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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 #30e ".com { delete } EXIT @ www Shift .com" February 2004
=======================================================================
We're off and running again!
February 1st marks the 1-year anniversary of the United States' Space
Shuttle Columbia accident. I was in Italy at the time and just
couldn't fathom the shuttle "blowing up" upon re-entry, as my mom had
told me via telephone. At first, being the space nut I am, I didn't
believe it. Being in Europe I was so removed from reality that I
refused to. Boy did I receive a shocker when the accident hit the news
-- it was everywhere! Imagine watching replays of the disaster in
Italian or Czech wondering what in the world happened? Now, of course,
we know what happened.
But do we still know what happened in the Cusick case? No. Many fans
already know the story so I won't repeat it here. However, this month
news comes from Cirque du Soleil that they are ready to welcome Cusick
back with open arms, hoping he'll jump in, get cozy and all will be
forgotten. It's no mystery that this ordeal has been one big PR
nightmare for Cirque, having said some of the strangest things
regarding HIV, AIDS and what kind of jobs people infected can have
(dishwashing anyone?). You can read the latest in "Cirque Buzz".
This month Wayne Leung continues his reviews of Cirque du Soleil's
newest 13-episode series -- Solstrom -- (reviewing episodes four and
five) having mixed emotions regarding its content. Was Guy Laliberte
half asleep when this series got greenlit? Find out what Wayne thinks
in this months review... Our musical genius Paul Roberts steps to the
plate, or mic as it were, to bring us an interesting answer to a
question posed on the Cirque du Soleil e-Group: What would a Cirque
Cover Band be like? Paul fantasizes about his imaginary band and
provides a set list of what his band might play. And finally, Keith
Johnson rings in this month with a little insight into where we get
our info, as well as a plea for more!
We do our best to provide you the latest news, rumors and information
regarding our favorite circus, but it's not easy. Fascination!
consists of a small handful of individuals who have real jobs and
can't devote 24 hours-a-day to Cirque news and reviews; thus we need
your help! And if you're interested in joining us in a more permanent
way, let us know and we'll see where you can fit in! Don't forget to
check out the new itinerary information, what's new a Cirque Club and
those quirky Cirque Facts!
Last, but not least, if you missed the chat held with BJ, the
percussionist from Quidam held last August, don't fret. Another one is
planned! An exact date and time have not been chosen yet, but as soon
as one does I will announce it to you. If you missed the last one
don't miss this one! Come chat with BJ on the eve of Quidam's final
showings in Japan!
We hope you enjoy this issue of Fascination!
/// EXPANDED ISSUE: We have two expanded articles to share with you
this month - both in the LA PRESS section. The first is a look at the
technology that Cirque employs in its Las Vegas shows (from the BBC),
and the second is a brief on Cirque's policy regarding HIV positive
acrobats, a policy they changed following the Cusick matter. ///
- Ricky
===========
CONTENTS
===========
* Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings
* CRQ-TV -- Cirque on Television
* CRQ.NET -- Cirque du Soleil Online
* LA PRESSE -- Cirque in the Press [EXPANDED]
* Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information
* Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque
* Télémagik:
"Wind of Mediocrity: Cirque du Soleil's Solstrom, Part 3"
By: Wayne Leung - Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
* Cirque Musique:
"Covers du Cirque"
By: Paul Roberts - Hamilton, Ohio (USA)
* Le Spectateur:
"Where Do You Find All This Stuff?"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
* Cirque Musique:
"A Plethora of Singles"
By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA)
* Parting Quote
* Subscription Information
* Copyright & Disclaimer
=======================================================================
CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
=======================================================================
Cirque To Rehire Cusick
-----------------------
"We are ready to welcome him back," said Renee-Claude Menard,
Cirque du Soleil's communications director, after learning the
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) upheld the
case HIV-positive gymnast Matthew Cusick brought against Cirque.
The EEOC found "reasonable cause" to believe Cirque du Soleil
did engage in discrimination practices when it fired Cusick due
to his HIV-positive status.
Cirque du Soleil summarily dismissed Matthew Cusick, a 32-year
old gymnast from Silver Spring, Maryland; in April 2003 just
days before he was to begin performing live with Mystère. The
dismissal came after he trained a number of months at Cirque's
headquarters in Montreal to fill roles as a catcher in the High-
Bar number and in the Chinese Poles act. Cirque du Soleil's
reasoning for firing Cusick was only that he could prove
hazardous to his colleagues, the audience, and coaches if an
accident occurred on-stage.
Three months later, on July 15, 2003, through Lambda Legal, an
organization formed to advance and protect the civil rights of
people with HIV and AIDS, Cusick made public a complaint stating
that Cirque du Soleil was practicing discrimination. Over the
months the case has been simmering in San Francisco, including
protests at some Cirque du Soleil performances. Cirque, for
their part, not only remained silent, but ignorant of what they
have done.
