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Fascination Issue 017 expanded
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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
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E X P A N D E D I S S U E
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=======================================================================
Issue #17e "Live to Cirque; Cirque to Live" January 2003
=======================================================================
Bonjour et bienvenue! "Fascination!" rings in the new year with
another packed issue. We end our initial coverage of "Fire Within"
this issue just as the series premieres in the United States. We
invite you to enjoy Wayne Leung's synopses of the last two episodes of
the series! We hear from the Techie Geek with her first installment on
sound and how it is designed. Speaking of sound, what is different
about the newly released Alegría CD? Keith Johnson will tell us! Paul
Roberts dives into the instruments of Cirque, and another installment
of Ricky Russo's Grand Tour of Cirque shows awaits you. And more!
/// EXPANDED ISSUE: Originally appearing as a news brief this month,
was a link to a chat with Karyne Steben held on Pregnancy.com speaking
about a new workout routine she developed that's safe for pregnant
mothers. While the link has long since gone dead, we've been able to
resurrect the text and present it in this issue of Fascination. You
will find it under the EXPANDED SELECTION column in our monthly
FEATURES section. ///
============
Contents:
============
* Cirque Buzz: News, Rumours & Sightings
* CirqueTV: Cirque du Soleil On-Screen
* Oyez, Oyez!: Cirque Online
* Itinéraire: Tour/Show Information
* Historie: This Month in Cirque History
* Anniversarie: Birthday Wishes to Cirque Alumni
* Télémagik:
"Resolution" -- Fire Within, Part 4 (By: Wayne Leung)
* Cirque Musique:
"Musical Instruments du Cirque" (By: Paul Roberts)
* Behind the Curtain:
"The Techie Geek: Sound, Part 1 -- Design" (By: Jen Waldman)
* Beyond the Bigtop:
"Yet Another Version of Alegría" (By: Keith Johnson)
* Special Engagement:
"Le Grand Tour: Into the Unknown..." (By: Ricky Russo)
* Expanded Selection:
"Workout, Cirque-Style"
* Parting Quote
* Next Issue
* Subscription Information
* Copyright & Disclaimer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
=======================================================================
CIRQUE BUZZ: NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
=======================================================================
Fire Within's US Premiere
-------------------------
On January 6, 2003, Cirque du Soleil: Fire Within premiered on
the U.S. Cable network BRAVO with the first two installments.
The 13-episode series goes "beyond the big top [and] takes you
inside the lives of Cirque du Soleil artists and staff who take
on the exciting task of launching a new touring show." The
series finds a home Mondays at 9:00pm EST/PST beginning January
13, 2003. Check out Bravo's official Cirque du Soleil page at:
<http://www.bravotv.com/cirque/ >, where you can learn about the
performers (complete profiles with pictures), the show itself
(again with pictures) and sign up for Bravo's Cirque du Soleil
Mailing List! [Source: Bravo; Ricky Russo]
Saltimbanco Live?
-----------------
In past issues we've discussed rumors that Saltimbanco was going
to be re-filmed, either in London or elsewhere, on its second
European Tour. Last issue we shot down those rumors, suggesting
that Saltimbanco was not to be re-filmed. But as the nature of
rumors go.... word now comes from Bravo that Saltimbanco WILL
indeed be re-filmed. WHAT? Sometime in 2003, Bravo will present
a special version of Saltimbanco to U.S. audiences through its
first-ever life performance. Bravo will present Cirque's "other-
worldly feats of aero-athleticism" on tape delay. A location,
time and date have not yet been released. [Source: Bravo;
Travis; Ricky Russo]
Varekai on Bravo
----------------
We knew it would happen soon! It has been quietly announced that
Varekai, Cirque du Soleil's latest show, will premiere on BRAVO
during the Summer of 2003. Fans, set your VCRs for June 14, 2003
at 8:00pm EST! A date has not yet been released for the sale of
the DVD/VHS, however. June also sports Bravo's "Run Away with
Cirque Week" (from June 2nd through 5th) featuring favorites
like: Quidam, Dralion, Saltimbanco and Nouvelle Experience.
[Source: Bravo; Ricky Russo]
Live Varekai CD?
----------------
Through a new Cirque du Soleil Musique FAQ available on their
website (http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/
en/musicfaq.htm), Cirque du Soleil answers some of the most
Frequently Asked Questions in relation to their CDs. One of them
caught our attention: "Will a live-show version of the Varekai
CD be released?" The answer to it was very straightforward and
rather uplifting to those who were discouraged by the recent
Varekai CD release. "At the moment, Cirque du Soleil Musique is
discussing the release of a special-edition CD containing five
live tracks from the show." If produced, the CD will be
available exclusively though the Cirque du Soleil online store
sometime in the first few months of 2003. How exciting is that?
[Source: Cirque du Soleil; Stephen Plante; Ricky Russo]
New Varekai Book
----------------
"First 'Wings', then 'O' and now 'Varekai!'" A new book is
currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com. "Cirque du
Soleil: Varekai" is a 144-page look into the enchanting world
that is Varekai. Photographs by Veronique Vail. Published by
Harry N. Abrams (of the 2003 Cirque Calendar fame) - ISBN:
0810944421. It's due to be released on April 1, 2003 at a
suggested retail price of $35.00. You can pre-order it today for
$24.50 directly through Amazon.com! (http://www.amazon.com/exec/
obidos/ASIN/0810944421/qid=1041735663/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/104-
1450672-5514308). [Source: Amazon.com; Katie Valadez; Ricky
Russo]
Quidam's Big Top Cam
--------------------
Fuji, Quidam's Japanese Tour sponsor, has set up a unique way
for Cirque du Soleil fans to see the construction of the new Big
Top at their Japanese Website with the "Bigtop Watcher". This
BigTop-Cam refreshes about every minute, but you can have it
refresh at your pace by clicking the gray button underneath the
picture. Check it out! < http://www.fujitv.co.jp/bigtop/
guide/bigtopinside.html >.
New Cirque CD's Available in US
-------------------------------
Throughout 2002, Cirque du Soleil has re-issued updates to the
Saltimbanco, Quidam and Alegria CDs. For the most part these new
CDs have only been available in Canada (through HMV.com). In
most cases you can now purchase the new CDs at the big-top sites
of many of the shows (as fans have discovered) and you can now
purchase all three re-released CDs plus Varekai at the La Nouba
boutique at Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida.
A New Cirque Forum!
-------------------
It seems there are new places for Cirque du Soleil fans to
gather cropping up every month. This month there's a new forum
for fans to visit that is highly stable, easy to use and looks
cool too! It's called Cirque du Soleil - Groupe Discute and is
now open! Visit this new chat forum at:
< http://www.cirqueforum.com/ >.
Media Invited to see Acts
-------------------------
Cirque du Soleil invited the media to its Headquarters to an
exclusive showing of the acts it will present at the Festival
international du cirque de Monte Carlo this year. In attendance
was Juggling by Viktor Kee and Pas de Deux with Colette Morrow
and Igor Arefiev. Agnès Soyer accompanied as the singer for the
event. This event took place at 11:00am on January 8, 2003.
[Source: Canada NewsWire/Hoovers;Keith Johnson; Ricky Russo]
=======================================================================
CIRQUE TV: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ON-SCREEN!
=======================================================================
Cirque du Soleil explodes this month on BRAVO, their U.S. Network
affiliate! The schedule of performance for January 2003 as we go to
press is provided below. First, all the showings of "Fire Within"
during the month of January. Second, the entire broadcast schedule on
BRAVO (in relation to Cirque) for the entire month. Visit the official
site of BRAVO - www.bravotv.com - for up-to-date scheduling
information. All times are listed in Eastern and Pacific. Check your
Cable or Satellite TV provider for exact channel.
* CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: FIRE WITHIN
-----------------------------
Episode 1: Episode 3:
Jan 6 @ 9:00pm Jan 13 @ 9:00pm
Jan 7 @ 12:00am Jan 14 @ 12:30am
Jan 7 @ 7:00pm Jan 14 @ 7:00pm
Jan 9 @ 10:00pm
Jan 10 @ 1:30am Episode 4:
Jan 13 @ 1:00am Jan 20 @ 9:00pm
Jan 13 @ 8:00pm Jan 21 @ 12:30am
Jan 13 @ 11:00pm Jan 21 @ 7:30am
Jan 14 @ 5:30pm Jan 26 @ 12:00pm
Jan 27 @ 12:00am
Episode 2:
Jan 6 @ 9:30pm Episode 5:
Jan 7 @ 12:30am Jan 27 @ 9:00pm
Jan 7 @ 7:30pm Jan 28 @ 12:30am
Jan 13 @ 1:30am Jan 28 @ 7:30am
Jan 13 @ 8:30pm Jan 29 @ 10:00pm
Jan 14 @ 12:00am Jan 30 @ 1:30am
Jan 14 @ 6:00pm Jan 30 @ 4:30am
* COMPLETE BRAVO CIRQUE LISTINGS
------------------------------
* January 1st (Wednesday):
-- NEW YEARS EVE WITH CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
01:00am -- Quidam
01:00pm -- Dralion
* January 5th (Sunday):
02:00pm -- "Run Before You Fly"
03:00pm -- Saltimbanco
04:00pm -- Nouvelle Experience
05:00pm -- Dralion
07:00pm -- Le Cirque Réinventé
08:00pm -- Nouvelle Experience
09:00pm -- Alegría
11:00pm -- Le Cirque Réinventé
* January 6th (Monday):
12:00am -- Nouvelle Experience
01:00am -- Dralion
03:00am -- "Run Before You Fly"
04:00am -- Alegría
04:00pm -- "Run Before You Fly"
05:00pm -- Le Cirque Réinventé
06:00pm -- Alegría
08:00pm -- Saltimbanco
09:00pm -- Fire Within #1
09:30pm -- Fire Within #2
11:30pm -- Saltimbanco
* January 7th (Tuesday):
12:30am -- Fire Within #1
01:00am -- Fire Within #2
05:00am -- "Run Before You Fly"
07:00pm -- Fire Within #1
07:30pm -- Fire Within #2
* January 9th (Thursday):
10:00pm -- Fire Within #1
* January 10th (Friday):
01:30am -- Fire Within #1
* January 13th (Monday):
01:00am -- Fire Within #1
01:30am -- Fire Within #2
08:00pm -- Fire Within #1
08:30pm -- Fire Within #2
09:00pm -- Fire Within #3
11:30pm -- Fire Within #1
* January 14th (Tuesday):
12:00am -- Fire Within #2
12:30am -- Fire Within #3
05:30pm -- Fire Within #1
06:00pm -- Fire Within #2
07:30pm -- Fire Within #3
* January 20th (Monday):
09:00pm -- Fire Within #4
* January 21st (Tuesday):
12:30am -- Fire Within #4
07:30pm -- Fire Within #4
* January 26th (Sunday):
12:00pm -- Fire Within #4
* January 27th (Monday):
12:00am -- Fire Within #4
09:00pm -- Fire Within #5
* January 28th (Tuesday):
12:30am -- Fire Within #5
07:30pm -- Fire Within #5
* January 29th (Wednesday):
10:00pm -- Fire Within #5
* January 30th (Thursday):
01:30am -- Fire Within #5
04:30am -- Fire Within #5
=======================================================================
OYEZ, OYEZ(*)!: CIRQUE ONLINE
=======================================================================
This Month at Cirque Club
(By: Keith Johnson)
-------------------------
After almost of month of being the top news item on the CirqueClub
site, our "Cirque" wedding moves to the News Archive to make way for
four new articles. The Dralion tour contributes two, one about a
local DJ climbing the Grand Chapiteau (live on the air!), and another
interviewing Zhong Yu, a young acrobat now rejoining the tour. This
one is especially noteworthy for its explanation of rotation of
Chinese athletes, which has been a procedure fans have been wondering
about. From Alegria we get a short article saying goodbye to Mexico
and a heartwarming tale of a stray pooch that found a home on the
Cirque grounds.
On a different "note", a FAQ section has been added to their
"Multimedia - Music" section (at the bottom of each albums individual
page). Here they directly address some hot topics amongst fans,
especially since the release of the Varekai CD. Two of the questions
discuss their show CDs in general, while two discuss Varekai in
particular.
The answers are generally helpful and understandable, though perhaps
deserving of clarification. Their answer to why all of a show's music
isn't on its CD begins, "All Cirque du Soleil live shows are over two
hours long." While this might be said of their touring shows
(comprising of two acts at generally an hour each), their "permanent"
shows (La Nouba, Mystère, O) clock in at about 100 minutes total (in
one act). They also suggest Varekai is "The first CD released under
the Cirque du Soleil Musique label." One wonders what they considered
the three show CD's that were re-released with extra tracks, these
also sported the Musique logo. Perhaps they mean Varekai is the first
"original" LP the label has released.
The other answers to questions concerning Varekai are more telling.
Here they directly respond to comments that the CD is significantly
different than the live show's music. This suggests that comments
they have received thus far may not have been as positive as hoped.
But they are also considering issuing a "live" EP with five tracks
from the show, available only to CirqueClub members. (We hope they try
to "fill in the blanks" with music missing from the CD altogether -
the introductory celebration ("Charivari"), Icarian Games, Georgian
Dance, and Body Skating. These would fill four of the five slots,
what else should they include?)
At the Cirque Boutique
(By: Ricky Russo)
----------------------
Cirque du Soleil once again extends their boutique with a few more
interesting items. Some of these items are detailed below. You can
purchase them at Cirque du Soleil's online boutique at
www.cirquestore.com:
- Leather I.D. Card Holder ($19.00 US):
A 4-inch by 3-inch 100% cowhide leather item embossed with
the Cirque du Soleil logo on the front.
http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/leatidcarhol.html
- CD Holder ($15.00 US):
A 6 1/2-inch by 6 1/2-inch item made of 100% nylon that
holds 10 CDs.
http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/cdholder.html
- Travel Bag ($19.00 US):
A 5-inch by 9 1/2-inch bag also made of 100% nylon.
Features the Cirque du Soleil logo.
http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/travelbag.html
- Cosmetic Bag ($25.00 US):
A 10 by 2 by 2-inch bag made of 100% waterproof nylon.
Includes a removable compartment.
http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/cosmeticbag.html
- Twisted Pleat Scarf ($225.00 US):
Inspired by Origami and costumes from Varekai, this piece
designed by Jo Buckler is 100% Polyester.
http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/twispleatsca.html
=======================================================================
ITINÉRAIRE: TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
=======================================================================
[Touring Shows]
Alegría:
* Dallas, Texas -- at Fair Park
Dates: Jan 23, 2003 to Feb 16, 2003
* Houston, Texas -- at George R. Brown Convention Center
Dates: Mar 6, 2003 to Mar 30, 2003
* Austin, Texas: Spring 2003
* Portland, Oregon: Spring-Summer 2003
* Seattle, Washington: Summer 2003
* San Francisco, California: Fall 2003
Dralion:
* New Orleans, Louisiana -- at Zephyr Field
Dates: Feb 6, 2003 to Feb 23, 2003
* Montreal, Quebec -- at Jacques-Cartier Pier
Dates: May 15, 2003 to Jun 15, 2003
* Raleigh, North Carolina: Winter-Spring 2003
* Baltimore, Maryland: Spring 2003
* Cincinnati, Ohio: Summer 2003
* Hartford, Connecticut: Summer 2003
* St. Louis, Missouri: Summer 2003
* Nashville, Tennessee: Fall 2003
* Tampa, Florida: Fall 2003
Quidam:
* Tokyo, Japan
Dates: Feb 7, 2003 to May 5, 2003
* Nagoya, Japan
Dates: May 21, 2003 to Jul 6, 2003
* Osaka, Japan
Dates: Jul 19, 2003 to Aug 31, 2003
* Fukuoka, Japan
Dates: Oct 22, 2003 to Dec 7, 2003
Saltimbanco:
* London, England -- at Royal Albert Hall
Dates: Jan 7, 2003 to Feb 9, 2003
* Bilbao, Spain -- at Zorrozaurre
Dates: Feb 26, 2003 to Mar 27, 2003
* Geneva, Switzerland -- at Plainpalais
Dates: Apr 18, 2003 to May 11, 2003
* Cologne, Germany -- at Cologne-Deutz
Dates: June 5, 2003 to June 29, 2003
* Oostenade, Belgium -- To Be Determined
Dates: Jul 24, 2003 to Aug 17, 2003
Varekai:
* San Jose, California -- at Water Company on Delmar Avenue
Dates: Jan 16, 2003 to Feb 16, 2003
* Atlanta, Georgia -- at Cumberland Galeria
Dates: Mar 6, 2003 - Apr 6, 2003
* New York, New York -- at Randall's Island Park
Dates: April 24 to June 8
* Chicago, Illinois: Summer 2003
* Los Angeles, California: Fall 2003
* Orange County, California: Fall 2003
[Resident Shows]
La Nouba:
* Two shows Nightly - Tuesday through Saturday.
