======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) T h e U n o f f i c i a l C i r q u e d u S o l e i l N e w s l e t t e r ======================================================================= Issue #37 "Mystère de la beauté" September 2004 ======================================================================= We're off and running again! I apologize for the lateness of this issue; it was entirely my fault. I was traipsing around Japan for two weeks when I should have been putting the next issue together. For that I apologize, but it sure was fun! For those who have never been to Japan it really is an amazing experience. It's hard to describe how everything is similar, yet equally different. Entirely Japanese, as most would say, and they would be correct. The experience has opened my eyes that much more wider to the ways of the world. And that is something I find invaluable. So, where did I go? I spent a good amount of time in Tokyo, Japan's capital, and a few days in Kyoto (with side trips to Nara and Osaka). I was able to see (from a distance at least) the Fuji tent that Alegría will occupy when it hits Japanese soil, and met a very important Cirque du Soleil fan -- Rie (and some of her friends)! Many might know Rie from her website or through CirqueTribune and I will say right now it was a pleasure to meet her. I had such a great time! (Hi Rie!) I won't even tell you how much sake I had... I shant bore you with tales about my Japanese trip within the confines of the Newsletter, though if you are interested in hearing more about it, feel free to drop me a line using the email address at the end of this message. This month we continue our belated coverage of CirqueCon 2004 in Vancouver, take a quick peek into KA, and listen as Wayne discusses with us his adventures on-stage with Cirque du Soleil. Of course, the biggest news this month is the press releases involving KA, Cirque du Soleil's show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. We will cover this new emerging show more in-depth next issue, since we were pressed for time this month. We hope you enjoy this issue of Fascination! If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email them to us using the following address: < CirqueFascination-owner@yahoogroups.com >. - Ricky =========== CONTENTS =========== * Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings * CRQ-TV -- Cirque on Television * CRQ.NET -- Cirque du Soleil Online * Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information * Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque * Le Spectacle: "CirqueCon 2004: Spectacles Abound" By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA) * Le Spectateur: "Stepping into the Light" By: Wayne Leung - Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) * Parting Quote * Subscription Information * Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= The Newest Cirque -- KA! ------------------------ On September 15, 2004, the newest spectacle from Cirque du Soleil was revealed -- KA. Since then, the media and fans have been abuzz with many questions as the media campaign is kicked off. Text from Cirque's recent press release involving the show illuminates some of the better-hidden aspects of KA: KÀ combines acrobatic performances, martial arts, puppetry, multimedia and pyrotechnics to illustrate the nature of duality. Created and directed by acclaimed theatre and film director Robert Lepage, the show applies the visual vocabulary of cinema to a live spectacle creating a vibrant narrative that conjures an entire empire on stage. KÀ tells the epic saga of separated twins-a boy and a girl-who embark on a perilous journey to fulfill their linked destinies. As the plot unfolds, danger lies in wait for them at every turn. Archers and spearmen hunt the twins relentlessly, as their quest takes them through a succession of challenging landscapes, from mysterious seashore through menacing mountains and foreboding forests. Cirque du Soleil Founder and CEO, Guy Laliberté, describes KÀ as "the most theatrical show we've ever done." It is scripted with a strongly defined almost cinematic narrative, with clearly identified characters and story arcs. The execution of that narrative called for more technologically advanced visual effects than Cirque du Soleil has ever attempted. "That's why I wanted Robert Lepage to write and direct the show. With his vast experience in theatre and film, his knowledge of the technology and his curiosity and innovative spirit, he was the only man for the job." The KÀ Theatre is an astonishing performance space, seating 1,951 guests. "The arrival of KÀ is the crown jewel in the renaissance of MGM Grand," says Gamal Aziz, MGM Grand president and COO. "Throughout our reinvention, we have strived for the best in dining, entertainment and service. With the unveiling of KÀ, MGM Grand is taken to a new level." The show's title, KÀ, is inspired by the ancient Egyptian belief