Details of a settlement, which may include monetary damages,
have yet to be negotiated. It is also uncertain when Mr. Cusick
will begin training and/or performing with Mystère. Cirque du
Soleil stated, however, that there were "no restrictions" placed
on Mr. Cusick on the acts he may appear.
"We're basically saying there are no restrictions now for anyone
with HIV at Cirque," Menard said. "It's been a learning
process.... We're very confident now that the risks are
minimal."
The outcome of the complaint issued by the San Francisco Human
Rights Commission is still pending at press time. An La Times
story suggests that Cirque will be working with the Human Rights
Commission to draft an anti-discrimination policy.
[Source: The Globe and Mail, Reuters, Lambda Legal, LA Times;
Ricky Russo]
Accident on Triple Trapeze
--------------------------
On January 31, 2004, audiences partaking in Cirque du Soleil's
Varekai received a particular thrill they never imagined or
wanted to see: a perilous fall from an acrobat. During the
Triple Trapeze routine, Cinthia Beranek, a 28-year-old artist
from Brazil, lost her grip on the trapeze apparatus and fell to
the stage floor. The act was immediately halted, and paramedics
came to Beranek's side. An early 25-minute break was announced.
It has been reported Beranek is doing well and has suffered a
broken wrist, which will keep her out of the Triple Trapeze
number for some time. [Source: CirqueClub; Ricky Russo]
Solstrom's USA Premiere
-----------------------
Mark your Cirque calendars -- Solstrom, Cirque du Soleil's
latest 13-episode series, will premiere to audiences in the
United States on Sunday, April 11th at 7:00pm on BRAVO. [Source:
Steve Santos; Ricky Russo]
A Cirque du Submarine
---------------------
It was reported by Fascination! months ago that a rumor cropped
up concerning Cirque du Soleil and the Beatles possibly coming
together to turn the psychedelic movie "Yellow Submarine" into a
stage production. That rumor has reared its head once again;
this time as a replacement for the shutdown Sigfried and Roy
show at the Mirage.
There are no real details on this project yet, but according to
Reuters, "Beatles' company, Apple Corp. Inc., confirmed in 2001
that a Cirque show in London was under consideration, but Beatle
George Harrison, who was friends with Cirque Chief Executive Guy
Laliberte, died shortly after that announcement...".
Alan Feldman, and MGM Mirage spokesman, said it was "fairly
likely" that Cirque du Soleil would produce a show for the
vacant Sigfried & Roy Theater. It also has been rumored that
"Hairspray", a Broadway musical that swept the 2003 Tony Awards,
may claim the theater. "Hairspray" would join "Mama Mia!" at
Mandalay Bay, as the next Broadway-style show to hit the strip.
There are already rumors of a "Phantom of the Opera"
installation. More as it unfolds. [Source: Reuters, Las Vegas
Sun, Wayne Leung; Ricky Russo]
Cirque Outsources Merchandise
-----------------------------
According to a Press Release issued January 26, 2004, Cirque du
Soleil and Global Icons, a premiere licensing and brand
merchandising agency, have entered into a partnership "to
establish a comprehensive lifestyle merchandising program based
upon the celebrated creativity and sensationalism of their
resident and touring productions." The program will focus on
developing products that embody the "invoke, provoke, evoke"
credo of Cirque du Soleil.
Global Icons will create "awe-inspiring collections in a number
of different product categories, including home decor, toys &
interactive, tabletop, jewelry & accessories, social expression,
and gift & collectibles." It appears we are going to see a lot
more new product from Cirque du Soleil in the future! For more
information about Global Icons, visit their website at <
www.globalicons.com >. [Source: BusinessWire, Wayne Leung; Ricky
Russo]
Another Book on the Way?
------------------------
It happened again - another cryptic reference to a forthcoming
Cirque du Soleil book on Amazon.com. This time the title is
"The Unexpected Odyssey: 20 Years of Cirque du Soleil" by Tony
Babinski. They list it being published (again) by Harry N.
Abrams, with an ISBN # of 081094636X, and a publishing date of
September 2004. We had heard from sources that there were
several plans for the 20th (including, now we hear, a 20-hour
party at headquarters in Montreal) though they dared not say
more because there were other people close by. This could be
the first concrete evidence of their plans.
Or is it? We again called our friends at Abrams in New York.
While they had a shadowy reference to the title in one of their
databases, they couldn't confirm anything else. Besides, said
our source, they're still planning the spring releases (May and
June), and haven't even gotten to thinking about Fall! So
things could change. A nice retrospective book for Cirque's 20th
would be nice! We'll put in a calendar reminder for May and ask
Abrams again; if we find out anything we'll let you know.
[Source: Amazon.com, Harry N. Abrams; Keith Johnson]
Have You Got The Talent?