* Times: 6:00pm and 9:00pm
* Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando.
* No performances on Sunday and Monday.
* 2003 Dark Dates are as follows:
- February 2nd through 5th
- March 23rd through 25th
- May 11th through 25th
- July 13th through 16th
- September 7th through 9th
- October 26th through 29th
- December 7th through 15th
Mystère:
* Two shows Nightly - Wednesday through Sunday.
* Times: 7:30pm and 10:30pm
* Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas.
* No performances on Monday or Tuesday.
* 2003 Dark Dates:
- January 26th through 28th
- March 2nd through 5th
- April 13th through 15th
- June 2nd through 10th
- August 3rd through 6th
- October 5th through 8th
- December 1st through 16th
"O":
* Two shows Nightly - Friday through Tuesday.
* Times: 7:30pm and 10:30pm.
* Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas.
* No performances on Wednesday or Thursday.
* 2003 Dark Dates:
- February 24th through 27th
- April 21st through 24th
- June 18th through 26th
- August 11th through 14th
- October 13th through 16th
- December 3rd through 18th
=======================================================================
HISTORIE: THIS MONTH IN CIRQUE HISTORY
=======================================================================
* January 05, 1996 -- Saltimbanco opened London, England
* January 05, 1999 -- Alegría opened London, England
* January 06, 2003 -- "Fire Within" premiered to US Audiences
* January 07, 1999 -- Saltimbanco Asia-Pacific Tour Began (Sydney)
* January 07, 2002 -- Saltimbanco Euro Tour II began London
* January 07, 2003 -- Saltimbanco opened Royal Albert Hall, London
* January 10, 1999 -- Alegría: Le Film showcased in Palm Springs
* January 10, 2001 -- Alegría opened Auckland, Australia
* January 14, 1997 -- Quidam CD Released
* January 16, 2003 -- Varekai opened San Jose, California
* January 17, 1999 -- Banquine Act was awarded at the 23rd Festival
du Cirque de Monte-Carlo.
* January 17, 2002 -- Dralion opened Houston, Texas
* January 23, 2003 -- Alegría opened Dallas, Texas
* January 24, 1995 -- Alegría opened Costa Mesa, California
* January 25, 2000 -- Saltimbanco opened Hong Kong
* January 26, 1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened San Diego
=======================================================================
ANNIVERSAIRE: BIRTHDAY WISHES TO CIRQUE ALUMNI!
=======================================================================
* January 02, 1991 -- Batmunkh Batjargal (Little Tamir/Alegría)
* January 02, 1970 -- "Beaver" (Male Singer/Dralion)
* January 07, 1975 -- Suzie Gagnon (Accordion/Alegría)
* January 09, 1972 -- James Clowney (Ringmaster/Saltimbanco)
* January 10, 1979 -- Dmitro Sidorenko (Banquine/Quidam, JOM)
* January 11, 1964 -- Eve Montpetit (Singer/Alegría)
* January 12, 1990 -- Daria Vintilova (Adagio back-up/Saltimbanco)
* January 14, 1966 -- Gonzalo Muñoz Ferrer (Clown/Dralion)
* January 24, 1959 -- Luc Tremblay (Tower on Wheels/Réinventé)
* January 25, 1977 -- Helen Ball (Tri-Trapeze, Body Skating/Varekai)
* January 27, 1962 -- Andrée Simard (Singer/Alegría Biloxi)
* January 29, 1973 -- Roni Bello (Icarian Games/Varekai)
* January 29, 1996 -- Maxsim Vintilov (Adagio/Saltimbanco)
=======================================================================
TÉLÉMAGIK:
"Resolution" -- Fire Within, Part 4 (By: Wayne Leung)
=======================================================================
The time has come; all of the ups and downs, struggles, triumphs and
setbacks of the artists of Cirque du Soleil's newest show have
culminated in this event, the world premiere of Varekai! As viewers
of Fire Within, we share in the performers' excitement and anxiety as
they aim to impress with the new show. The final two episodes of Fire
Within represent the climax and resolution of the series. It is in
these episodes that we accompany the performers whom we've met and
become familiar with throughout the series as they finally take their
place in the spotlight and shine. Then, as Cirque packs up its Big
Top in Montreal and heads on the road to start the North American Tour
of Varekai, we bid a fond farewell to the artists and staff whom we've
met along the incredible journey that was creation of Varekai.
Fire Within is a groundbreaking series allowing fans unprecedented
access to Cirque du Soleil. It allows us to go deep inside the
company's creation process and witness the magic in the making. Fire
Within also allows us to see the human side of the Cirque. The
series' raw and honest portrayal of the performers and staff shows us
a side of the company that we've never been able to see before.
The series is not without its weaknesses. Fire Within focuses very
heavily on some characters while only showing momentary glimpses of
others. For instance, the series focuses heavily on Gareth and
Stella's characters while Oleg and the Atherton twins have smaller
roles. Understandably, this is because of the way the stories
developed. Stella and Gareth are the two most animated and open
characters of the bunch and also two individuals who had a
particularly challenging time during the creation process. Following
their struggles provides solid stories for the series. Conversely,
the Atherton twins, while fascinating individuals, were for the most-
part always on top of their game and at the head of the troupe when it
came to performance, which is good for them but it doesn't make for
very exciting television. The effect, for the characters that we did
get to know well, is that we start to root for them. There were
several times when I felt sincere emotion for these people as I
empathized with their struggles. Still, as a fan I would have liked
to have seen more of the other characters. Although this is by no
fault of series director Lewis Cohen, since his challenge was to work
within the confines of documenting reality and doing so within the
limitations of creating a series for network television. For the most
part Cohen does a wonderful job with the material he got. According
to the Cirque website, over 1000 hours of raw footage were filmed for
Fire Within and each of the thirteen episodes took nine weeks to edit.
The hard work is evident in the quality of the finished product; a
series that is as respectful as it is informative, insightful and
honest. The Fire Within series as a whole is a monumental
achievement for Cirque du Soleil.
Admittedly, watching Fire Within does take some of the mystique and
mystery out of watching Varekai live. I now see the performers as
actual people and not the fantastic super-creatures and magical
characters portrayed on stage. In a way, I now see through the
illusion. But on the other hand I have a profound respect and much
deeper appreciation of the artists because I've witnessed the grueling
work and immense challenges that these extraordinary individuals had
to overcome to become part of a Cirque du Soleil production.
So, for the final time, let us marvel at the hard work of the series'
creators and complete our journey through Fire Within.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
** SPOILER WARNING **
The reviews below reveal the episodes in detail. If you haven't seen
the show and would prefer to be surprised, skip ahead. There will be
an advisory ending this spoiler warning.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Episode 12: "Opening Night"
---------------------------
(A focus on the premiere features highlights. - TV Guide)
It is April 24, 2002. We open on a time-lapse shot of a bustling,
pre-dawn Montreal and visit several performers as they prepare to
leave for work. We check in on a tired-looking Olga who tells us in a
raspy voice, "Today is a very special day; it's the premiere of
Varekai! I'm not nervous, I'm just sick." Raquel rides the Metro
(subway) to the Old Port of Montreal, Oleg and Ashley walk toward the
Grand Chapiteau on the Jacques Cartier Pier.
Throughout the day final touches are made to the show. All the
technical equipment is checked and last-minute adjustments are made to
the costumes. Every little detail must be perfect for tonight's
premiere.
The sun goes down and the invitation-only crowd, a cross-section of
society representing Montreal's cultural elite, starts to arrive. The
Cirque's ability to transcend boundaries is evident as the opening
night audience consists of politicians, famous musicians, actors,
sports heroes, Hollywood stars, "jet-setters" and, of course, a slew
of media reporters. All are eager to be the first to catch a glimpse
of the newest Cirque du Soleil production. A Cirque premiere is truly
Montreal's equivalent of Oscar night. "It's like a movie star land
out there," comments choreographer Michael Montanaro.
