Did you ever want to run away and join the circus?
How amazing is Canada’s own Cirque Du Soleil?
I chanced upon this YouTube clip from a few years back. That this fellow can juggle is certainly an understatement. And the whole package isn’t too shabby either! As to the answer to this post’s title, no, I never did want to run away to join the circus. Did you?
(Use this link if the above clip isn’t playing for you.)
Last July, a friend took me to see Cirque’s production called Varekai.
The word varekai means “wherever” in the Romany language of the gypsies the universal wanderers. This production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai.
When I found out the production focused on the “wherever”, I thought how appropriate this production was for my own journey.
It was only when we arrived on site and my friend produced our tickets that I realized how special this night would be.
As she steered me toward the Tapis Rouge tent, I started to stammer about the price ($250 Cdn. per ticket). She just giggled and hugged me and told me how important how friendship was and how pleased she could finally repay me for our friendship with this surprise evening.
When we entered the special Tapis Rouge tent we were handed a gift bag containing a CD, limited edition program, and a poster. Before the performance, we sampled amazing appetizers and knocked back a few cocktails as well.
We were ushered to our fifth row seats in the main air conditioned tent. The show began and what can I say but that I sat mesmerized for the entire performance.
At one point, the performers crawled lizard-like along the edge of the stage. A particularly grotesque yet charming blue lizard watched me for at least a few minutes. I played along and didn’t break eye contact either. I smirked first and with that my blue lizard continued on its way looking for its next prey in the audience.
At intermission, we hurried back to the Tapis Rouge tent. There were trays piled high with all types of deserts. Chocolate fountains gushed over the fresh strawberries we held in the flowing, chocolate stream.
Amazing, musical, spectacular, moving, poignant are just a few words to describe this extraordinary evening I shared with my friend.
The only way I can describe it is to use a trite cliche. It was an evening of “wherever” that I will always remember.
November 12th, 2006 at 1:53:43 PM
Now see, that’s what cirque is supposed to be like. Did you ever see the cirque du soleil post on my blog awhile back? And I’m still getting tons of comments from pissed off patrons who went to see cirque’s “delirium” show. 52 comments so far, and just a few who were happy with that show.
November 12th, 2006 at 5:16:56 PM
Wow Mel! Checked out your post and all the comments. How sad that so many people had such a bad experience with that show. Like you, I wouldn’t have paid that much for a ticket — that it was a gift made the entire evening all that more wonderful.
November 14th, 2006 at 11:53:13 AM
What a great gift! I saw one CdS and it left me just yammin and wide-eyed. They are amazing.