------------------------
As part of Cirque's Varekai appearance in Orange County, they
are holding what they call "Cirque's Amateur Talent Contest in
Orange County." It will be held on Saturday, February 21 from
11am to 2pm in the Bloomingdale's Courtyard of Fashion Island
Mall (401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA, 92660).
During the Contest 40 lucky contestants will have the change to
perform before a Cirque du Soleil talent scout. 20 of the slots
have been reserved for members of CirqueClub.
They are looking for jugglers, magicians, strong men,
contortionists, physical comedians, hand-to-hand artists, hula-
hoop artists, and rola bola artists. There's a registration
form up at < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/
en/talentcontest/default.htm >. A Cirque representative will
call if your act is chosen.
You'll have two minutes, and can bring music on CD. There are
some restrictions - no fire, weapons, knives, dangerous objects,
sexuality, or nudity - Janet Jackson need not apply! Best of
all, the public can watch! Check it out and let us know how it
went. [Sources: Cirque du Soleil, Fashion Island; Keith Johnson]
Who Wrote That Music?
---------------------
We were pleased to see Viktor Kee doing his "Dralion" juggling
routine in the "Howling Wind" episode of Solstrom. It was
nicely covered and included his "Kee Mama" music (which hasn't
been commercially released). But we were most interested in the
musical credit! Fans have long suggested Viktor had special
music created for him that he brought in to Cirque from outside.
While we were right about the name, "Kee Mama," it turns out we
were wrong about the composer - Dralion's musical composer
Violaine Corradi! The credits also reveal the arranger of the
song to be Claude Chaput, a former bandleader for Quidam. Hey
CirqueClub, how about putting up Viktors' music as a Goodie?!
[Sources: Solstrom; Keith Johnson]
Sir Guy Laliberté?
------------------
Not quite, but close! On January 27, 2004, the Order of Canada
was bestowed upon Cirque co-founder and president Guy Laliberte.
The Order of Canada is a great honor recognizing outstanding
achievement in various fields. There are three levels of
membership: Member, Officer and Companion (Companion being the
highest). Mr. Laliberte was inducted as an Officer for his
achievement in the Arts. The honors are handed out at a ceremony
by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson (the Queen's
representative in Canada) at a ceremony in Rideau Hall, the
official residence of the Governor General in Ottawa.
Daniel Gauthier, the other co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, was
also honored as an Officer within the Order of Canada. Guy
Laliberte is already a member of the Order of the province of
Québec, inducted as a Chevalier de l'Ordre national de Québec
(C.Q.) in 1997.
You can learn more at the Governor General's website:
< http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4110 >.
[Source: Governor General; Wayne Leung]
Like Some Wine With That?
-------------------------
We talked last issue about the Las Vegas-based Rocky Horror
convention, "Cirque du Rockeil," and how they were being sent
cease and desist orders by Cirque for trademark infringement.
Well, we stumbled upon another one (here's hoping the Cirque
lawyers aren't looking). It's wine! But before you read the
next paragraph, can you guess the name?
Times up - it's "Cirque du Rose"! Produced by Snoqualmie
Vineyards from the Columbia Valley of Washington State, it's a
100% Cabernet Sauvignon Rose wine bottled in 2002. We found
some at our local Top Foods (Haggen) for around $7.00 per
bottle. Its dark taste goes well with fruits, cheeses, grilled
chicken, or pasta. It has some cherry and blueberry aroma, and
includes hints of strawberry and watermelon flavors.
If you'd like to see some info on the wine, check out: <
http://www.stimson-lane.com/materials/sm_snoqualmie
/pos/pos_sellsheets/sno-pdf/SNO2002CirqueSlsSht.pdf > for a
brochure, and < http://www.stimson-lane.com/products/
factsheets/Snoqualmie/pdf/SNQ01SauvignonBlanc.pdf > for a fact
sheet. [Sources: Top Foods, Stimson-Lane, our palettes; Keith
Johnson]
More Former Cirquers Invade Teatro Zinzanni
-------------------------------------------
Teatro Zinzanni, the Seattle and San Francisco-based dinner and
theatrical showcase, has a new cast for its Seattle show "Dinner
and Dreams." And a couple of former Cirquers are back, with two
new ones added. Les Voila (Soizick Hebert and Johnny Filion),
once part of Dralion, are back with the show. And added to the
cast are Karyne and Sarah Steben, the identical twins whose
trapeze act graced Saltimbanco and O. They come fresh off their
acting roles as Siamese Twins in the HBO drama Carnivale. But
get your tickets fast; this cast is only together for a limited
time. A brand-new edition debuts in Seattle in May (sadly,
before CirqueCon Vancouver 2004). For more info, check out: <
http://dreams.zinzanni.org/ >, click on "The Show". [Sources:
Teatro Zinzanni; Keith Johnson]
=======================================================================
CRQ-TV -- CIRQUE ON TELEVISION!