in the "ka," an invisible spiritual duplicate of the body that accompanies every human being throughout this life and into the next. That concept is also reflected in the show's visual signature, which evokes the central theme of duality as personified by the twins and the symbolic use of fire. The logo is influenced by Asian iconography. Special preview performances begin on November 26, 2004 at 8:00pm. One show per evening will be held from November 26th through December 7th, where at that time a two show per-night schedule will begin at 7:00pm and 10:30pm (though this may change). KA is scheduled to perform Friday through Tuesday (Dark Wednesday/Thursday). Children under five-years of age are not permitted into the theater and guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are currently available for purchase at www.ka.com in three categories. Section 102 (front and center) commands a $150.00 US price, Sections 101, 103, 202 are $125.00 US and Sections 201 and 203 are $99.00 US. All prices include tax. So, who brings KA to us? * Guy Laliberté - Guide * Robert Lepage - Creator and Director * Guy Caron - Director of Creation * Mark Fisher - Set Designer * Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt - Costume Designer * René Dupéré - Composer and Arranger * Jacques Heim - Choreographer * Luc Lafortune - Lighting Designer * Jonathan Deans - Sound Designer * Holger Förterer - Interactive Projections Designer * Michael Curry - Puppet Designer * Patricia Ruel - Props Designer * Jaque Paquin - Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer * André Simard - Aerial Acrobatics Designer * Nathalie Gagné - Make-up Designer For more information visit www.ka.com! [Source: Cirque du Soleil Press Release] More on the "Cirque Meets Beatles" Show --------------------------------------- Thanks to Timothy McDarrah, intrepid reporter for the Las Vegas Sun (and with the translating skills of fellow reporter Molly Ball), we have more to report on plans for the Beatles-inspired Cirque-produced show that will go into the Siegfried & Roy theater at The Mirage. Among other interesting tidbits, the article reveals that Dominic Champagne will indeed direct the show, which will debut in early 2006. We'll quote some of the material below from his article, which appeared September 10 in his "Vegasbeat" column. "According to a report this week in a French-language Montreal newspaper, and confirmed to VegasBeat by two additional sources, the new Cirque show will feature music by the Beatles, but will definitely not be a production show similar to "Mamma Mia!," which wraps a plot around a popular music catalog. "It will embrace the imagery and spirit of the Beatles, and the best of what Cirque has to offer," Stephane Baillargeon of the newspaper Le Devoir told us in a phone conversation Thursday. The unnamed Beatles-themed show began life several years ago in Cirque founder Guy Laliberte's Montreal living room when he was visited by George Harrison after a Formula One race. The two struck up a friendship and hit upon bringing a Cirque show to London based on "Yellow Submarine," the psychedelic 1968 animated film. After Harrison died, Laliberte convinced Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Yoko Ono to take in some Cirque productions, and Laliberte eventually got from them permission to use Beatles music in a show, Baillargeon explained. "In the end they decided 'Yellow Submarine' as a show was too '60- themed, and they wanted to do something that was more current." Le Devoir reports that the deal is done. The contract, it reports, "authorizes the creators of Cirque du Soleil to pick from the richest catalog of the most famous rock band in history. Even better, according to documents obtained by Le Devoir, Cirque also got authorization to remix musical passages at will. The Beatles have never before authorized sampling of their catalog." [Source: Le Devoir, Las Vegas Sun, Keith Johnson] News on the Book Front ---------------------- While we're patiently waiting for the November release of the English translation of the "20 Years Under The Sun" book, the French-language version has already hit the stands. And in a sad note, we've been told by the publisher that an English- language translation of Jean Beaunoyer's tell-all "Dans les coulisses du Cirque du Soleil" (Quebec Amerique ISBN# 2764402422) will not be forthcoming. Seems they haven't had any inquiries into doing an English version, and nobody willing to distribute it stateside. Looking around the Web we saw some other Cirque-related titles we thought would be of interest. "Franco Dragone, une improbable odyssée" by Yves Vasseur is currently available from Labor (Inconnue) (ISBN# 2804016455). This $28CDN book should be of interest to any French-reading fans of Dragone's directing work. But more interesting still is a forthcoming tome by Mark Schreiber, "Dreams of the Solo Trapeze: Offstage with the Cirque du Soleil" (Canal