Event Review: Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam in Long Beach

All Photo Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

Cirqeu du soleil creates magical, dreamy shows with some of the finest performers from around the world! Quidam is currently traveling through California and I attended the Long Beach opening night performance. I actually saw Quidam in London back in the 1990s and I enjoyed it even more the second time around.

The story of Quidam is about a bored young girl name Zoe. Her parents are apathetic and don’t bother with her. The little girl meets a stranger and gets lost in an imaginary world of dreams and acceptance. The props are minimal in Quidam. Mostly childhood objects such as jump ropes, tricycles, balloons and of course the performers. The visuals and sounds of Quidam are dark and have both eerie and upbeat moments.

My favorite act is Banquine. The performers during this act show their acrobatics skills. They display amazing balance and agility for such a large group of performers. My second favorite act is Skipping Ropes. Skipping rope is a childhood favorite and it’s amazing how Cirque du Soliel transforms this simple game into a masterpiece of endurance and coordination!

Quidam’s costumes and stage props are not as colorful as some of the other Cirque du Soliel shows I’ve seen. The lack of flashiness is made up with skill, strength and fantastic live music. Your time is spent concentrating on the performers rather than their surroundings or costumes.

I prefer Cirque du Soliel over traditional circuses seeing that Cirque does not use any animal performers. I do feel that Quidam is best for families with older children (8+) to fully appreciate the music and story line. There is some weird imagery. I left Quidam feeling totally out of shape (LOL – I need to pull out my jump rope!) but inspired. The combination of the excellent stage presence and skill along with live music creates a memorable performance. Beware! Every show usually calls on volunteers from the audience!  You may be a part of the show! There really wasn’t a bad seat at the Long Beach Arena. I actually think the higher seats are best to get a full view of the stage. See Cirque at the Long Beach Arena until April 24. Then the show will move on to Ontario and then to Sacremento in May. Tickets to Quidam can be purchased on www.ticketmaster.com.

– Tee

Quidam – Acts

Aerial Contortion in Silk

Intensity, power and grace combine a young woman becomes one with the column of red fabric which supports and cradles her. Set to haunting music, contortionist and cloth intertwine, separate and embrace again. The translucent fabric occasionally hugs the body of the performer, creating a stunning effect.

Banquine

The banquine act showcases the amazing agility of the human body. Fifteen artists perform spectacular sequences of acrobatics and human pyramids, astounding audiences with their perfectly synchronized movements. Banquine is an Italian acrobatic tradition, with origins that date back to the Middle Ages. This breathtaking act won a Golden Clown at the International Monte Carlo Circus Festival in 1999.

Cloud Swing

Trapeze and Spanish web techniques combine in the unique and daring Cloud Swing. The performer launches herself into a series of spectacular acrobatics that send her diving and twisting high above the stage.

Diabolos

The diabolo, or Chinese yo-yo, is a child’s game that the Chinese have evolved into an art form. Four young Chinese performers, each holding
two sticks linked by a string on which a wooden spool is juggled, tossed and balanced, try to outdo each other in this stunning game of dexterity and ingenuity. This act won the Gold Medal at the 1995 Festival du Cirque de Demain in Paris.

German Wheel

A gymnastic exercise hailing from Germany, the German wheel is taken to a whole new level in Quidam. The artist becomes a human spoke as he
spins, turns, twists and maneuvers the wheel, performing gravity-defying somersaults and acrobatics.

Hand Balancing

Alighting onto the stage, the artist’s gracious silhouette immediately captivates the imagination. Perched on balancing canes, she moves elegantly through a series of precarious positions of ever-increasing intricacy.

Skipping Ropes

Do you remember the joy you felt as a child skipping rope with your friends? Drawing its inspiration from dance, acrobatics and the art of manipulation, Cirque du Soleil has transformed this familiar child’s game into a choreographic feat. As the ropes beat time, a group of 20 acrobats, endowed with exceptional co-ordination and rhythm, perform a steady stream of solo, duo and group jumps and figures.

Spanish Webs

Breaking with tradition, Quidam presents the Spanish web as a group act. Artists fly over the stage, attached to a specially designed conveyer called a telepheric. Suddenly, time stands still as the acrobats, in turn or as a group, drop into the void, stopped only by the ropes looped around their waists or ankles.

Aerial Hoops

In hoops suspended above the stage, the performers pivot and twirl through the air, at times solo and at times in unison, performing stunning feats of grace and dexterity.

Statue

Never losing contact, two strong, flexible performers move almost imperceptibly, assuming positions impossible without an impeccable sense of balance. The artists call on their sensitivity and powers of concentration in their quest for perfect harmony. Their act is testimony to the natural beauty of the human body.

* We did not receive monetary compensation for this review. We did receive tickets to attend opening show on Wed. April 20, 2011.  This will in no way sway our opinion of the product or service.
 The review is in our own wordMAs and is our opinion. Your results and opinions may differ.