RECOMMENDED

If you’re looking for an inexpensive and family-friendly, temporary tropical-holiday getaway, spend a couple of hours this week at the Chicago Theatre with “Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy.” Not to be confused with the Cirque du Soleil moniker, Cirque Dreams is a separate franchise of elaborate touring shows that mixes the European circus or cirque tradition with Broadway-style musical entertainment. This particular incarnation, which is having its Chicago premiere for a special one-week-only set of shows, uses a lush, tropical environment as the backdrop for an enchanted forest full of an international array of graceful aerialists, spine-bending contortionists, vine-swinging characters, strongmen and balancers that together with stage designs, special effects, choreography, puppeteering and “Lion King”-like costumes all set to an original musical score. (Dennis Polkow)

At the Chicago Theatre, 175 North State, (312)263-1138. This production is now closed.