House ISBN# 0975466402). According to Amazon.ca this book should be published around the first of next year. We've tried to locate both the publisher and the author but have had no luck so far. If this actually makes it to the racks it might be quite interesting and, for most of us, easier to read! [Sources: Amazon.ca, Quebec Amerique, ebay.com] Cirque, New Years Style ----------------------- La Nouba is on the ball with plans for New Years Eve - it's already selling tickets for "special performances" at 6 and 9 pm. Patrons will receive a champagne toast, a limited-edition full color souvenir program and a special show finale. Tickets are also appropriately "special" with Category 1, 2, and 3 tickets going for $105, $93 and $79 respectively. [Source: All Ears Net, Keith Johnson] ======================================================================= CRQ-TV -- CIRQUE ON TELEVISION! ======================================================================= * CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: FIRE WITHIN ----------------------------- Network: Vitaya - Belgium (Europe) -- Thursday's at 9:00pm Network: Odyssey Television - Australia -- Wednesday's at 9:30pm * NOTE: Check your local listings for complete information. Schedule is subject to change. ======================================================================= CRQ.NET -- CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ONLINE ======================================================================= This Month in Cirque Club (By: Keith Johnson) ------------------------- Things have been busy over at Cirque's Internet division. The "Ka" website has opened up (accessible off the main Cirque Club page) with photos, videos, even musical samples! Cirque claims it to be "highly interactive" so one should look through it with a keen eye. Some have complained that the site is slow to load up, we suspect that might have been because of heavy initial usage, though the images are Flash- heavy. You can also find an article announcing the forthcoming show in the Press Release section. In addition Cirque had fan contests to attend record release parties for their new CD compilation "Le Best Of" in Montreal and New York, though the deadlines for entering have passed - sorry. And not mentioned in Cirque Club proper, Cirque is again offering tours of its facilities September 25-26, this time along with the entire Tohu/National Circus School complex, as part of "Les Journées de la culture". But the highest compliments this month go to Cirque for its revamping of their Boutique. And it's a complete transformation, from formatting to the way products are organized. Many new products are available, including show posters, collectibles and other memorabilia, even merchandise from "Kà". We'd like to see a "coming soon" section where you might be able to pre-order soon-to-be-released merchandise (such as the Fire Within and La Nouba DVD's or the 20th Anniversary book in English). We'd also like to see a revamping of the draconian shipping charges, based on dollar value of the order rather than true weight. We'd end up paying $20 dollars in shipping for the lovely- but-light $195 Varekai Structure Necklace, yet the considerably heavier $35 "O" book would only cost us $7 in shipping. Go figure. If you had the old Boutique in your Internet Favorites you might want to go to the Cirque site and copy in the new page. The old pages are still up and don't re-direct. In Cirque marketing messages: Karina, Varekai crew member wrote of leaving Boston: "After tear down in Boston, and saying goodbye once again to one of my favourite cities in the States, we headed by car to Washington, D.C. After a nine-hour drive on a short night of sleep, it was time to raise the Grand Chapiteau once again! Because of serious weather conditions - specifically Hurricane Frances, which struck Virginia, less than an hour and a half away - the big top raising was delayed. It's a little intimidating to realize how much our lives on tour depend on the weather. It may be a trivial subject for some, but for us, it dictates how and if operations will run smoothly. The day started cloudy and we thought we might be lucky enough to escape the rain for the raising. Despite a tornado watch for the Washington, D.C. area the crew charged full steam ahead, and as luck would have it, despite a little bit of rain every half hour or so our tent crew managed to raise the Grand Chapiteau successfully and safely. Thankfully we were spared the winds and dangerous conditions of a tornado. I know I may be repeating myself, but even after two and a half years on tour raising the Grand Chapiteau amazes me. Seeing how we pull together as a team to make everything happen reminds me how very lucky I am to be able to work on tour." Above text courtesy of Cirque Club. ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= Note that any information in brackets [] is UN-official information and subject to change. [Touring Shows] Alegría: * Toronto, Ontario -- Ontario Place Dates: Aug 19, 2004 to Sep 26, 2004 * Tokyo, Japan: Dates: Oct 29, 2004 to Jan 23, 2005 * Fukuoka, Japan: Dates: Feb 9, 2005 to Apr 3, 2005 * Nagoya, Japan: Dates: Apr 20, 2005 to Jun 12, 2005 * Osaka, Japan: Dates: Jun 25, 2005 to Aug 10, 2005 Cirque 2005: * Montreal, Quebec, Canada -- Jacques-Cartier Pier Dates: Apr 21, 2005 to May 29, 2005 * Quebec City, Quebec, Canada -- Galeries de la Capitale Dates: Jun 30, 2003 to Jul 10, 2005 Dralion: * Antwerp, Belgium -- Gedempte Zuiderdokken Dates: Aug 12, 2004, to Oct 3, 2004 * Madrid, Spain -- Recinto Ferial, Casa de Campo Dates: Oct 15, 2004 to Nov 21, 2004 * London, England -- Royal Albert Hall Dates: Jan 6, 2005 to Jan 30, 2005 * Rotterdam, Netherlands -- TBA * Barcelona, Spain -- TBA * Oostende, -- TBA Dates: Jul 21, 2005 to Aug 7, 2005 Quidam: * Sydney, Australia -- The Showring, Fox Studios Dates: Aug 12, 2004 to OPEN * Brisbane, Australia -- Kingsford Smith Drive Dates: Nov 4, 2004 to TBA * Auckland, New Zealand -- TBA Dates: Dec 31, 2004 to OPEN * Melbourne, Australia -- TBA Dates: Mar 4, 2005 to OPEN * Adelaide, Australia -- TBA Dates: May 12, 2005 to OPEN * Perth, Australia -- TBA Dates: June 30, 2005 to OPEN Saltimbanco: * Frankfurt, Germany -- Next to the Jahrhunderthalle Dates: Aug 20, 2004 to Sep 25, 2004 * Rome, Italy -- Viale Cristoforo Colombo Dates: Oct 7, 2004 to Oct 31, 2004 * Lille, France -- Esplanade Champ de Mars Dates: Nov 25, 2004 to Dec 26, 2004 * Manchester, UK -- Trafford Centre Dates: Jan 6, 2005 to Jan 23, 2005 * Birmingham, UK -- TBA Varekai: * Washington, DC -- Grounds of RFK Stadium Dates: Sep 16, 2004 to Oct 24, 2004 * Dallas, Texas -- Fair Park Dates: Nov 4, 2004 to Dec 5, 2004 [May Extend to Dec 19, 2004] * Houston, Texas -- TBA * Austin, Texas -- TBA * Pittsburg, Pennsylvania -- TBA * Baltimore, Maryland -- TBA * Hartford, Connecticut -- TBA * Columbus, Ohio -- TBA * Detroit, Michigan -- TBA * Tampa, Florida -- TBA * Miami, Florida -- TBA [Resident Shows] La Nouba: * Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm * Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday * Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando (USA) * 2004 Dark Dates: -- October 17th - 20th -- December 6th - 13th Mystère: * Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm Beginning June 13th: Except Sundays; 4:30pm and 7:30pm * Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday Beginning June 9th: Wednesday - Sunday, Dark Monday/Tuesday * Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA) * 2004 Dark Dates: -- October 3rd, 6th -- November 28th "O": * Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm * Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark Monday/Tuesday * Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) * 2004 Dark Dates: -- October 11th - 13th -- December 6th - 21st Zumanity: * Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm * Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday * Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) * 2004 Dark Dates: -- October 10th - 13th -- December 1st - 20th -- November 28th - 30th KA: * Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 10:30pm * Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday * Location: MGM Grand: City of Entertainment, Las Vegas (USA) * Note: One show nightly at 8:00pm from Nov 26 to Dec 7. ======================================================================= DIDYAKNOW? -- FACTS ABOUT CIRQUE ======================================================================= In the last three years we've had the honor of meeting and talking with many current and former Cirque artists about a variety of subjects. While we can't reveal identities, since several of them still work for Cirque, we think some of the things they have to say would be interesting to fans and aspiring artists and musicians. So, over the next several months, we'll feature some questions we posed to Cirque performers and their answers -- "In Their Own Words". We asked a Cirque artist on the mobility of being a professional musician: "I have had a very mobile life due to the ever-changing nature of the business. But I don't think that being mobile is an exclusive trait to the music business. I am starting to discover that to be truly successful in any business or career, you have to be willing to be "liquid" and not get too comfortable in any one place forever. The people that I have seen not do this have stagnated or missed opportunities that would never come again. The fact that I have been open to change, and being "uncomfortable", has led me to this place in my life. I look back on the toughest, most uncomfortable times in life and they were when I was "on the move". But they were also the times when I was playing at my peak and composing my best stuff. So it's a trade-off. But being "willingly mobile" is a vital factor for anyone, not just musicians, to be truly