=======================================================================
* CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: SOLSTROM
--------------------------
Network: CBC - Canada
Website: http://www.cbc.ca/cirquedusoleil/
-- Sunday's at 8:00pm
Network: Radio-Canada - Canada (French Canadian)
Website: http://www.radio-canada.ca/util/urljs.html?/
television/emissions/fiches/solstrom.shtml
-- Wednesday's at 8:00pm
Network: Bravo - United States
Website: http://www.bravo.tv/
-- Premiere's Sunday, April 11th at 7:00pm
-- Airs Sunday's at 7:00pm Eastern Time
* CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: FIRE WITHIN
-----------------------------
Network: Vitaya - Belgium (Europe)
Website: http://www.vitaya.be/
-- Thursday's at 9:00pm
Network: Odyssey Television - Australia
Website: http://www.odysseytelevision.com/html/default.asp
-- 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)
-------------------------
The CirqueClub News page continues to be rather quiet while the
Solstrom section expands weekly as each new episode is broadcast by
the CBC. But the one new article is quite surprising! It features
the results of an art assignment issued to students at Port Moody
Secondary School in the Vancouver area. Their art teacher asked them
to design posters for Quidam's Vancouver run. 16 of the posters are
displayed on the site, with CirqueClub members asked to vote on their
favorite (no deadline has been given, so check 'em out now!). The
winner receives an evening at Quidam, along with a backstage tour.
How fun!!
Whenever CirqueClub reaches out and covers things happening in the
"fan" community (whether it be a wedding or a poster design contest -
something they don't have "control" over or initiate) it's a Good
Thing. It can be hard for "executives" to understand what an impact
it has on the entire fan community when the "entity" points at
something and says, "Look at how these folks are inspired by what we
produce. Check this out, it's pretty cool." (But that's why
CirqueClub (and to an extent Fascination!) are there - to keep
reminding them!)
Over on the Solstrom side, the goodies and information continue to
pile up. Playing the challenge each week unlocks at least two video
clips (and occasional music clips) for each episode. Fun stuff! And
there's also a new "Valentine's Day"-oriented wallpaper, a red-hued
affair featuring the tissue artists from La Nouba.
At the Boutique
(By: Ricky Russo)
-----------------
Cirque du Soleil adds Zumanity to its online Cirque Store this month
with only three items yet these provide but a mere taste of what's
available at the Cirque du Soleil Boutique located within the confines
of the New York-New York Hotel Casino.
1) Zumanity Shower Gel - $19.00 US
Purchase: < http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/ishgel.html >
An evening of loving caresses in the shower or bath can only be
enhanced by this shower gel with vitamin E and made from vegetable
oils. It gently washes the skin and stirs up passion with its
subtle flavour of exotic fruits that awakens the senses and leaves
no afthertaste as you and your partner take turn kissing...
2) Zumanity Strip Chocolate Game - $29.00 US
Purchase: < http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/istchga.html >
Strip chocolate makes a game out of dessert. It is a deliciously
satisfying way to get maximum enjoyment out of a small amount of
chocolate. You will want to play it again and again. Nobody loses
in strip chocolate. Box Contains: 1.5 oz original sin chocolate
dessert topping, 1.5 oz wild cherry chocolate dessert topping, game
board, 2 brushes, 2 game pieces, die, game cards, and an
instruction sheet.
3) Zumanity Massage Oil - $19.00 US
Purchase: < http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/imaoil.html >
Enjoy the pleasures of giving or receiving a sensual, erotic
massage using our exclusive blend of cold press oil made from
almond oil, grapeseed oil, sesame seed oil, avocado oil, vitamine
E, essential oil safflower oil, extracts of ylang-ylang and
yohimbe. These oil were carefully selected for their stimulating
and energizing qualities. They slide smoothly and easily over the
skin. No oily sensation! Plus, an exotic fragrance will bring your
senses to peak pleasure...
4) Parade of Colors Book - $15.00 US
Purchase: <http://store.yahoo.com/cirquestore/paradeofcolors.html>
Join the parade! A kaleidoscope of colors and magical characters
awaits you in the enchanting world of Cirque du Soleil. Meet the
baron, the nostalgic old birds, the angels, the water nymphs, the
Bronx, the urban worms, and more. Watch as colors and characters
blend and clash, teeter and totter, appear and disappear! This
spirited introduction to color will pique the imagination of Cirque
du Soleil fans of all ages. Written by Patrisha Robertson. 32
Pages.
=======================================================================
LA PRESS -- LINKS TO THE NEWS [EXPANDED]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------
"Computers Power Cirque Spectacle"
From: The BBC
-----------------------------------------------
BBC ClickOnline's Ian Hardy goes behind the scenes at the Cirque Du
Soleil show, O, in Las Vegas to see how computers help create the
performance.
