Varekai

There is nothing ordinary about a Cirque du Soleil show. I had great expectations when I went to see Varekai last night. Indeed, nothing ordinary.

The music in Varekai was not the best I've heard from the Cirque, I still prefer the dreamy soundtrack of Alegria. However, the performers were outstanding, with acrobatics that would seem impossible for human beings to perform. The costumes were outrageous and colorful.

A few parts were less impressive, the trapeze artists focusing mainly on creating shapes with the four bodies and the contortionist adopting poses that I've seen in other shows. However, the flips and twists and tumbles of the performers on the spherical swings were simply breathtaking. I also enjoyed the hand-to-hands while one performer was sitting in reverse on a special chair (bum where your back would normally be) to flip another performer using their legs and arms. Visually, the best sequence was when they pulled a blue surface on the stage, made apparently from a very slippery material. The movements from the 20-or-so performers, sliding past each other, turning on the spot, using their bodies to stop and start, made the entire sequence magical.

Did you know that Vancouver is currently the only place in Canada where the Cirque has a show?