Many moons ago I was a young “artist” living in Montreal. I valued everything abstract and ethereal, surrounding myself with images with no definable texture, faces with no discernable features and places with no solid foundations. Yes. I was absolutely full of crap.
However, during that stretch of unimaginable pretentiousness, I came upon something that jarred my senses for real. It was one of the earliest productions of a new troupe called Cirque du Soleil, and in no small measure, it was everything I dreamed of in my artistic stupor, but it was there, in front of me, live and in amazing Technicolor.
Since then this theatrical company has dazzled us with numerous incarnations od dance, acrobatics, stage magic and unearthly costuming, with soundtracks that range from Stravinsky to the Beatles. The latest production is another sparkling gem in a series that seems to have no end. I’ll let the program notes tell the tale of the story…
The sky lets go a solitary young man, and the story of Varekai begins. Parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world imbued with fantastical creatures, a young man takes flight in an adventure both absurd and extraordinary. On this day at the edge of time, in this place of pure and undiluted possibility, begins an inspired incantation to a life rediscovered and to a newly found wonder in the mysteries of the world and the mind.
The word Varekai (pronounced ver•ay•’kie) means “wherever” in the Romany language of the gypsies the universal wanderers. Directed by Dominic Champagne, this production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to those who quest with infinite passion along the path that leads to Varekai.
Cirque du Soleil’s latest production is Varekai, a fantasy starring Icarus, a hero who awakens in an unknown magical forest with a hypnotizing volcano and enchanting creatures, including high-flying acrobats, exotic contortionists and a mysterious beauty. It is, simply, another feather in the cap of this extraordinary company, and not to be missed.
August 20-24 Boardwalk Hall boardwalkhall.com
August 27-31 Prudential Center prucenter.com
