Cirque
du Soleil’s ‘Quidam’ gave
spectatular performance
By Jon Matsumoto
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
It’s been two decades since Cirque du Soleil emerged out of Montreal, Canada,
and revolutionized the circus world. Judging by its opening performance of “Quidam” March
9 in Long Beach, the imaginative troupe hasn’t lost its ability to astound,
mesmerize and entertain its audience.
True, “Qudiam” is not a new production, it is an old favorite that
has been brought back for another North American tour. Nevertheless, “Quidam” will
likely appear fresh and inspired to anyone who is seeing it for the first time.
Like all of its shows, “Quidam” turns the idea of a traditional circus
on its head by eliminating animals, traditional clowns and those well-worn stunts
designed to appeal to kids and families. This is a show for hip adults featuring
outlandishly creative costumes and makeup, and routines that owe as much to performance
art as they do to jaw dropping feats.
With Cirque du Soliel there is always a strong element of high art as much attention
is paid to dramatic lighting and exotic music that might be described as world
music from another universe.
Early in “Quidam,” a man dressed as if he were part of some post-apocalyptic
vision spun around the stage in what might be described as a huge wheel. His
arms and legs appeared like spokes in a bicycle tire, this combination dancer/acrobat/athlete
whirled his contraption around the stage with such force and imagination that
at times he appeared as if he were a human gyroscope.
One of the evening’s biggest crowd pleasers were four petite Asian girls
dressed like silver ballerinas. Together, each performed a type of extreme juggling
where a rope tied to two sticks was used to catapult and to catch an object shaped
like a small barbell. The girls, who appeared as if they were about 12-years-old,
performed their routines in synchronicity and with interlocking maneuvers that
were amazingly intricate and spellbinding.
“
Quidam” offered plenty of outrageous characters in all types of bodysuits.
With Cirque du Soleil, the performers also serve as living, breathing pieces
of postmodern art. Many of the characters in “Quidam” looked like
refugees from a “Lord of the Rings” casting call.
There was a prehistoric fellow with the primitive bird wings and a ghoulish bald-headed
man wearing quasi-boxing gloves while covered with a fishing net.
You won’t find any Cirque du Soleil clowns with oversized shoes and red,
bulbous noses. Instead, one “Quidam” clown looked like the type of
gangster Edward G. Robinson might have played in one of his movies from the 1930s.
Another seemed to be tapping into the look and spirit of the whacked- out main
character from the Tim Burton film “Beetlejuice.” Both of these over-the-top
performers took part in saucy audience participation skits that had the audience
howling with delight.
One misstep during the show was a lengthy modern dance performance that seemed
to be high on pretentiousness and low on captivating inspiration. Otherwise,
this revival of “Quidam” is what we’ve come to expect from
Cirque du Soleil, a show that is mystical, magical and utterly unique.
“
Quidam” will be performed under the Grand Chapiteau next to the Queen Mary
in Long Beach through April 16. Student tickets are priced between $40.50 and
$72. For more information, call (800) 678-5440 or visit cirquedusoliel.com.
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