The backstage tent is full of nervous energy. The performers are
haunted by the previous night's bad dress rehearsal and are determined
to give everything they can for a successful premiere. Director
Dominic Champagne gives the troupe a final pep-talk before the show,
"It's gonna be a tough audience tonight but remember; there [are]
three things to make this show happen; emotion, emotion and emotion.
What is in your hands now is your eyes for the audience. Share this
show [with] the audience; give your soul to touch their hearts."
Before the show, Stella is experiencing a small crisis. Her parents
have gotten separated on the way to the Big Top and her father is now
lost. This is obviously the last thing she wants to deal with before
her big premiere. An edgy Stella yells at her mom over the phone,
"How do you two always manage to lose each other!? Well, you left the
poor little man standing out there with coat in his hand and no
ticket!" With only a minute to go before she takes her place for the
show's opening, Stella is boiling with frustration. When asked if she
found her father Stella fumes, "He called me and said, 'I can't find
your mother.' I said, 'I'll call you back.' He turns off his phone!"
Luckily, her parents are re-united before the show starts.
The rest of the performers are nervous but excited. Head Coach Boris
describes their state of mind, "It's an interesting energy in the
artistic tent right now. It's a calmness that you know is not a
result of calmness. It's either the result of fatigue and when it
hits them they will go bananas. They'll be bouncing off the wall."
Director Dominic sits outside and smokes nervously, "I'm going to
nervous breakdown," he tells us.
The performers storm the stage for the opening dance and the show
begins to the thunderous applause of an excited and energetic crowd.
During the show, the performers, creators and support staff can watch
the performance via a closed- circuit television monitor in the
backstage tent.
The Icarian Games team makes their entrance; the Spanish Rampin'
Brothers and the new Italian team, the Stevens Brothers. Backstage,
the premiere is a bittersweet moment for Ashley and Gareth as they
were replaced in the Icarian number. When asked how he feels, an
obviously disappointed Ashley replies, "It's shitty man. 'All dressed
up and nowhere to go' sort of thing. I've been here the longest
trying, well learning this act and now I'm not in it." The performers
huddle around the monitor and cheer the performance of their fellow
artists. Stella gleefully applauds the complicated flips and catches
of the new Icarian team. In contrast, Ashley watches with a blank
expression. He experiences a melancholy moment as he watches the
Italian brothers and realizes that his dream has slipped away from
him.
The Atherton twins go on to perform their Aerial Straps act. The
crowd gasps in awe at the image of a man leaping into the air, soaring
and then splitting into two identical copies of himself. The twins
touch down at the end of their act to an enthusiastic standing ovation
- they are a hit.
Next Oleg and Tatiana take to the stage to perform their Acrobatic Pas
de Deux. Oleg holds Tatiana in the air for the opening figure when
she slips and falls. The crowd gasps, they tumble into a heap on the
floor. The artists and coaches backstage watch the monitor worriedly.
Olga glances at us with a concerned look on her face. Mooky the clown
nervously bites her lip. Coach Boris, his eyes still on the monitor,
informs us, "Apparently Tatiana fell and Oleg managed to catch her at
the last moment but I did not see it so I cannot tell you."
Thankfully, the dancers are not hurt. They are able to overcome their
initial fumble to put on a passionate command performance. Afterward,
they return to the backstage tent and are obviously disappointed in
themselves for their mistake. They dejectedly walk towards the
changing area. Choreographer Michael Montanaro stops them and offers
his encouragement, "One little thing like that doesn't matter, it was
beautiful."
Next, Stella, Raquel and the other trapeze artists perform the Triple
Trapeze act. The months of hard work, the loss of their initial
multiple trapeze apparatus, the struggle to develop an act that would
be equally aesthetic and acrobatic has all amounted to this moment.
Their movements are sinuous and graceful. The trapeze artists exude a
beautiful sensuality. Afterward, they return to the backstage tent to
the applause of their fellow artists.
It is now Olga's turn to hit the stage. She descends from the rafters
of the set and performs her Hand-Balancing on Canes act. Olga's
costume glitters like a diamond under the lights, she moves fluidly
through the choreography. Her performance is sublime and the crowd
falls in love with her.
The show ends on the highest of high notes; the spectacular Russian
Swing finale. During the act, the celebrity crowd leaps to its feet
in a rousing, extended standing ovation. Afterward, all the
performers return to the stage for their curtain calls. This is the
reward for the months of grueling work, the highs and the lows have
culminated to this very moment. Varekai is a triumphant success.
Backstage, after the show, the performers are positively elated. Guy
Laliberté comes to cheer them. He is ecstatic about the success of
opening night. An exhausted and emotional Dominic congratulates his
cast on a spectacular job.
Even the movie stars are themselves star-struck by the Cirque
performers. Supermodel and Hollywood actress Milla Jovovich gets a
backstage tour. Upon meeting Varekai's star Olga, Milla breaks down
to tears and sobs excitedly.
The episode ends with Guy Laliberté driving up to Dominic and the
Athertons in his limo and offering them a ride to the big after-show
party.
Episode 13: "The Aftermath and Departure" - Series Finale
---------------------------------------------------------
(Casting adjustments are made as the three-year world tour begins. -
TV Guide)
The final episode of Fire Within opens on a miserable, rainy June
afternoon, a fitting pathetic fallacy for the tone of this last
installment. After seven weeks and over 60 shows in Montreal it is
time for the performers to pack up their lives and leave for the
three-year North American Tour of Varekai. The artists, once nervous
novices have all become set in the routine of Cirque du Soleil and are
now seasoned professionals. They get a briefing at Headquarters about
the tour schedule and life on tour. They are all obviously excited to
have this opportunity to travel and see the world.
On the morning of the final two shows in Montreal the performers once
again go through their pre-show routine. However, noticeably absent
are Gareth and Ashley. We ask one of the Atherton twins who replies;
"Well they're not here today so they must be at the Studios. They've
got a meeting with [Director of Creation] Andrew Watson. I'm hoping
for them, I've got my fingers crossed that it's not bad news." Raquel
elaborates, "They didn't make the premiere and now we have these
Italian guys [The Stevens Brothers; Roni and Stiv Bello] [who] are
great but it makes us scared to lose [Gareth and Ashley]."
Gareth arrives from his meeting and we catch up with him at the make-
up stall. He tells us, "I'm feeling alright considering my contract's
getting terminated after Montreal." Stiv Bello, who replaced Gareth in
Icarian Games, is applying his make-up in the neighboring stall. He
overhears what Gareth has said, looks over and asks in disbelief,
"What did you say? Are you playing a joke?" Gareth tells him that it
is all too real. Stiv asks about his future, "What are you going to
do, stay here at the studio?" "No, no I'm going home," Gareth
replies. "I'm sorry for you," Stiv consoles.
There is still no word about Ashley. Finally, he walks through the
door with a grim look on his face. He doesn't tell us the outcome of
his meeting but we can pretty much decipher it from his expression.
Varekai's Artistic Director Nicolette Naum leads a Tapis Rouge, a
meeting of all the performers. She informs them that Gareth and
Ashley are being let go after today's two final Montreal shows. The
performers are shocked and dismayed. Raquel reacts, "Unbelievable, I
can't believe that they do this. I don't understand. It can happen
to anyone at anytime? That's not respectful." One of the Athertons
shares with us, "Every time I've spoken with Ashley, this is his
dream. He's not like, 'I'm doing this for three years then maybe
something else.' He's like, 'I'm doing this for life.'" For Ashley,
the year of excruciating training was ultimately not enough; it is the
end of a dream.
The show begins. Gareth takes the stage for the final time as the
Lizard character that opens the show. He explains, "That's my
favourite part, terrorizing the audience . . . Yeah, I'm really gonna
miss that bit."
As he does every night, Icarus falls from the skies and loses his
wings. The Varekai family must help him learn to fly again. Only
this time, there is a parallel story happening backstage. The artists
pull together and support their fallen comrades. Gareth sits on the
couch in the artistic tent and stares deadpan into the air,
contemplating his future. One of the Water Meteor boys comes and
gives him a comforting pat on the shoulder.
The show ends to yet another standing ovation from the hometown crowd
and closes one of Cirque du Soleil's most successful runs ever.
