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“Six Thousand Fifty-Seven”
a Fascination! Guest Submission
By: Rich Alford – Bothel, Washington (USA)
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6057 – No, that’s not my ATM pin or password, or the code to my alarm system, place of business or car; it’s a number that became very special (dare I say magical) one fantastic night during CirqueCon Las Vegas in September 2006 while in attendance of Mystère. And I shall tell you now that it involved an enormous baby, a bouncy red ball and a fabulous experience of a lifetime.
On a fateful day in 1994, this tale beings, a day my journey took me to the hot desert climate of Las Vegas for some much needed rest and relaxation. I found myself at the concierge desk at my hotel (the name of which I have forgotten) that afternoon, eager to see one of Vegas’ fabulous night-time shows.
“What’s good to see in Vegas?” I asked the lady behind the counter, who was tending to the brochures in her charge.
“Oh!” she turned to me, and without hesitation, recommended a great new show in town called Mystère. “It’s a Canadian circus – seerk doo soulay – with acrobatics and dance rather than animals.”
“A circus with no animals,” I replied. And since I was game, I purchased a ticket from her on the spot and prepared for the show ahead.
I had no idea how huge that simple decision was and how it would forever enhance my life.
I took my seat in the grand Mystère Theater at Treasure Island and waited somewhat impatiently; I didn’t know what to expect. As soon as the lights dimmed and the cries of two enormous babies on a quest for nourishment filled the theater, I instantly fell under Mystère’s spell. Their odyssey of discovery became mine and at that very moment I was forever intertwined with the zany world of Cirque du Soleil.
It’s hard for me to express to you in words how quickly my life changed and how instantaneously I was transported away from the ills that existed in the “outside world” for me, into a world of fantasy and delight where wonder and grace were norm. I tell you it was as if someone flicked a switch inside me.
I was hooked!
I saw Mystère the following night, the next night after, and virtually every time I’ve visited Las Vegas since for a total of 21 times.
You might imagine just like everyone else, there is one aspect of the show that is my absolute favorite. In my case, one character in particular, in fact, rises above all others: Bébé Francois. For the uninitiated, he’s the Big Baby that bounces his big red ball around the stage, giggling and having a grand time, and picking on audience members to be part of the show. I’ve always wanted to be one of those audience members. And as many times as I’ve seen the show, though close a few times, I’ve never been chosen as Bébé’s poppa.
Much to my chagrin.
On Friday, September 22, 2006, during the “official” show (#6057) at the CirqueCon Las Vegas Cirque Passionate gathering, I stepped into the T.I. Theater for my 22nd viewing of Mystère.
I had a ticket in the right section – Section 103, Row A, Seat 9 – and since I had related my story of woe to just about everyone in the group that week, everyone was kind and gracious in support of me as we all took our seats that night. The stars were all aligned… would this be my night?
As I so very fondly remember and have come to expect, the opening music transported me to a very special and magical place. The stage rose from the depths and I held my breath. There! There was Bébé! (A girl character this time.)
She started to bounce the ball, making those fabulous gurgly baby noises, playing the part to the hilt, as she looked over the members of the audience. At this point I was silently pleading for her to notice me… begging and praying (in my own way)… for her to toss the ball at me. When she raised the ball up to do so, I braced to catch it but… SHE TOSSED IT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM ME! OH NO!
It landed in the opposite side of the front row section where another Passionate was sitting; she quickly grabbed it up. At that moment I knew I had missed my chance… again. Disappointment washed over me quickly, but did not linger for I knew I would get another chance in the near future (what’s another try after 22 failures?). Happy that another of our brood was going to get a chance to play the part, I sat back to enjoy the rest of the show.
The passionate threw the ball back and Bébé caught it, making her the chosen one.
But Bébé kept bouncing the ball…
What was she doing?
Bounce. Bounce. Giggle. Bounce.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. She should have acknowledged the first person who threw the ball back…
Bounce. Giggle. Giggle. Bounce.
She raised the ball up again. Was she going to toss it?
YES! AND SHE THREW THE BALL RIGHT TO ME!
I became so excited I could hardly sit still. Ricky, who was seated next to me, said, “there you go, this one is yours.” And I leapt from my seat, grabbed the red ball and tossed it back. For a moment Bébé and I locked gazes and I pleaded with her to choose me. My heart was pounding so hard. I was beginning to sweat!