successful and long-lasting." ======================================================================= LE SPECTACLE: "CirqueCon 2004: Spectacles Abound" By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA) ======================================================================= It's 6:30pm on Saturday, May 22nd and what a day it's been up to now. I started our drizzling morning down in Stanley Park, a large green center in Vancouver, with Keith, Lucy and the rest of his party, who wanted to take a horse and carriage ride around the park. I was certainly up for that; it actually turned out to be quite nice even in the rain. Getting a chance to see the skyline was great, as well as the totem poles Vancouver is so well known for. The horses Moses & Jim (a Clydesdale and a Belgian breed) led the charge through an hour or more ride through Lord Stanley's Park (the same Lord Stanley who owns that nice shiny silver cup; Hockey fans will know what I mean). The ride was very relaxing, however, even though it was a nice distraction from the city, we ended up running into trouble on the way to our next gig -- the merchandise meeting, which was changed at the last moment to a conference room at the Georgian Court Hotel instead of being on-site as originally planned. One of the surprises Cirque du Soleil had in store for us was a focus group meeting with Geneviève Bastien, Project Manager of Licensing at Cirque. She flew all the way from Montreal to ask our opinions on new and exciting licensing avenues Cirque may be interested in exploring. It became one of the most fascinating aspects of our gathering because, as I see it, most fans don't get a chance to speak with Cirque on this level, and we were privileged enough to speak with Geneviève on the types of merchandise we wanted to see! For example, we spoke about authentic show collectibles, home decor, "cirque like" adult clothing, behind the scenes books, clothing/items for pre- schoolers, etc. We spent about an hour discussing individual topics from action figures to video game licensing; it was such an interesting experience! And, of course, one of the most requested items was more live audio recordings of Cirque du Soleil's productions. At 1:30pm, we were all met with red clown noses and black Barron hats (from Saltimbanco), at the big top for our extensive behind-the-scenes tour of the site, our second big surprise from Cirque du Soleil. The media was on hand and for a while it truly felt like a circus. Jeff Tolotti, Keith Johnson and I (Ricky Russo) -- the organizers of CirqueCon 2004 in Vancouver -- became lost in this sea of mass confusion, as we had microphones thrust upon us, our pictures taken at will and questions asked randomly. For a few moments it was overwhelming, but once the tour began I forgot all of that, and prepared to be astounded. And what an amazing tour of the site we had too; to places I would not have thought possible... * The kitchen, where we saw Mark Ward ("John"), André (the new male singer), and various other cast and crew in different stages of show preparedness taking in some nourishment. * The Technical Trailer, where the crew keep the various technical aspects of Quidam in top form. The trailer is aptly named too - the "Phoenix". The old one, as the story goes, burned down in Europe and the current one rose from its ashes. * Behind the Stage, where show props like the German Wheel, various ropes, skateboards, the house door and the big red balloon are parked in what they call the "garage." We were even given a chance to peek under the stage and see exactly how the artists see to get to and from their marks -- snake lighting! Inside was buzzing with activity; the technicians were testing the lighting cues and the téléphérique, the long track structure atop the big top. * And, the Artistic Tent, where the performers loosen up, dress and apply their make-up. You'll find the artists here during the show when they're not on cue. The artistic tent is the second largest structure besides the main venue and doubles as a training facility and massage parlor. A few of the artists were even practicing as we went through! We had barely recovered from our Behind the Scenes tour, when Cirque announced their third surprise -- Tapis Rouge. Tapis Rouge, which literally means "red carpet" in French, is Cirque du Soleil's VIP experience, reserved exclusively for patrons who wish to experience Cirque du Soleil to the fullest. As Cirque Passionates, the Tapis Rouge was the ultimate social gathering. For over an hour we were able to mingle with Vancouver's elite, talk with the Canadian press and enjoy Cirque du Soleil's gracious hospitality. Inside this special yellow-and-blue stripped tent was an array of delicious foods, exceptional wines & champagnes, and a wonderful atmosphere. Video projections of Quidam, Dralion and other Cirque du Soleil productions were strewn upon a remarkable circular screen suspended from the ceiling