Afterward, emotions run high as the performers celebrate their
success, but at the same time feel the loss of Ashley and Gareth. Guy
Laliberté, Dominic Champagne and the Varekai creative team come to say
goodbye to the performers. They pop open a bottle of Champagne for
Gareth and Ashley.
Along with the celebration, there is work to be done. The artists
must pack up the entire artistic tent and stow the contents into
several trailers to be taken to Quebec City, the next stop on the
tour.
Olga will once again be on the road. Even though she has already
toured for several years, she still finds it difficult to leave her
parents.
Stella must leave her boyfriend Sam behind. "I have to leave my
relationship and all, I'm an emotional basket case," she confesses.
"The smartest thing would be to not get into a relationship when
you're only in town for eight months. But obviously I missed that
fact." Sam will drive her to Quebec City before saying goodbye.
Raquel and her boyfriend Ricardo pack up their apartment and prepare
to leave. After living there for almost a year, Montreal feels like
home to them now. They will miss it, although they are both excited
to be going on tour. The Varekai tour is their opportunity to travel
the world together. They will begin their adventure by taking a boat
cruise on the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City. The trip is a sort
of pre-honeymoon cruise for them. They will soon be getting married.
The rest of the performers pile their bulging suitcases onto the
luxury coach that will be the Varekai tour bus. The bus hits the road
along with the numerous tractor-trailer rigs emblazoned with the
"Varekai" and "Cirque du Soleil" logos carrying the tour's equipment.
This is the beginning of an exciting adventure for our performer
friends.
One of the other artists is traveling as well. We meet up with Gareth
at the airport. He's packed up his life and will fly back home to
London. This time, he won't be returning. "Doing this was like a
hundred steps forward for me and now I've just fallen a hundred steps
back," Gareth laments. But he admits, "There's been some hard times
but the good times outweigh the bad times by a million." In a
touching final moment, his plane takes off as the soft, plucked violin
melody from Varekai plays and we hear the words from the soundtrack
album, "Fall of an angel, you can see the fall. . ."
As for Ashley, we see him back where it all began; Cirque
Headquarters. Michel Laprise and other members of the casting
department watch as Ashley auditions for a part in the next Cirque du
Soleil show. Ashley refuses to give up on his life-long dream.
As the melody of Patzivota swells, we fly up and away from Cirque
headquarters, symbolizing Varekai's take off and flight away from its
home and into the world.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
END SPOILER WARNING
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cirque du Soleil: Fire Within premiered to U.S. audiences on January
6, 2003. See our CirqueTV section for this month's schedule!
=======================================================================
CIRQUE MUSIQUE:
"Musical Instruments du Cirque" (By: Paul Roberts)
=======================================================================
A unique aspect of Cirque du Soleil's music is the usage of new and
old (even ancient) musical instruments. Even though synthesizers are
used extensively, the blend of rare instruments allows the
synthesizers to play synthetic sounds and not imitate sounds of
unusual instruments.
When perusing the musician/instrument credits from Cirque du Soleil
soundtracks, there are many strange instruments that accompany the
guitars, drums, keyboards, and standard woodwinds and string
instruments. And what would Cirque du Soleil music be without the
accordion? Each of Cirque du Soleil's three composers used a somewhat
different niche for their meshing of traditional instruments with
unique instruments.
René Dupéré, Cirque du Soleil's original composer through "Alegria",
started with mainly synthetic music that some classified as being "New
Age" music. Through "Saltimbanco", traditional instruments were
implemented, but "Mystère" introduced the future standard of combining
the traditional with the unusual. Multi-instrumentalist, Luis Perez,
used many strange percussion contraptions and live bassist, Jean-
François Brissette, introduced the Stick. The Stick, originally
called Chapman Stick (named for its inventor) is part guitar and part
bass, but played almost like a keyboard with two hands tapping the
fret board without plucking or picking the strings.
In "Alegria", René used the chilling sound of the musical saw, played
by Rodrique "Chocolat" Tremblay. This saw is bowed with a violin bow
while bending the blade to change the pitch. In the beautiful song
"Valsapena", the saw plays along with the traditional harp. You
cannot find a more unusual combination. René's unique influences set
the tone for the future and now present music of Cirque du Soleil.
Benoit Jutras, an original keyboardist and musical arranger, took over
composing while writing a few new songs during the "Mystère"
revamping. Benoit's first full soundtrack "Quidam" featured a unique
combination of voices: full-grown male (Mathieu Lavoie, now in
"Varekai") and female child (Benoit's daughter, Audrey Brisson-
Jutras). Lei Qiang made his Cirque du Soleil debut with the Erhu,
which is also known as the Chinese violin. The Erhu has 2 strings
(commonly tuned D-A like the middle strings of a violin) with a
snakeskin resonator. The bow, rosined on both sides of the hair, is
placed between the pair of strings and the result is a weeping-like
tone. At the end of "Rivage", the Erhu has a nice solo accompanied by
a mellow string ensemble. "Zydeko" (a fitting title to a song
classified as a Zydeko or Cajun music) features a Washboard, played by
Luc Boivin and a Wash Tub Bass, played by Danielle Lemieux. After Luc
and Danielle work up a sweat they can do laundry!
"O" featured many unusual instruments and was Cirque du Soleil's most
"World Music" soundtrack to date. For the first time since Cirque's
beginnings, nearly every musician on the soundtrack also played in the
original live band. Mr. Qiang's Erhus are featured prominently.
Èlise Guay played Medieval Woodwinds, Bagpipes, and Recorders
(remember grade school?). And vocalist Toumany Kouyaté, played a Kora
which is a 25-string instrument also known as the African Harp. In
the show, Toumany solos in the song "Africa" with his Kora as African
animals roam on a background screen.
"La Nouba" does not really feature any unusual instruments, but
bandleader and keyboardist Benoit Glazer plays the trumpet quite
often, the first time the instrument is featured in a Cirque show.
With the urban sound of "La Nouba", Benoit included something unheard
of in Cirque du Soleil: rap. "The Tale" featured rapper Misery and is
very fitting for the feel of the song. The rap is left out of the
live show, however. Also included for the first time is the Blues
Harp (Harmonica) solo in "Urban" played by Guy Bélanger.
Benoit composed two other soundtracks with Cirque du Soleil before
moving on. An unusual aspect of "Alegria le Film" is the inclusion of
pop music sung beautifully in English by Irene Marc. A few songs from
the original "Alegria" soundtrack were also included. The title track
to the "Journey of Man" soundtrack also included an English-lyric song
by "O" vocalist, Roxane Potvin. "Journey of Man" has a true movie
score-like feel with rich orchestrations that enhance the IMAX film.
On the CD, Toumany from "O" once again appears with his Kora in the
incredible "The Forest" that is all but omitted from the film. The
closing song, "Trip Hop" (not used in the film) is a fitting send-off
for Benoit's departure. With electronic buzzes, sitars, a hip-hop
beat, Taïko drums, and Gregorian chants filling the brief song; this
bizarre mixture is a microcosm of what Benoit provided in his Cirque
du Soleil career.
In 1999, the third phase of Cirque du Soleil commenced as a completely
new creative team came to develop "Dralion." The team included
Italian composer, Violaine Corradi, who delivered a World Music sound
including a myriad of unusual instruments. Starting with "Stella
Errans", one of the first sounds heard comes from an Electric Sitar.
Sitars became famous in the mid-sixties when The Beatles' George
Harrison introduced the world to Ravi Shankar. The instrument's
nasal-tone characteristic is a primary sound in Indian music. "Ombra"
features Rafik Samman (presently in the "Varekai" live band) playing
an Oud, which has twelve strings and is also known as the Arabic Lute.
Violaine stated that her music is first written with percussion then
the melody is swirled around the beat. There are several unusual and
rare percussion instruments found in "Dralion." The Darbuka (Dumbek)
is a large drum known for the exquisite carvings on its casings; The
Rig is a Turkish Tambourine; The Daf is an Iranian drum; and the
colorful Yiu Gu Drums originated in China.
Closing the CD and the show is "Kamandé" featuring the Bagpipe played
by Éric Mercier. Most of the "Dralion" soundtrack has a Middle
Eastern influence, but "Kamandé" could easily be a traditional
Scottish folk song.