Giggle. Giggle.
And then she said the word I had longed twelve years to hear…
“POPPA?”
I was chosen! WOOHOO!
I could hardly contain myself, after twelve long years my dream was finally coming true – I was the chosen audience member who would take part in the show!
Bébé giggled heartily and ran over, as babies do, for a quick hug. Then, as I knew the routine, she wouldn’t let go once I tried to pull away and would squirt me with her bottle but… that didn’t happen. I even pulled off my glasses just in case but we just stood there and hugged, it was so nice! Then she needed my help to get back onto the stage so she called for me…
“POPPAAAAAAAA!”
I immediately jumped up to help her. At this point I had totally forgotten about the squirt so, as I approached the stage to assist her; she jumped up without issue and surprised the heck out of me.
SQUIRRRRRRRRT!
Oh, it was fabulous! Now I was giggling like a baby!
The show eventually went on, of course, and every act was just as magical as I had remembered. The energy in the theater that evening was smoking – it defies description – and I know the artists felt it for they gave it their all. It’s amazing how much emotional energy can transfer from a huge group of passionate fans to each other and to the artists; I think it became a very special showing for everyone in the theater that night.
“POPPAAAAAAAA!”
A bit later on, Bébé called upon me to take a ride in her over-sized baby buggy. She came roaring into the crowd then and called to me and once again I leapt from my seat and raced up the stairs to where she was waiting. Within moments of hopping into her cart, she sped away, and I was back stage. I felt euphorically triumphant the instant I sat down next to her, watching everyone look at me, many with smiles on their faces. It took a moment for that rapture to calm down enough for rational thought. When it did so – at that precise moment – I realized I was really back stage!
There stood artists, getting ready for their queues or hanging out; and crew, preparing the next apparatus or checking the rigging for the next part of the show. I was simply “gobsmacked.”
The folks backstage helped to get me dressed in my costume – a big baby with a pacifier and diapers – and I was put back on the cart to whiz across the stage. When we emerged onto the stage I could hear the ROAR of the crowd; it was overwhelming and time seemed to have slowed to a crawl yet flying by oh so quickly. I can only akin it to suddenly being accelerated to high Warp speeds from a stand still (for you trekkies).
Behind-the-scenes, on the other side of the stage, we had a moment where a couple of artists came over and joined in a quick photo. I was then instructed on what was happening and what was going to happen (although I already knew): the cart was going to appear to be having difficulties and I was going to “push” it back across the stage.
We appeared out on stage again – once again the roar of the crowd tremendous – Bébé at the wheel of the cart with me behind, pushing. Moments later we arrived back on the other side of the stage and my part in the show was over. A couple of artists came by and gave me a “great job, mate” and I was escorted back to my seat and I finished watching the show. My heart was just pounding with excitement, I was exhausted, but I couldn’t be happier!
Consequently, as I was riding in the cart, the artist told me that she had noticed me when she first started her routine (when I was really begging all out for her to throw the ball to me). She decided to prolong my agony by playing a trick – rather than bounce the ball to me, she sent it to the other side of the row. Knowing that I think it just made the whole experience that much more fun!
Finally after all these years my dream came true!
The show was amazing and the energy that night was more powerful than I’ve ever felt. Being allowed to participate in the show, after all these many years, elevated Mystère to a spectacular level. Having the experience occur during the CirqueCon gathering with all my new friends brought the event to a point I could never have dreamed of, and even now I still have difficulties finding words to do it justice.
Six Thousand Fifty-Six shows have gone by with others playing the role of POPPA, but Six Thousand Fifty-Seven is mine. I shall never forget the kindness of the folks sitting next to me for allowing me the chance to “catch the ball” and being so happy for me that I did. I’ll never forget the emotion and intensity in the theater that night. And I’ll never forget the enthusiasm of the cast and crew who put on such a fabulous show for us.
Mystère will always be my most favorite Cirque du Soleil production because this show, in my opinion, represents the soul of Cirque du Soleil. It is without a doubt the reason I am a fan today. And for that I have to thank everyone involved.
It doesn’t hurt that #6057 and the experience I had that night will always have a special place in my heart, though!
Thank you and…
Live Passionately!
