The Roar of the Greasepaint

Zeitgeisters,

At the risk of repeating myself, no one has been a bigger supporter of Cirque du Soleil than me; except possibly Ban ki-Moon Secretary General of the United Nations. The idea of combining terrific physical feats with brilliant set design and bringing it altogether with over-produced pretentious music and ludicrous new-age-y, arty posturing is one that will mark these early years of the 21st century as silvern indeed.

As Cirque du Soleil Founder and CEO, Guy Laliberte says,

“Today we still dream of enriching the lives of all those who cross our path through our actions and our creativity. We also dream of imbuing our new projects with the energy and inspiration that are the essence of our shows. And we want to help young people express their dreams … and make them come true."

There are many different forms of the Cirque du Soleil now. There are arena shows like Delirium and the revamped Saltambanco and there are the resident shows you can catch up with in Vegas like Zumanity and Love. But what we all really love are the touring shows under the Grand Chapiteau (Big Top). The touring productions all have such interesting names like: Alegría, Quidam, Kooza, Dralion, Corteo and Varekai.

Varekai (which apparently means “wherever” in Romany) is currently touring Oz, in fact it’s in Adelaide even as we speak. Perthites get ready, it’s our turn next month! I’m sure youse all know, but just in case you’ve forgotten this is the story of Varekai:

Deep within a forest, at the summit of a volcano, exists an extraordinary world—a world where something else is possible. A world called Varekai.

From the sky falls a solitary young man, and the story of Varekai begins. Parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world populated by fantastical creatures, this young man sets off on an adventure both absurd and extraordinary. On this day at the edge of time, in this place of all possibilities, begins an inspired incantation to life rediscovered.

Pretty cool, huh? The official soundtrack info is here.

I’ve been working up some cutting edge stuff for a future touring production, I’ll show it to Cirque Du Soleil Corp, but until I do, see what you think.

"An egg is born at the beginning of time. It stays whole and perfect for a seeming infinity, until the first cracks form, and from these cracks pours forth the Elixir Of Life Itself!

Art, Music, Painting, Sculpture burst forth into the seemingly limitless nothing that is Pre-Existence. Then Love, Passion, Anger, Hate and so much Indifference!

And then as the Elixir slows from a torrent to a trickle, two lovers emerge from the egg and Dance the Jig of Us-ness and Here-ness. But unbeknowst to them in a dim corner of the New Now-ness, an evil flower grows with dark designs on the lovers’ souls.

The flower then begins to undulate, gyrate and sing a seductive song about managed funds and minimizing personal taxation. The lovers begin to argue, the flower grins wickedly to itself and all through the audience a sense of disquiet grows disquietingly as we see ourselves in this tragic abstraction. And from this flows the shows title “Abstragique!”

See you under the Grand Chapiteau…

Mr Trivia