"Varekai" is the most unusual of all Cirque du Soleil soundtracks as
reviewed in the previous issue of "Fascination!". Synthesizers and
sequencers (along with many traditional instruments) dominate the
soundtrack, but Steve Shehan's battery of percussion prevails. His
ensemble includes the Djembe, also known as The Healing Drum because
of its early use in African tribal rituals; the Ocean Drum, that
includes pellets inside the drumhead to recreate the sound of waves
beating on a shore and the Talking Drum, named because the drum can
change pitch and create its own language. Mr. Shehan also plays tuned
instruments like Chimes, Bowed Bells, and the Angklung, an Indonesian
instrument consisting of tuned bamboo tubes hung from a frame.
In the song "Lubia Dobarstan", Wayne Hankin, who is in the live band,
plays a Jew's Harp (Jaw Harp). This silly instrument is placed in the
teeth and the musician "twangs" a metal flapper that produces a
broing-like sound. If played too much, a trip to the dentist may be
necessary.
Music is The Universal Language and in all parts of the world strange
and beautiful instruments exist. Many of the unusual instruments that
are used in the soundtracks could be synthesized - like they are in a
"lazy" musical environment - but as with all aspects of Cirque du
Soleil, perfection is required.
=======================================================================
BEHIND THE CURTAIN:
"The Techie Geek: Sound, Part 1 -- Design" (By: Jen Waldman)
=======================================================================
I decided two months ago that this particular Techie Geek column would
be about Sound Design. This was a very difficult column for me to
write. I lack the creativity to be a designer, and therefore did not
understand the process involved in creating a world of sound. I also
exhibit the oxymoron of disliking noise and having hearing loss.
Despite these drawbacks, the Techie Geek has promised to fairly and
squarely cover all of the technical and design aspects of Cirque du
Soleil. I have to keep my promise, otherwise my conscience will start
nagging. And actually I gained some understanding of the work that
goes into sound design--from conception to production and maintenance.
Q. Why is Sound Design Necessary?
Have you ever attended a performance in which everybody performing has
the same microphone, be they a booming bass or soprano, trumpeter or
flautist? Painful, isn't it? A sound designer can set proper levels to
make sure that everything is heard as it should be. Even something as
minute as air temperature can affect sound quality and levels--this
deserves attention in a circus tent!
Actually, the circus tent provides a special problem. Many sound
designers work in indoor or outdoor theatres that are specially
constructed to provide the best possible auditory experience. A
circus tent does not have the acoustics one would find in a theatre,
though Cirque du Soleil's innovative tent designs have partially
allayed that problem. A "sound check" done before the show opens also
sounds differently than it does when the Big Top is filled with an
audience. A sound designer must have a trained ear that can catch the
most subtle differences in the sounds of a show. Without a good sound
designer, a show might sound truly awful, or "okay," but why settle
for "okay" when you can have the best sound possible? A good sound
designer knows how to make sure that every sound can be heard from
every seat in the theatre.
Q. What Does a Sound Designer for Cirque Do?
In a Meyer Sound interview with Cirque sound designer Francois
Bergeron, he spoke of the design process: "We gather around the table
and talk about ideas, then everybody goes off and works on what they
understood from the concept, or the theme, and later we come back
together to share ideas, influencing each other." He mentions that
the set designs will have an effect on the sound design as well.
For Varekai, the latest Cirque show, Bergeron was involved in the
creative process from the very beginning, which is unusual. Sound
design is usually brought in at a much later period, but for Varekai
there is a constant soundtrack, as vital to the production as lighting
or set. The sound designer also works closely with the composer and
musical arranger in order to make sure that the orchestrations match
the ideas of the composer.
The sound designer decides what sort of speakers will be needed, where
they will be placed, and which sounds will play through particular
speakers. Subwoofers (for bass sounds), equalizers (maintaining
equilibrium throughout the performance venue) and loudspeakers are all
used in Cirque du Soleil shows. The speakers are chosen to prevent
against too much reverberation (from the sound waves from bouncing off
of the canvas) as well as for their auditory enhancement powers.
Each Cirque act has several "Soundscapes," and the sound designer must
figure out ways so that each "Soundscape" sounds the same no matter
how many times the sound equipment is taken down and put up on tour.
This must be done for both live and prerecorded sound (think of John's
juggling music in Quidam). Using a console, the sound designer writes
programs that dictate how and where the sounds can be heard. For live
sound, a mixing board is also used to keep sound levels consistent.
Q. What about the show-to-show components of Sound that do not involve
the designer?
That will be addressed in the next column. The Techie Geek is still
working to understand what all of the terms and abbreviations mean so
that she can explain it.
Q. I want to know more about (aspect of sound design)!
If you have a question about Sound (or any other technical aspect of
Cirque du Soleil) please send it to techie_geek@anonymous.to, I will
research your question and answer it in future issues of
"Fascination!"
Q. Sound design is a lot more complicated than you thought, isn't it?
This techie geek had no idea how much thought and work goes into
designing live sound. She has much more respect for the art. More to
come in the next issue!
=======================================================================
BEYOND THE BIGTOP:
"Yet Another Version of Alegría!" (By: Keith Johnson)
=======================================================================
As we've mentioned in these pages, Saltimbanco, Quidam and Alegria
have all been recently reissued by the new division of Cirque, Cirque
du Soleil Musique. With each of these reissues have come two "bonus"
tracks, taken from live performances of the shows. This helps add
value to the CD's by including show music that has previously been
missing.
In addition to the extra tracks, some slight "spiffing up" of the
sound has also occurred. Saltimbanco and to some extent "Quidam" has
been "Re-Mastered" though it sounds to our ears that it was just re-
recorded at a slightly higher sound level with no other "sonic
spiffing". But Alegria has undergone a most dramatic change. In
fact, this change has resulted in a completely new version of the
entire CD! And what is this dramatic change?
The channels are reversed.
Careful comparison of a 1998 USA issue CD (RCA Victor/BMG 09026-62701-
2) against the new 2001 reissue (74321-93442-2) reveals the startling
contrast. Any sound that appeared in the left channel of the 1998
issue now appears on the right channel of the 2001 issue for all 12 of
the original album tracks! And vice versa - if it was in the right
channel before, it's on the left now.
We called Cirque to ask if this was a mis-print, or a correction of an
earlier mistake. After all, it could be that the 1998 USA issue was
wrong. While they admit they are aware of the difference and didn't
say it was a "fix", there are no plans to recall the current issue, as
the entirety of the music is there, so they feel there is nothing
"defective" about the album. So this leaves us with two completely
different versions of the Alegria album, one the sonic mirror image of
the other. Which is the "correct" one?
Some of Alegria's songs also appear on the compilation "Collection" as
well as the "Le Film" soundtrack. In another comparison, we found the
two songs on "Collection" ("Querer" and "Alegria") to conform to the
1998 USA issue. But checking the "Le Film" soundtrack we found
something much stranger. While "Vai Verdrai" conformed to the 1998
USA issue, "Mirko" is the same as the "switched" 2001 re-issue, while
"Irna" is totally monaural.
Where might this "correction" have occurred? We contacted the
mastering engineer credited as mastering the two new live tracks for
Alegria and Quidam. He told us he had nothing to do with the rest of
the CD, he only added the two live tracks onto a Cirque-supplied
master tape that already had the 12 original tracks, and had no way of
knowing whether the other songs were "correct". So if there were any
place where someone may have accidentally "switched" channels on the
tape, it would probably have come from within Cirque itself.
How could this have happened to only one of the three reissues (as
Saltimbanco and Quidam are the same as their previous editions)? With
no explanation from Cirque we can only speculate. As we mentioned
before, this could all be "correcting" a previous error, but we don't
think so. Someone must have made a duplicate of the original master
tape, intending to send it to the mastering engineer for mastering the
live tracks onto the end, and the channel swap slipped by undetected.
Of course, we could be wrong, and would love to report back that this
has all been a big misunderstanding.
One also wonders if composer René Dupéré is aware of this new
"version" of his work? As Producer and Arranger of the album (with
Robbi Finkel), he might be interested to know that this newest version
may not be the version he heard in the studio, or what he intended.
If we hear from him, we'll let you know.
In the meantime, enjoy yet another version of "Alegria"!
=======================================================================
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT:
"Le Grand Tour: Into the Unknown..." (By: Ricky Russo)
=======================================================================
Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to 2003!