In Las Vegas audiences flock to see the show O at the Bellagio Hotel.
Many visitors consider it a spectacle that is unrivalled anywhere on
the Strip, but few realize just how much technology is packed into the
production. For 90 minutes, acrobats, synchronized swimmers and high
divers jump, fall and sink into a deep pool of water. The front stage
area is merely a tiny fraction of the entire building, which houses a
huge amount of well hidden, hi-tech machinery.
"Just to operate the show's equipment itself requires probably 28
different computers," said Tony Ricotta, Cirque Du Soleil's operations
manager."This show was designed on computer, laid out prior to
construction on computer. This is, from top to bottom, a computer-
generated show."
DIGITAL SOUND
"The performers don't have to be very computer literate. They get to
be artists, we really don't want to take that away from them" - Tony
Ricotta, Cirque Du Soleil
After six years in production, the routinely sold out show runs like a
finely-tuned engine, yet thrives on the unexpected. The sophisticated
technology can follow along with a perfect routine, but at a moment's
notice can be re-programmed to allow any act to repeat a death-defying
leap should it go wrong. The lights and music can all be altered in a
split second.
"The entire sound console is digital now," explained Mr. Ricotta. "We
have 11 live musicians, we record them and we can then sample their
entire performance, and save that digitally. If we need to, if an
artist gets sick for instance, we can reproduce their performance."
The O Theatre was built at the same time as the Bellagio Hotel, but
designers quickly realized that unlike the rest of the hotel, it had a
very specific problem, because of the vast volume of water on stage.
Without a newly developed computerized climate control system, fog
would have enveloped the audience.
"We were able to develop, along with the theatre designers, a very
sophisticated system to pull moisture out of the air and redeposit it
back into the pool, all computer-controlled," said Mr. Ricotta.
"Dampers are opened and closed, heat sensors are placed throughout the
audience to keep them at a comfortable 72 degrees, yet keep the
backstage area at 80 degrees. It's designed to let the moisture and
humidity be reclaimed and brought back into the pool."
UNDERWATER COMMUNICATION
The Cirque Du Soleil cast consists of 82 artists, dozens of stage
hands, and around 20 divers with extra respirators in and around the
pool at any given moment.
The people under the water have to be able to hear the entire show as
clearly as the people above the water, but a perfect solution to this
problem is yet to be discovered.
"Our audio department was working with NASA and the Navy to figure out
how to broadcast low frequencies through our pool," said Mr. Ricotta.
Part of the problem that we have here is that although we can
communicate it has to be really driven. The ideal way would be to use
very low frequencies the way that whales do, and we're trying to work
that out."
O is one of the most tech-heavy productions on the Las Vegas Strip,
but the producers were determined from the outset to ensure that
technology did not interfere with artistry. For all their power, the
computers and computerized systems are all but invisible to the
audience."The performers don't have to be very computer literate. They
get to be artists, we really don't want to take that away from them,"
said Mr Ricotta.
-----------------------------------------------
"Cirque Alters Policy, Avoids Fine"
From: Planet Out
-----------------------------------------------
Cirque du Soleil has officially changed its hiring policies so that
all positions within the company, including acrobatic positions, are
open to people with HIV, said Larry Brinkin, an official from the San
Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC), on Wednesday.
The change comes on the heels of a ruling last week by the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission that Cirque illegally discriminated
against gymnast Matthew Cusick, who was fired by the company because
he has HIV.
Brinkin has been working closely with Cirque executives since HRC
filed its own complaint against the company last November. Because
discriminating against people with HIV violates San Francisco's non-
discrimination ordinance, and Cirque rents city property for its
shows, HRC had grounds to proceed against the company.
"It is the commission's responsibility to ensure that people with HIV
have the opportunity to seek and find employment with Cirque du Soleil
in San Francisco for any position for which they are qualified,"
Brinkin wrote in the complaint.
"They have satisfied our concerns, and we will not be pursing any
sanctions against them or pursing any further investigation," Brinkin
told the Gaylifeuk/PlanetOut.com Network.
Had Cirque not changed its policies, HRC could have terminated the
company's current contract with the city, barred Cirque from renting
city property for future shows, and levied fines against them.
"I'm so gratified and pleased with Cirque's response," Brinkin said.
"It's unusual for a company that has action taken against them to be
so honest and forthright and willing to change their minds."
In a meeting last December, Brinkin and other HRC staff presented
current medical and scientific data about HIV transmission to top
Cirque officials, including Vice President Marc Gagnon.
"You could see minds changing during the meeting," Brinkin said.
"This man [Gagnon] said that after our meeting he really looked at
everything in a different way, "Brinkin said. "It really opened his
mind."
