Tag: art

Last night I headed out to the En-Jay again, this time to check out the circus. Well, the next generation of human feats of strength, flexibility, aerial performance and entertainment. Varekai, is the latest production from the famed Cirque du Solie camp. Cirque finds its roots from Club des Talons Hauts (the High Heels Club), Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec in 1982 when a young group of street performers mix with the crowds tourists and locals, walking on stilts, juggling and eating fire. The performers then hatch the idea of organizing an entertainers’ festival, the F?te Foraine de Baie-Saint-Paul?the precursor to what became the Cirque du Soleil.

Varekai is an amazing show of acrobatics and human ability combined with visually stimulating set and costume design, rapped with a mythological story. You’re initially greeted by the famous blue and yellow circus tents. As you’re welcomed into the show, the first tents for concessions and gifts great you with the smells of popcorn and feathers. “The show is based around a mythological Greek character Icarus, his death and rebirth and journey of love through mythical forest.” In all reality it can be purely enjoyed by admiring the abilities of the acrobatics, contortionists and general entertainment of the music and show.

My favorites of the night were the Russian Swings and the contortionist Irina Naumenko, twisting into seemingly inhuman and potentially fantastically sexually useful positions. Probably the lamest act was the Solo on Crutches… a twirling “dance” on sawed off-rubber crutches. Beers for the event were expensive at 6 dollars a bottle but you don’t need too many to have a good time. I’m sure other enhancements would tweak your perspective, but I’d recommend anyone to pony up to the show. Watching it live is far and away the best way to experience the show. Enjoy!