It's been a tumultuous yet wondrous year we've left behind in 2002. In
the world of Cirque du Soleil we've seen the return of Quidam and
Alegría to the North American continent, allowing many fans to see
these shows live for the first time. We also witnessed the birth of a
new touring show - Varekai, and were treated to a mountain of rumors
surrounding two other shows, one of which is set to debut later this
year. Through it all "Fascination!" has been there and I, on my Grand
Tour, have experienced most of it. I have been able to "live it up" as
it were, taking my mantra of "Live to Cirque; Cirque to Live" to a
whole new level.
Throughout 2002 the Grand Tour has taken me places I had never before
been and allowed me to experience things I only dreamed of before. I
consider myself fortunate to have lived this dream thus far and found
it gratifying to share it within these pages. For those who have been
with me since the beginning, I thank you. It has been a long road that
I hope you have enjoyed hearing about. And for those who are just
joining me... welcome. For what the Grand Tour is all about is one man
- one fan - on a quest to see all of the Cirque's creations in the
span of one year.
Thus far The Tour has taken me to cities all across North America. It
began with Montreal in April to witness the premiere of Varekai,
Cirque du Soleil's latest touring production. Next was Las Vegas in
May to take in the monumental creations of Mystère and "O". Third, to
Denver in June for a viewing of Alegría, which had justreturned to
North American. It was back home to Orlando in July, where I
celebrated "Cirque Day" with two shining examples of their ingenuity:
La Nouba and Journey of Man. Lastly to Seattle, where the Dralion
roared and a very special "Cirquey" wedding took place.
As the summer came to a close it seemed that, no matter what, nothing
could stand in the way of this Grand Tour. And then October came and I
was dealt an enormous blow -- I lost my job. I didn't lose it out of
stupidity or having done anything wrong, no, I became yet another
victim of the slow-down in the U.S. economy. Another statistic in the
unemployment line. The news came on a holiday weekend (for residents
of the United States that would be Columbus Day) and it was a weekend
that cast doubt on the conclusion of the Grand Tour (10 days in
London/Paris and my first viewing of Saltimbanco) and the rest of the
trips I had planned for 2003: Varekai in Atlanta, Cirque 2003 in Las
Vegas, Alegría in Seattle, and various others.
On top of that, Quidam was returning to Florida and I held tickets for
two performances. This was the next event on my Grand Tour and it
really came at a good time, because for the first time since hearing
the news of my unemployment, I was able to set it aside for a good two
hours of Cirque goodness. What was more important was being able to
see the show one last time before it set sail to the Land of the
Rising Sun - Japan.
The first performance was on November 24th, for which my mother and I
held tickets. The performance was rock solid for a Sunday afternoon,
which I've been told is the roughest day for a performance. It didn't
matter that the Vis-à-Vis act did not perform or that John didn't do
his hat-rack act that afternoon (a bit I didn't realize was missing
until hours later on my way home.) I was pleased to see Shayne
Courtright perform the German Wheel masterfully and watch Elena Lev
perform hoops with all her scrumptious moves. I dare not go to much
into the show since we have covered it quite in-depth this year, but
watching Quidam, regardless of the omissions, made me happy. And I was
glad to share the experience with my Mom who is not a big Cirque du
Soleil fan, but I'm trying to win her over.
The second showing of Quidam was to be on December 5th, but a sudden
fall by Natalia Pestova (Spanish Webs/Character) in that afternoon's
performance put a damper on the festivities and Quidam turned
frightening. It would seem that I wouldn't get a chance to see the
show one last time after all since that evening's show was ultimately
canceled. But by then I had too many other things that were calling my
attention: I held tickets for The Lion King Musical on Tour in Tampa,
My friend Cedric was coming into town from Denver, Two Towers (Lord of
the Rings) was coming, and The Lion King animated film was about to
premiere on IMAX and other Large Screen Cinemas. These were important
events in their own right and things I had long waited to happen.
By a stroke of fate perhaps it was fitting that my last day on the job
was Friday, December 13th (yeah, Friday the 13th). It was a day I had
both welcomed and feared. It is a strange feeling to be ready to leave
one's job, but I wanted to so I could get on with my life. I didn't
know what kind of life I'd be able to live, but as a person who always
tries to look forward I knew whatever life I was destined for I would
embrace it fully. There was the trip to London to see Saltimbanco
that still hung in the balance, and the clock was ticking. When I
pulled out of the parking lot from my place of business a familiar
song came on and it reminded me that all things must come to an end,
but that end is only the beginning of something more. The song was
"Finale" from the Mystère Live CD and it set up a bittersweet moment
for me as I pulled away from a job of almost seven years.
So now, like Simba in The Lion King, since that fateful day I have
found myself searching for my place on the unwinding path that is
life. I've decided to begin that search in Europe. That's right, the
trip to see Saltimbanco is still on! And that means within a few weeks
the Grand Tour shall be completed - all 8 productions (and one film)
within the span of one year. But that's not all... instead of just
visiting London and Paris as the original 10-day trip was conceived,
I've decided to join my friends (Cedric and Maya - see "Le Grand Tour:
Alegría" in Issue #11 - July 2002) for an entire month in Europe!
How's that for an explosive conclusion to an awesome journey?
London, Edinburgh, Paris, Nice, Geneva, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Venice,
Vienna, Prague, Amsterdam, Brussels... these are some of the cities on
what has to be the boldest leg of the Grand Tour to date. This will be
my first time in Europe and I am so excited I could literally burst!
I'm all packed (well, sorta) and ready to go. The journey begins on
Friday, January 17th and ends on Sunday, February 16th and once again
the Grand Tour will take me to places I have never before been and
experience things I have only dreamed of. The only problem is... I'll
miss "Fire Within!" See you in a few weeks!
=======================================================================
EXPANDED SELECTION:
"Workout, Cirque-Style" (A Chat Transcript)
=======================================================================
Calling all expectant mothers! Karyne Steben, renowned for working
with Cirque du Soleil (Saltimbanco, "O") has developed a workout
routine safe for pregnant mothers. It is called "The Perfect Pregnancy
Workout" and is available on video for $15.99 (plus shipping/handling).
Karyne talks about her new workout routine via chat through Pregnancy
dot com. Check it out!
# # #
This live chat event took place December 17, 2002.
Jules, moderator: Karyne Steben is one of the renowned Steben twins,
known throughout the world for their daring duo trapeze act. The twins
began gymnastics training when they were 7-years-old, progressed on to
the trapeze, and developed the strength, discipline and courage that
an act of this caliber demands.
At the tender age of 16, they began touring with the prestigious
Cirque du Soleil Company, astounding audiences across the globe with
their skill and daring. Karyne and Sarah left Cirque du Soleil after
11 happy years to pursue a career in acting. They can be seen in
various commercials, music videos and starring in the upcoming HBO
series "Carnivále".
Hi, Karyne!
Karyne Steben: Hi! I'm chatting from Montreal, Canada right now with
my baby. We came to see my family for Christmas. I'm on vacation
during two weekends while I work with Circe du Soleil in Los Vegas.
Jules, moderator: That sounds nice! Can you explain to us why you
created this routine that you've shared on the video?
Karyne Steben: It's actually what I used to stay in shape. It is
exercises that I feel comfortable with and they are good for all
levels of fitness.
Jules, moderator: Please welcome Karyne!
momtosara: Hi, Karyne!
ThreeSweetGirls: Welcome, Karyne.
Karyne Steben: Thank you.
lakhisis: Have you already had your baby? If so, do you feel like the
workout helped?
Karyne Steben: Yes. She is 4-months-old and she's the most beautiful
baby I have seen. The delivery went well -- all natural and I felt
amazing the day after I had my baby.
Jules, moderator: Congratulations! Four months is a sweet age.
Karyne Steben: Everyone has asked what is my secret -- to have such a
good delivery and get my pre-pregnancy weight back.
Jules, moderator: Do you think exercise was the biggest help?
lakhisis: Is this video a "sharing of secrets"? How long did it take
you to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight?
Karyne Steben: It teaches about exercising and mental preparation. In
my video, we are offering some help with mental discipline to control
the labor pains.
momtosara: You were in really good shape before you got pregnant. Will
I (who am in lousy shape) be able to do the video?
Robin: I bet that's a question a lot of women have.
Karyne Steben: I would say that this help. With exercise, extremely
overweight women to reduce their changes of gestational diabetes by
40% and also it will help the women to keep their shape. Most of all,
it will help them connect with themselves and the baby. They'll feel
better about themselves and will have a better delivery.
momtosara: It's safe though? Would you need to check with your doctor
first?
