Cirque du Soleil: Varekai

[JJuggle]

I had the good fortune this weekend to see Varekai with my family and some friends. It's currently in New Jersey at the Meadowlands complex.

The show is fantatastic. I'm an unabashed Cirque fan so I'm biased.

The highlights include:

A juggler who does a fast paced 3 club routine, 3 - 5 large hollow rubber balls, 1 - 5 ping pong balls, and hat manipulation.

A clown duo who do a "magic show" and a cheesy French lounge act with spotlight hijinx.

Acrobats who do human antipodism. This you have to see to believe. It's amazing.

I bought the DVD for this show months ago and some of the more "artsy" acts I found a bit dull. But even these when live take on a new life and are really wonderful.

It's also worth noting that Cirque's new show, Corteco, includes two juggling acts as well as a high wire performance that includes unicycling. I'm looking forward to that one coming to my area.

Cheers.

[UniBrier]

I saw it last nite.

All I can say is WOW. That is serious sensory overload.

Tommy Millers wheels got about two minutes right after the intermission.

[cathwood]

I've seen Saltembanco live and have neumerous of the other DVDs. My whole family think they are fab and live they are absoultely staggering.

Cathy

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by JJuggle

I bought the DVD for this show months ago and some of the more "artsy" acts I found a bit dull. But even these when live take on a new life and are really wonderful.

Yeah, I agree. The "artsy" stuff is for a more sophisticated crowd than New Jersey.

I'm a fan too.

Billy

[unitoon]

i've seen a lot of cirque movies and they're terrific! i think i've seen varekai ...

[habbywall]

i dont remember any juggling in varekai!!!
i have also seen la nouba, and we did the music for it this year in marching band

[kington99]

I saw Dralion in the Royal Albert Hall last january, I most want to see O but it only runs in Las Vegas because that's where they built the theatre to house it.

[unicycleboy]

I'm not that big of fan of Soleil but it would be drallion if anyshow out of my pick :P

[cathwood]

Originally Posted by unicycleboy

I'm not that big of fan of Soleil but it would be drallion if anyshow out of my pick :P

That's my favourite too.

Cathy

[JJuggle]

Originally Posted by habbywall

i dont remember any juggling in varekai!!!

Octavio Alegria does the juggling in Varekai.

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by JJuggle

Octavio Alegria does the juggling in Varekai.

He sounds like he belongs in their show "Alegria!"

Just our luck we missed Varekai. We usually see the new traveling shows when they come to San Francisco. Most recently we saw Corteo, from the front row, which was awesome.

My favorite of all Cirque shows was Cirque Reinvente, which I saw in 1988. Mostly because it was my introduction to the (still-developing) Cirque style, I liked their theme for that show, and I had friends in the show (Luc Tremblay and Andre St. Jean).

One of my favorites of the currently-running shows is LaNouba. Great BMX Freestyle and a very cool trampoline-thingy act. Other Cirque shows, like O, cannot be fairly compared with the traveling shows. Apples and oranges. O is awesome too. As is Ka (at the MGM in Las Vegas), which has a stage that can rotate and tilt at any angle, including vertical.

Their newest show, Love, is opening in June in Las Vegas. That will make five permanent shows there. Love has been produced with Sir George Martin, the Beatles' old producer, and sets Cirque-type performing to the Beatles' music. It will be in the Mirage, taking the place of the former Sigried and Roy theater. Hopefully we'll see it on our next trip down there.

[Unimichael]

It's a blessing and a curse to have one of the permenent shows in town. Even though we could see La Nouba any time, there is little chance one of the traveling shows would consider touring Orlando.

I guess we will have to journey out into the world to see any of the other shows...

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by Unimichael

Even though we could see La Nouba any time, there is little chance one of the traveling shows would consider touring Orlando.

I see your point. On the other hand, it might be nice to live within easy driving distance of Universal Orlando, Sea World, the world's largest theme/entertainment complex (Disney), and of course, Gatorland!

The traveling Cirque shows probably come to Miami, or maybe someplace closer.

[Unimichael]

[QUOTE=johnfoss]I see your point. On the other hand, it might be nice to live within easy driving distance of Universal Orlando, Sea World, the world's largest theme/entertainment complex (Disney), and of course, Gatorland!

QUOTE]

There were rumors a few years back of "Six Flags" scoping out a spot here as well!