in the middle of the Tapis Rouge Chapiteau and were accompanied by pulsing music from the Solarium CD. Tapis Rouge was simply awesome. The media was still buzzing around and I was being pulled in several directions at once, which was a very disconcerting experience. CirqueMom and CirqueDad, the parents of Catherine Downey (one of the current Zoë's) and BJ, the show's drummer, came by to say hello as well. Fans had chatted with BJ online twice from Japan and it was a real treat to finally meet the man behind all those words! And let us not forget about those reporters, who pulled me aside to talk about my website (Richasi's Le Grand Chapiteau -- www.azlance.com/~richasi/Cirque/), the newsletter (The Fascination! Newsletter), and, of course, about CirqueCon. All too soon though our Tapis Rouge experience was over and another CirqueCon special event came to a close. But as they say, the party isn't over until its over... and we continued our celebration at the Old Spaghetti Factory down in Gastown. Imagine 30 Cirque fans from across North America slurping pasta together! Which is where I've just come from. It was definitely a treat to dine with 30 cirque fans as we slurped pasta. André Bellanger joined us as well as some independent reporter for Radio Canada, who was shoving a mic in everyone's face throughout the meal. And so, with a little more than an hour to spare, I find myself on my bed at the B&B, awaiting the curtain call for tonight's show! Thus far, I must say, even with the last minute problems and changes in schedule, things have turned out better than I expected. Cirque has really gone all out for us, and for that I tip my hat -- a baron's hat -- at them, which they also gave to us as a gift. Tonight, after the show, we have a Q&A with some of the artists and a possible (though its very tentative yet) hangout session with BJ (Quidam's drummer) after that. So, there's still some great Cirque events to come! (To Be Continued...) ======================================================================= LE SPECTATEUR: "Stepping Into the Light" By: Wayne Leung - Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) ======================================================================= After reading Keith's account of being picked from the audience at La Nouba to participate in the bike jump stunt (in last month's issue of Fascination!) I felt compelled to write about a couple of my own experiences "up close and personal" with Cirque du Soleil. Cirque director Franco Dragone once wrote a speech for Alegría the Film, one that was probably based on a speech he himself had given to cast members, "We do the show for the people in the dark, they need us. You know, life is very tough. Life is very hard, it's very cruel. When you step over that line into the light you have a certain responsibility to the people in the dark. You've got to be strong. You've got to take all your pain and bury it inside your costume. For twenty-two hours you can be just like them . . but for two hours every night, you're not allowed to let life in." The purpose behind Dragone's speech is to motivate the cast members to create a magical universe for the show, an alternate reality that will allow the audience to escape from the woes of everyday life. But what if it were possible for a regular audience member, one of the "people in the dark," to step over that line from the dark into the light and enter Cirque's magical universe, if only for a few fleeting moments? Indeed, a few lucky individuals have the opportunity to do just that. For me, it all began a little over a year ago; I was in Las Vegas on assignment for Fascination!, covering the premiere of Zumanity. Immediately after the show I ran into the college-aged girl who was selected to go up on stage to participate in the group orgy scene. She was still on cloud nine after the show. She was aflutter, busily calling all of her friends and excitedly telling them about her romp in Zumanity's "Garden of Delights." I remember thinking she was so lucky, that it must have been such an amazing experience to participate in a Cirque du Soleil show. The night after the premiere my friend Matt and I attended a performance of Mystère at the Treasure Island Resort. As the show began Bébé François, a giant, diapered baby character emerged and began bouncing a massive red ball. Eventually, he faced us and bounced the ball in our direction. The big red ball landed square in Matt's lap. Matt caught it and looked at me with a confused "what do I do?" look. "Throw the ball back to him" I instructed, knowing full- well what the consequences would be. Matt, a shy guy who's wary of the spotlight, nervously got up, rolled the ball back to Bébé François and quickly sat down to avoid further audience scrutiny. Bébé Fran çois caught the red ball but rolled it right back to Matt. It landed in the little gutter between the stage and the protective railing, again right in front of my