Cirque officials incorporated into their new hiring policy many of the
protected categories San Francisco includes in its non-discrimination
ordinances, including HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity,
domestic partner status, weight and height.
Cirque's policy is now "one of the best, certainly from a private
company, and one the most comprehensive in terms of protected
categories and the language of the statement," Brinkin said. "It's an
excellent, terrific policy."
San Francisco's complaint against Cirque will officially end after the
company meets with Matthew Cusick to negotiate a settlement. After
last week's EEOC ruling, Cirque offered to reinstate Cusick, but the
two parties have yet to meet to discuss details.
"I'm very proud of Matthew for what he did," Brinkin said. "Not
everybody has the courage or the gumption or the energy to fight back
against discrimination. He did, and it's the Matthew Cusicks of the
world who make things change."
=======================================================================
ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
=======================================================================
Note that any information in brackets [] is UN-official information
and subject to change.
[Touring Shows]
Alegría:
* Miami, Florida -- Bicentennial Park
Dates: Jan 9, 2004 to Feb 8, 2004
* St. Petersburg, Florida -- Tropicana Field
Dates: Feb 19, 2004 to Mar 7, 2004
[May extend to March 14, 2004]
* Atlanta, Georgia -- Cumberland Galleria
Dates: Mar 25, 2004 to Apr 11, 2004
[May extend to Apr 18, 2004]
* New York City, New York -- Randall's Island Park
Dates: May 6, 2003 to June 6, 2004
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- Avenue of the Arts
Dates: July 8, 2004 to July 25, 2004
* Toronto, Ontario -- Ontario Place
Dates: Aug 19, 2004 to Sep 12, 2004
[* Japan
Possible Dates: Oct, 2004 to Nov 2005]
Dralion:
* London, United Kingdom -- Royal Albert Hall
Dates: Jan 9, 2004 to Feb 15, 2004
* Amsterdam, Netherlands -- Next to Amsterdam Arena (P2)
Dates: Feb 27, 2004 to May 2, 2004
* Vienna, Austria -- Prater - Rotundenplatz
Dates: Jun 3, 2004 to Jul 11, 2004
* Antwerp, Belgium -- Gedempte Zuiderdokken
Dates: Aug 12, 2004, to Sep 19, 2004
Quidam:
* Tokyo, Japan
Dates: Dec 24, 2004 to Apr 4, 2004
* Vancouver, BC, Canada -- Concord Pacific Place
Dates: May 6, 2004 to May 30, 2004
[May extend to June 13, 2004]
* Calgary, Alberta, Canada -- Currie Barracks
Dates: June 24, 2004 to July 18, 2004
[May extend to August 1, 2004]
Saltimbanco:
* Seville, Spain -- Recinto Ferial
Dates: Jan 16, 2004 to Feb 22, 2004
* Lyon, France -- Clos Layat
Dates: Mar 5, 2004 to Mar 21, 2004
* Milan, Italy -- Area Spettacoli di Milano
Dates: Apr 29, 2004 to May 16, 2004
* Marseille, France -- TBA
* Rome, Italy -- TBA
* Lille, France -- TBA
(Note: Basel, Switzerland has been removed from the itinerary)
Varekai:
* Orange County, California -- Orange Co Fair Grounds
Dates: Jan 16, 2004 to Feb 29, 2004
[May extend to March 7, 2004]
* San Diego, California -- Qualcomm Stadium
Dates: Mar 18, 2004 to Apr 4, 2004
[May extend to Apr 18, 2004]
* Phoenix, Arizona -- Westworld of Scottsdale
Dates: Apr 29, 2004 to May 16, 2004
[May Extend to May 23, 2004]
* Denver, Colorado -- Pepsi Center
Dates: Jun 3, 2004 to Jun 27, 2004
[May extend to July 11, 2004]
* Boston, Massachusetts -- Suffolk Downs
Dates: Jul 27, 2004 to Aug 22, 2004
[May extend to Sep 5, 2004]
* Washington, DC -- TBA
[Possible Dates: Sep 16, 2004 to Oct 24, 2004 /
Tickets may go on sale Mid Mar, 2004]
* Dallas, Texas -- Fair Park
Dates: Nov 10, 2004 to Dec 5, 2004
[May Extend to Dec 19, 2004]
[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:
-- March 14th - 17th -- August 22nd - 25th
-- May 2nd - 5th -- October 17th - 20th
-- June 20th - July 5th -- December 5th - 13th
Mystère:
* Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm
* Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday
* Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA)
* 2004 Dark Dates:
-- April 6th, 9th -- October 5th, 8th
-- June 4th - 8th -- December 3rd - 7th
-- August 3rd, 6th -- December 10th - 14th
"O":
* Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:30pm
* Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark Monday/Tuesday
* Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA)
* 2004 Dark Dates:
-- April 19th - 27th -- October 11th - 13th
-- June 21st - 23rd -- December 6th - 21st
-- August 9th - 17th
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:
-- April 18th - 21st -- October 10th - 13th
-- June 6th - 12th -- November 28th - 30th
-- August 15th - 18th -- December 1st - 20th
=======================================================================
DIDYAKNOW? -- FACTS ABOUT CIRQUE
=======================================================================
-- Did you know that many Cirque du Soleil albums reached the top 10
in the World Music Chart? Yes, "Alegría" #2 (1994), "Mystère" #6
(1995), "Quidam" #4 (1997), "O" #6. (2000), "Dralion" #3 (2001), "La
Nouba" #6, and "Varekai" #6 (2002).
