Varekai

When Icarus fell, we all shed a tear and the term "flying too close to the sun" entered the vernacular. "Wherever" did he go after the fall?

Varekai, so I am lead to believe, means "wherever" in the Romany language of the gypsies, and wherever is a magical place.

Having missed the Umbilical Brothers opening night due to an old war wound, I was pleased to get tickets to the dress rehearsal, pre opening night of the new Cirque Du Soleil extravaganza. We had done some work for them and were kindly offered tickets to last night's performance. I recommend you now, go and see it. If you live out of Sydney, go and see it. If you live on the moon, go and see it.

I had been to one of Cirque Du Soleil's shows a few years back and thought it quite reasonable. But the intervening years have seen changes of breathtaking proportions.

There seems to be two ways to get top billing in a show like this. Work hours each day training, exacting, timing, strengthening, defying injury and I don't think it an overstatement to say even death, and  use those skills to awe your spectators.

Or be capable of physical comedy and getting a laugh.

Seems a little unfair, but the blend of awe and laughter works in the same way a sorbet works to cleanse the palate between spicy dishes. From the acrobatics on stage and suspended over the crowd which have people on the edge of their seats gasping and flinching, and in the case of the people behind me, farting in anticipation of miracles of human skeletal removal, to the laughs as an inept magician and his assistant pull hapless audience members on stage to humiliate them or bring new life to the old moving spotlight gag, each segment gave you a chance to wipe the sweat from your brow before you had to wipe the tears from your eyes.

And the costumes. The costumes would have made a show all of their own. How on earth half the cast didn't trip over their fins, tentacles and other extraneous doodads added to the awesome spectacle of the magical underworld.

Now to ruin the ending for you. Our hero, Icarus, comes to terms with his new found friends, accepts their often misguided yet well timed help, falls in love and learns to fly again.

A fairytale in a big-top.

Comments

[Rowdy Theologian]

Too bad about the Umbilical Brothers, I clicked the link to their site the other night and checked out some of their videos, funny stuff. Apparently they had a big tour here in the States a while back, too bad I missed it.
At any rate, glad to hear the folks behind you enjoyed the Cirque.

[Nyx]

I am pleased I read this as last night I suggested that we buy a family pass to Varekai as a chirstmas present (it's here in Jan). On the strength of your review I think I shall. Thanks.

[JtH]

I loved it. if you guys go I hope you have a ball.