Attention Cirque du Soleil fans! Cirque du Soleil presents Quidam in Abbotsford from August 29 – September 2, 2012.
The critically acclaimed production Quidam will be preforming at the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre for eight performances only – so get your tickets soon! Tickets are available online or by calling 1.866.977.2372.
Quidam had its world premiere in Montreal under the Big Top in April 1996. Since that time, the production has toured on five continents and been experienced by millions of people. In December 2010, Quidam embarked on a new journey, performing the same captivating production, but now in arenas throughout North America. The international cast features 52 world-class acrobats, musicians, singers and characters.
Show schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, August 29 at 7:30pm
Thursday, August 30 at 7:30pm
Friday, August 31 at 3:30pm and 7:30pm
Saturday, September 1 at 3:30pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, September 2 at 1pm and 5pm
Take a look at some of these great photos (credit: CirqueDuSoleil.com) – it’s going to be a fabulous show!
Our review:
Having seen previous Cirque du Soleil shows in more permanent production arenas (like Las Vegas), I was very excited about having the opportunity to see one of their breathtaking performances right here in the Fraser Valley!
When I think of Cirque du Soleil, I see daring acrobatic moves, outrageous circus themed costumes and incredible music. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only does Quidam entertain with all of these elements, but a heavily layered storyline as well. Through the use of hauntingly beautiful music (played live just behind the performance area), elaborate lighting and whimsical makeup, we are transported to an eery imaginative world that amazes and delights!
As one of Cirque du Soleil’s darker performances, the show begins by introducing us to little Zoe and her disconnected parents. To cope with her feelings of neglect and boredom, Zoe embraces her interactions with a faceless passer-by and enters into her own world of imagination looking for wonderment and excitement – which she most certainly finds!
Throughout the performance one follows little Zoe, and her guide Target, as they move through the different stages of her imagination. The Diabolos performance, (also known as the Chinese Yo-Yo) was exceptional. Who knew that it was even possible to toss a wooden spool into the air, do a few back flips and then catch it using only a piece of string?! The aerial contortion in silk is a dramatic display of ability as well, in which most of it takes place near the roof of the arena. A slight warning here though: some may find her outfit to be rather risqué!
If you decide that your children are old enough to attend to the show (given the darker nature and symbolism that is present throughout), they will absolutely love the skipping rope act! Even as an adult, this act will take you back to your childhood days of playing double dutch in the driveway… although, what we probably did as children never looked like this! Combining dance, acrobatics and, as Cirque calls it, “the art of manipulation” prepare to be amazed as a group of 20 acrobats take to the stage with multiple skipping ropes in a choreographed playground. I especially loved the layered trick in which they were jumping rope inside a bigger rope, inside an even bigger one!
I found that the show picked up speed after the intermission. My favourites were the Spanish webs, the cloud swing and the Banquine performance. Of particular note is the statue act, where two performers move together in nearly impossible balancing acts in a steady flow, despite the dramatic music playing in the background. It was a beautiful performance that displayed the beauty, strength and ability that the human body is capable of.
What I loved most about this particular Cirque du Soleil performance was the manner in which it transitioned from act to act. As the acrobatic performances came to a close, we were brought back to the bigger story. Symbolism is plentiful throughout this performance and avid Cirque du Soleil goers will appreciate the small touches, such as the heavy use of red and the reoccurrence of balloons, which help this show stand out from the others.
Finally, what is a Cirque du Soleil show without a few laughs? The crowd absolutely adored “The Clown” and John characters, who cracked everyone up with their ridiculous ideas and feeble attempts at the bigger tricks. There is tons of audience participation in this show, so if you are lucky enough to snag a floor seat to this show – be prepared! From taking an unsuspecting young woman on a date in his imaginary car, to filming a movie about a love triangle, The Clown’s intermissions are the perfect way to balance out the overall dramatic tone of the show.
Follow Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam on Twitter: @Cirque #quidam