-- Did you know that Cirque du Soleil as a whole reached the top 10 in
the Top World Artist Category? Yes, it achieved #6 in 1994, #7 in 2000
and 2001.
-- Did you know that the set for Alegría was built to express the idea
of a changing world? According to Cirque "the Big Top has been
transformed into the King's court. An enormous dome overhangs the
stage, which is surrounded by diamond-shaped paving stones, and
protects the occupants of the palace as if they were in a fortified
castle. Four huge masts support the dome, bringing to mind the heavy
chains of a drawbridge. A raised platform serves as the minstrels'
balcony."
-- Did you know that the Mystère Theater at Treasure Island in Las
Vegas has a sound system for the hearing-impaired?
=======================================================================
TÉLÉMAGIK:
"Wind of Mediocrity: Cirque du Soleil's Solstrom, Part 3"
By: Wayne Leung - Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
=======================================================================
As I continue to watch the new episodes of Cirque du Soleil's variety
series, Solstrom, I so desperately want to say that I love them, that
I find them spectacular and that they are as well crafted as Cirque's
live shows. Unfortunately, when I sit down to write these reviews I
feel like American Idol judge Simon Cowell. Now I'm not the type to
criticize simply for the sake of criticism; when Cirque shows me a
spectacular, well-crafted piece of art I can easily overlook any minor
flaws in the execution or staging and enjoy the final product.
However, when it's something as half-hearted as Solstrom it awakens
the inner critic in me. Instead of a show with a few minor
imperfections here and there the entire series is pretty much flawed
and I have to strain to find the few moments that actually work
despite Solstrom's ill-conceived trappings. I know how good Cirque du
Soleil can potentially be and it upsets me when the company isn't up
to par. As a fan I have to admit I feel like I've been sold-out with
this series.
Yes, I completely understand that the target market for the series is
the "family" audience, but last I checked most families include at
least one adult member. The presentation of this series thus far has
been so cornball and amateurish that it will completely irritate
anybody above the age of four. Even children realize when they're
being played down to and are resentful of the fact; seasoned Cirque du
Soleil fans will be even more resentful. I have to question Cirque's
choice in targeting the already saturated children's entertainment
market. Kids don't have the big bucks to buy tickets to Cirque's
revenue-generating live shows, and parents are unlikely to shell out
if the only impression they have of the company is from this ad-hoc
series. Who would pay $75 to $100+ per ticket to see Barney and
Friends live? That's about the intellectual and artistic level of
Solstrom. Instead of promoting Cirque's live shows Solstrom could
very well tarnish their reputation. One has to wonder if Guy
Laliberté fell asleep at the switch when approving this one. What
happened to the firebrand critic who in "Fire Within" said things
like, "I won't have six people in an act unless it makes me go 'wow'?"
Unfortunately, Solstrom has never made me go "wow" it mostly makes me
go "yawn" when I'm not grinding my teeth in utter disdain at how
embarrassingly awful parts of the series are.
Episode 4: "Ghostly Wind"
(Original air date: January 18, 2004)
-------------------------------------
By the fourth episode viewers pretty much know what to expect from
Solstrom. The series relies on the same formula for every installment
and as such is becoming increasingly predictable and monotonous. The
calibre of the featured acts fluctuates but the artistic presentation
of the series remains consistently poor. "Ghostly Wind's" hackneyed
storyline features some contrived nonsense about ghosts (Stephan
Kreiss and Petra Massey) wreaking havoc on a costume warehouse and its
night watchman (Aitor Basauri Barruetabena), causing a conflict
between the security guard and his disbelieving supervisor (Toby
Park). Regardless, the narrative structure is more of an obstruction
to the show than a well thought-out context. All of the
aforementioned actors are from the British comedy troupe Spymonkey
currently featured in Zumanity, where their antics provide welcome
comic relief. In Solstrom, however, their interstitial segues are
nothing more than idle filler; they are completely unfunny and neither
amusing nor intellectually engaging.
The solar wind character for this episode is Dralion's Âme Force
played enchantingly by Cirque vocal coach and former performer Laur
Fugère. This is perhaps the first instance in the entire series where
a solar wind character is actually used effectively. Laur accentuates
the music of the episode with her exotic vocalizations and plays the
role with a coy, ethereal charm in her fleeting moments of screen
time.