friend. The baby gazed forlornly at Matt who was then reluctantly coaxed to get up and return the big red ball a second time. I watched excitedly as Bébé approached and, with arms reaching out to Matt uttered the word, "Papa!" The audience laughed, spotlights trained on Matt and the baby. Matt stood frozen in the spotlight with a mortified look of terror on his face. This was an absolute riot for me and I was laughing hysterically. Bébé François reached for his new-found "Papa", and eventually Matt reached back only to have Bébé squirt him with water. The baby retreated and Matt sat back down, wet and red-faced from embarrassment. I was still laughing as the show began. Matt was breathing heavily, relieved that his reluctant 15-minutes of fame were finally over. Little did he know that Bébé François would be back during the transitional sequence after the Bungee act when Bébé emerged driving a golf cart through the thoroughfare between the lower and upper-tier seats. He stopped at the top of our section and I saw Matt nervously diverting his gaze. The audience was already laughing it up. The baby cried "Papa!" and waved at Matt to come up and join him in the golf cart. "Come on, go up there!" I commanded. He got up, climbed the stairs and got into the cart only to be sped away out of the auditorium into the backstage area. The audience applauded; the archangel characters emerged on stage and began setting up for the Fast-Track/Trampoline and Korean Plank number. As they were about to begin the act the golf cart rolled onto the stage with Bébé François and Matt, now also dressed like a baby! The audience was eating it up; they laughed and applauded as the car drove off stage. Moments later the cart re-emerged, only now it had apparently broken down and poor Matt was left to push the golf cart across the stage while Bébé François laughed intently. A little later, while the act was in full-swing, Matt was discretely ushered back to his seat. He was giddy with delight and we quietly commented on how awesome the experience was. The usher returned a few moments later with a souvenir photo of Matt on board the cart with Bébé. After the show Matt excitedly described his backstage adventure. He briefly chatted with François Dupuis (Bébé) before being instructed by a stage hand for his quick costume change. He said it was strange to see cast members lounging backstage out of character, that it was very surreal. He described the exhilaration of being on stage in the spotlight surrounded by performers. He was so excited that he called his friends and family back home to tell them that he had just "starred" in a Cirque du Soleil show. Later that night, we stopped at a bar called Tabu at the MGM Grand while we were club-hopping around town. Some complete strangers waved at us and started saying "Papa! It's Papa." It seemed that Matt's encounter with the Cirque had turned him into a celebrity. I was immensely jealous. Almost exactly a year later the two of us were watching Alegría in Toronto. I had the good fortune of securing seats front and center. The show experience is very intense from that perspective. We were able to observe every detail in the costumes and make-up, the performances were so close that we felt a part of them. I remember feeling the wind created by the trapeze artists as they flew directly above my head, feeling the heat of the fire knives as the artist lit them right in front of me, and feeling the full fury of the snowstorm. Alegría, being a touring show, has a much more intimate stage set-up than Mystère, and sitting in the front row actually puts you within arms reach of the performers at times. Being up close allows for more interaction with the characters on stage; the Old Birds nod at you, Fleur will give you a scowl, the Nymphs smile and wink at you. The experience draws you into the performance that much more. For some mysterious reason, my friend and I have some unexplained magnetism that attracts big red balls at Cirque du Soleil shows. During one of the clown numbers in the first act, one clown (Vladimir Olshansky) was trying to keep a big red ball away from the other clown (Bouchon). Vladimir kicked the ball into the crowd and audience members volleyed it about until I inadvertently punted the ball back on stage. Vladimir approached me with mock annoyance and I looked back with a guilty smile. My smile failed to appease the clown, who then proceeded to come down the stairs, grab me by the collarbone and mock-strangled me. I played along by miming exaggerated gagging motions and flailed my head back and forth to the laughter of the audience. I had a good laugh and was content that I finally had an opportunity to interact with a character during a Cirque du Soleil show. Little did I know that my encounter with the clown was not to be my only character interaction of the evening. Upon returning from intermission the house lights dimmed, the Old Bird characters grabbed the lanterns