Karyne Steben: Yes. You should always check with their doctor first,
especially if you have a pre-existing condition.
Bonita: I would ask, as follow up to sara, how do you get started if
you are just beginning to exercise now?
ThreeSweetGirls: If you do not exercise before you are pregnant, is
this video safe to use? Do you just need to use in moderation at
first?
Karyne Steben: Yes, it's safe to use. The video is made to meet the
needs of all level of exercisers.
ThreeSweetGirls: Whew! Good.
Jules, moderator: Can you tell us how the video shows exercises
adaptations for all level of conditions?
Karyne Steben: While there is are exercises for normal level, there is
also an icon on the top of the screen with two other versions of that
same exercises for beginners and advanced.
Jules, moderator: It's very nicely made.
ThreeSweetGirls: How often do you need to use the video? How many
times a week and for how long?
Karyne Steben: Three times a week is really good. Of course, if you
feel like a hundred bucks, do it every day! Follow your mood. If you
don't feel like exercising, do the stretching part to keep your body
flexible and to keep in touch with yourself.
ThreeSweetGirls: Thank you, Karyne.
Karyne Steben: You're welcome.
Bonita: Hello, Karyne. My baby is now 6-months-old. I had intended to
start walks again after pregnancy I had gestational diabetes while
pregnant and walked every day. Now we are back in the rainy weather
now, so walking would be hard to do. What would you recommend for
after pregnancy - both right after pregnancy, but also in my case,
where it's been a few months since the birth. I am having upper/mid-
back pain still and that is what is bothering me the most at this
point. I'm still breastfeeding, if that makes a difference.
Karyne Steben: Congratulations on your baby. I will have available
next month a new video called Perfect Postnatal workout at Progressive
Parent website. This is a fun workout that you do using baby as
resistance. I do it with my daughter, Azia. We both love it. It
doesn't feel like work.
Jules, moderator: Now that sounds fun!
Karyne Steben: For your back, in that video, there are a lot of small
exercises to reinforce the abdominal muscles that will protect your
back.
Bonita: Is there a post pregnancy section on the current tape that
would help as well or exercises that I can continue to do?
Karyne Steben: Until my video comes out, you can get a lot of good
stretching in my first video. All these exercises are appropriate for
someone who is not pregnant.
BonitaM: What modifications do you need to do the workout based on
your current weight and age? Would you just start at the beginner pace
and go from there or is there something special you should do?
HostMissyJ: Ugh. Those are depressing questions, although good ones.
Karyne Steben: When you follow the tape, there is going to be an icon
showing you the same exercises in a modified version. One is for a
beginner and the other for an advanced person. There are 3 choices
based on your level. The age and the weight don't matter as long as
you have a doctor's approval and you don't go where you are not
comfortable.
Bonita: Thank you, Karyne.
Brizi: What is a good exercise routine for me? Friday I'll be 12 weeks
with twins and I was wondering is a good exercise for me?
Karyne Steben: Yes, but of course, you should get a doctor's approval
for any exercises. The exercises in my video are good for multiples
pregnancy as well. It's never too late to start exercising.
lakhisis: Is the workout to help you get back into shape after
pregnancy or help you have an easier delivery?
Jules, moderator: I sure noticed a difference between the pregnancies
/ deliveries when I was doing chores and working on the farm and the
one I was on bed rest.
Karyne Steben: It helps both. According to the American College of
Gynecologists exercise: Gives you energy, Improves your mood, Gives
you muscle tone, Improves strength and endurance, Tones your lower
body to handle the demands of labor and birth, Increases muscle tone
to make it easier to lose weight after your baby is born.
lakhisis: Wow. Thanks.
Robin: Oh neat! Actually, my questions have NOTHING to do with the
video. I'm just snoopy. How are you enjoying the baby? And what was it
like to be a performer when you were a kid?
hostMissyJ: LOL! Now, you are not being nosy! Just, um, curious!
Robin: Ah, thanks, Missy.
Karyne Steben: I am in love and everything is going fine. Azia, 4-
months-old, is smiling and laughing all the time. I started to perform
when I was 16-years-old all over the world with the Cirque du Soleil.
It was challenging but really fun experience.
hostMissyJ: My question is on motivation. That to me is the hardest
part especially during pregnancy while battling *morning sickness* (an
oxymoron if I've EVER heard one!), being exhausted from the endless
trips to the bathroom, or just plain uncomfortable. (I do actually
love being pregnant!) Any advice for inspiring the motivation to
exercise?
Karyne Steben: I never thought I could stay in shape and do this until
now. 2 months after Azia was born, to my surprise, I was back on the
trapeze. No one could believe I had a 2-month-old baby at all.
hostMissyJ: Wow, Karyne! That is great!
Karyne Steben: Doing exercise will help reduce the morning sickness
feeling. I understand that some days it is harder to get moving, but
you will feel much better after exercising. Trust me.
hostMissyJ: Thanks, Karyne! It is just the getting started that I drag
out. I do feel better after exercising, normally. I've been lazy
lately, though.
lakhisis: Were you actually performing in front of an audience so soon
after giving birth? Was it really difficult?
Karyne Steben: Yes, 1800 people, four shows a week at the Bellagio
Hotel.
lakhisis: Wow!
Karyne Steben: Going back to work was easier than I was expecting it
to be. I thank myself for working out while pregnant.
lakhisis: Back to motivation -- do you usually schedule a time to
exercise or wait until you feel like it?
Karyne Steben: I schedule but I follow my instincts and my moods and
feelings. I do schedule it.
Mish: Is there any good exercises to help build up the stomach muscles
after having a c-section? And any good exercises to do before that
might help? I'm having another scheduled c-section and never got that
flab away from the first one.
Jules, moderator: I don't think that's exclusive to c-sections.
Mish: I can't get that flab from hanging over my c-section scar. I
would like a tummy tuck but need a cheaper way of getting something
done with it.
Jules, moderator: Yep. This would be a more economical way to go!
Karyne Steben: In the video, all the abdominal exercises will
definitely help to recuperate from a C-Section. After a C-Section you
have to wait longer to let the muscle heal before you start exercising
and get a doctor's permission. My second video will show more answers.
There will be more modified exercises for C-Section patients.
Karyne Steben: Improving posture will be enough to lose that little
flap. In the video there are tips for helping to improve the posture.
Robin: Your next video -- on baby and mom exercises, how does Azia
like them? Is it fun for you both? And can you tell us when and where
we'll be able to get it.
Karyne Steben: We both love it. It is a precious time we spend
together. I don't realize I am working out when I am exercising with
her. You can find information on the video at the Progressive Parent
website. In a month you can get the Perfect postnatal video at the
same website.
Mish: Cool Karyne, that sounds great, are your videos available in
Canada?
Karyne Steben: Yes. They are available all over the world.
Robin: Thanks. I thought it might be fun since babies seem to enjoy
going up in the air.
Karyne Steben: Yes that is true. Especially mine because I am a
trapeze artist!
Jules, moderator: Thanks, Karyne, for chatting with us tonight! Do you
have any thoughts you'd like to leave with us?
Karyne Steben: It was my pleasure. Thanks for giving me the time to do
so.
Jules, moderator: We enjoyed having you!
Robin: Yes, thanks for sharing. Your baby sounds wonderful!
lakhisis: Thank you!
hostMissyJ: Thanks so much Karyne for sharing with us! Come back
again!
=======================================================================
PARTING QUOTE
=======================================================================
"Behind each perilous leap there is a purpose, an intention,
an individual, an emotion."
- Guy Caron and Franco Dragone, 1992 Nouvelle
Experience programme (at the Mirage)
=======================================================================
NEXT ISSUE...
=======================================================================
Now that "Fire Within" has concluded in Canada, and our episode-by-
episode synopses complete... what next? Plenty! Our next issue will
continue Sound with the Techie Geek, begin a series on The Houses of
Cirque by the vacationing Grand Tour master and more! Find our next
issue in February 2003!
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!
=======================================================================
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
=======================================================================
Fascination! is a monthly newsletter, available only through sub-
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=======================================================================
COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER
=======================================================================
"Fascination!" is Ricky Russo, Keith Johnson, Paul Roberts, Jen
Waldman and Wayne Leung.
"Fascination! Newsletter" Copyright (c) 2002 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.
