Even the floods and the heavy downpour could not dampen the excitement of the people inside the Grand Chapiteau, or the big top tent. They sat on the edge of their seats throughout the two-hour spectacle of color, art and acrobatics that is Circque du Soleil’s: Varekai.
The majestic yellow and blue big top that had a sitting capacity of 2,200 resounded with gasps of amazement—sometimes even fear—as spectators witnessed the reason why everyone has been talking about this world-class circus performance since it premiered on June 20.
First announced in March, the excitement over Varekai escalated over news that performers from different parts of the world have been brought together for the grandest live event of the year.
Varekai, which means “everywhere” in the Romany language, is a magical forest on top of a volcano’s that is inhabited by creatures beyond human imagination. This is where, Icarus, a Greek mythology character that fell on earth, landed.
Icarus, portrayed flawlessly by Mark Halasi will meet different creatures, face many adventures and eventually learn how to fall in love.
The show opened with a bevy of enchanting beings crawling out of the stage. The colorful and playful costumes accompanied by the striking music instantly captivated the audience’s attention. Then, Icarus fell from the sky and was discovered by Varekai habitants.
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| The Flight of Icarus |
Excitement peaked when the first act, “The Flight of Icarus,” went high above the stage. Icarus flew high with acrobatic stunts using a diamond-cut net connected to a rope.
Other aerial acts included the “Aerial Hoop” featuring Leysan Gayazova on a hanging hoop; the “Triple Trapeze”; an act of four young women in a fixed trapeze; and the “Aerial Straps” by a duo of flyers suspended by wrist straps that glide gracefully above the stage in synchronized movements.
Besides the gravity-defying acts, Varekai was also interspersed with a bit of comedy featuring the duo of Steven Bishop and Mercedes Hernandez as a magician and his voluptuous partner. The fight between Skywatcher (Gordon White) and Guide (Otis Cook) also had the audience in fits of laughter.
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| A Varekai woman |
Among the other notable acts were “Balancing on Canes” which features the contortionist Yulia Mykhailova as Icarus’ The Betrothed, hand-balancing on a series of canes; “Meteor Shower” featuring three young children in complicated somersaults; the “Icarian Games” by three brothers tossing each other in the air; “Solo on Crutches;” as well as the Gregorian dance and “Slippery Surface” dance.
Varekai climaxed with the “Russian Swings” with acrobats hurled high into the air, alighting on their partners’ wrists or on a landing canvas, sometimes even flying from one moving swing to the other swing. Truly astonishing.
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| Icarian Games |
At the end of the show, everyone left with on a high with memories of an unbelievable performance they will not soon forget. It just goes to show, no one is ever too old for the circus.
Varekai’s limited run is ongoing until July 24 at the Grand Chapiteau at the Quirino Granstand. For tickets, visit the on-site box office at the Grand Chapiteau or log on to www.hoopla.ph. For more information, call 775-0939, 881-0947, 0919-4508125 and 0917-4436463.
First published for The Manila Times. Read here.
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