Cirque du Soleil wanders to O.C.

The circus was in town Thursday night as Cirque du Soleil returned to Orange County after a four-year absence to premiere “Corteo” inside the Grand Chapiteau at the Orange County Fairgrounds, its trademark blue and yellow big top.

Blending Italian opera with drama and sensational acrobatics, “Corteo,” or “ceremonious procession” in Italian, tells the story of a clown picturing his own funeral, which takes place in a carnival atmosphere watched over by angels.

There are high-wire acts, a tightrope walker, jugglers, trapeze artists and clowns, and cast members often leave the stage to wander and mingle among the guests seated in the audience.

Lifted above the crowd by the bouquet of helium balloons she is attached to, one tiny cast member floats into the audience for a gentle push to keep her afloat.

Shane Tierney, 12, came down from Pasadena with his dad to see the show, his first Cirque du Soleil experience.

He had no idea what to expect, but thought the tents in the parking lot looked amazing, and he couldn’t wait to see what all the crazy-looking colors and shapes would reveal once he was inside.

“It’s like you’re inside a theater, and the acrobatics — I don’t understand how they could do some of the stuff,” he said.

Shane especially liked the performers who stood inside what looked like hula hoops, spinning around on stage.

“It’s amazing. You have to be perfectly in sync with each other to do that. You could really tell they were gymnasts.” Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil in Southern California, the show is in town through Dec. 23. For showtimes and ticket information, call (800) 678-5440 or go to www.cirquedusoleil.com.

This corrects an earlier version of this story.

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.