerial lamp and diabolo juggling to hoop diving and a roller-skating duo. The design elements take the performances to new heights – with a dazzling light show customized to each act. Audible gasps from this particular audience could be heard at every twist and turn – clearly eager to see what fantastical act these performers would complete next.

As much as the evening is about joy and grandeur, there are some acts that you just might find take your breath away with their grace. When the jaded daughter is sucked into the world of the poem, we see her father run after her – anxious to find his daughter amidst the chaos. He continues to run through only moments after she moves on to the next stage.  Just when it seems her father has lost all hope, we hear Moore’s words:

“The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, gave a lustre of midday to objects below.”

An aerial lamp descends from above. The father takes hold of the piece and rises higher and higher. As the lamp swings and the performer completes his jaw-dropping act, we see lights surrounding him start to sparkle, and the magic of the holiday spirit consumes him. Prior to this act, audience members had been cheering fairly consistently. During this particular act, the room was almost silent. It was clear that I was not the only one lost in the beauty of the moment.

Full of wonder, ‘Twas the Night is simply a night to remember. At the end of the show, we hear Moore’s final line:

“Happy Christmas to all, and all a good night!”

This particular audience erupted in applause and standing ovations. It feels safe to say that I would not be the only one leaving the theater full of holiday spirit.

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Running through December 28, 2023 at The Chicago Theatre. 175 N. State St. 312-462-6300