and paraded around the scene, and the White Singer (Joan Bluteau) waded into the crowd while singing her song and flirting with the men in the audience. She made her way down the aisle toward me and stopped to flirt with the guy across from me. "Oh surely, he's the one she'll pick," I thought. But then she turned around, gazed down at me and extended her hand. My heart jumped, it was racing a mile a minute. I took her hand and rose from my seat. The Angel characters stood in a circle around centre-stage and Joan lead me through the opening they formed while still singing. I could hear her un-amplified voice as we made our way to the middle of the ring of Angels. Actually being on the Alegría stage surrounded by the characters was such a surreal experience, standing in the bright spotlights it felt as if I had stepped into a movie. I clasped Joan's outstretched hand and put my arm around her waist, she put her arm on my shoulder and we began to dance. I'll never forget the image of gazing into her smiling face as we spun around in a circle while listening to the sounds of the music and the crowd applauding in the background. It was a sublime and magical moment. Before I knew it I heard M. Fleur behind me muttering the command for the Strong Man to take me away. All of the sudden I felt this strong arm reach around my waist and pull me up and away from the singer. The audience roared with laughter and I displayed a look of surprised incredulity on my face. The Strong Man proceeded to carry me around the stage and shook me like a rag doll. He spun me around for one last look at the singer who was still singing to me. I played along reaching back towards her, which elicited laughter and applause from the crowd. I hadn't been picked up and carried like that since I was a small child, and the experience was very disorienting. I had no idea where I was relative to the scene, the spotlights so bright that the audience was enveloped in a large swath of black. Eventually the Strong Man plopped me down at the edge of the stage and I reclaimed my seat. I was on a high for the rest of the night. I had a huge grin on my face for the remainder of the show, which grew larger when Joan smiled and winked at me while singing Alegría during the show's finale. As a spectator, being given the opportunity to step from the dark into the light of Cirque du Soleil's stage is an exhilarating experience. I hold a special place in my heart for Alegría and my magical encounters with the characters of that show. ======================================================================= PARTING QUOTE ======================================================================= "I've worked on rock shows and things that have been quite big, but never anything as big as this." - Director Robert LePage on the Creation of KA. ======================================================================= SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ======================================================================= Fascination! is a monthly newsletter, available only through sub- scription. To subscribe, please send an email to: < CirqueFascination- subscribe@yahoogroups.com >. To unsubscribe, please send an email to: < CirqueFascination-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >. To view back issues, please visit our Yahoo! Group address at: < http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CirqueFascination/ >, login using your Yahoo! ID (required) and select the Files menu option. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at: < CirqueFascination- owner@yahoogroups.com >. Have a comment, question or concern? Email the Fascination! Newsletter staff at: < CirqueFasincation-owner@yahoogroups.com >. We are anxious to hear any and all comments! ======================================================================= COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ======================================================================= "Fascination!" is Ricky Russo, Keith Johnson, and Wayne Leung. "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2004 Ricky Russo, published by Vortex/RGR Productions, a subsidiary of Communicore Enterprises. No portion of this newsletter can be reproduced, published in any form or forum, quoted or translated without the consent of the "Fascination! Newsletter." By sending us correspondence, you give us permission (unless otherwise noted) to use the submission as we see fit, without remuneration. All submissions become the property of the "Fascination! Newsletter." "Fascination! Newsletter" is not affiliated in any way with Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil and all its creations are Copyright (c) and are registered trademarks (TM) of Cirque du Soleil, Inc., and Créations Méandres, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No copyright infringement intended. =======================================================================