Without exception Solstrom's strongest acts are those taken directly
from the live stage shows of the Cirque du Soleil. "Ghostly Wind"
opens powerfully with Isabelle Chassé's Aerial Contortion in Silk from
Quidam. This being one of my all-time favourite Cirque du Soleil acts
I was very apprehensive about seeing it featured in Solstrom, as I was
almost certain its presentation would somehow be butchered. Gladly,
save for a few annoying cuts to the clown character and one intrusive
and completely unnecessary interjection from good ol' Fogus Punch (the
mad scientist/narrator character), the act remains intact and is
accompanied by Laur's stirring rendition of "Let Me Fall" Skill for
skill and moment for moment the Aerial Contortion act is almost
exactly the same as when it was filmed for the Quidam DVD. Though the
camera work and cinematography for this particular act is the best
ever featured in Solstrom it comes nowhere near the level of the
masterful and evocative filming of Quidam Live in Amsterdam five years
ago.
Later in the show the second adapted act is presented; Dralion's
Ballet on Lights. Whereas the featured act from Quidam is performed
almost identically to its previous filming, the Ballet on Lights act
from Dralion is very different. Since the filming of Dralion in 2000
this act, where dancers perform en pointe on an array of light bulbs,
has undergone a complete makeover. The costumes are different, the
choreography has changed and the skills are dramatically improved.
The difficulty level of the skills; towers, balancing and contortion,
is heightened. The act is now quite spectacular. Being one of
Dralion's few truly innovative acts it is fortunate that this new
incarnation gets its turn to shine in front of the lens.
Of the non-Cirque acts the standout of this episode is the contortion
number presented by Vladimir Gagarine from the Academy of Tula.
Presenting an act he refined for the 2003 edition of the Piste aux
Espoirs international festival for circus artists, the young Russian
gracefully contorts his flexible body into many exotic figures. The
act is presented with a middle-eastern flavour in its music, costume
treatment and style of movement, and with its artistry it is truer in
form to Cirque du Soleil. It presents contortion in an artistic
context instead of mindlessly going for the shock value and gross-out
factor of some of Solstrom's previous contortion acts.
The remainder of this episode's acts never attain this level of
refined artistry. Transformation is a magic act featuring David Maas
and Dania Kaseeva. Dania almost instantly changes costumes before our
eyes a total of 10 times in the three-minute act. Though I'm sure
this act is impressive live on stage, in the day and age of digital
effects the grandeur of the illusion fails to register on television.
The cute Elena Tselishtcheva of the Great Moscow State Circus performs
a Hoops act. The performer whirls a myriad of hula-hoops around her
body, keeping several going at once. This act is similar to the one
performed by Elena Lev of Alegría and Quidam fame minus the
choreography, contortion and rhythmic gymnastic elements.
There is a very brief interlude featuring a troupe of dancers,
choreographed by Marcelo Juarez Villa, creating a scene from a
Brazilian Carnivale. True to the spirit of Carnivale this number is
largely free-style and unstructured.
The Flying Pages, an acrobatic family, closes the episode with a
flying trapeze number. Though the performers are talented the act is
nothing we haven't seen before in dozens of other circus shows and
comes off as blasé without any special music, choreography or costume
treatment.
Somewhere along the way supermodel (and rumored apple of Cirque Co-
Founder Guy Laliberté's eye) Naomi Campbell makes a completely
superfluous cameo in a mock fashion show. And, soon after, another
largely forgettable episode of Solstrom concludes.
Episode 5: "Winds of Courage"
(Original Air Date: January 25, 2004)
-------------------------------------
By the time the fifth installment rolled around I had pretty much
lowered my expectations of the series. Okay, Solstrom is not the
creative and intelligent work of art that I had hoped it would be. I
tried to accept that and move on. By this point I was tuning in
solely to enjoy the few acts from Cirque's live shows. Unfortunately,
the series refused to fulfill even this meager request.
"Winds of Courage" features the largest number of acts in a Solstrom
episode yet (a total of 13). Unfortunately that doesn't mean more
bang for your buck, it just means more of what we don't want and less
of what we do. Thematically the episode is an incoherent mess and the
production values are so cheap they are constantly distracting. I
simply can't enjoy the show because it looks so amateurish and silly.
The costumes are beyond drab and I've seen more impressive sets for
bad high school plays. For the non-Cirque acts there is no
choreography to speak of and the filming is flat and uninspired. The
one semi-creative aspect for this episode is the music composed by
Phillipe Leduc, Mathieu Vanisse and Jean-Charles Desjardins. It is a
mostly-electronic score that alternates between esoteric and video-
gameish. While not spectacular it's just not as bad as the other
elements of the show. For once I agreed with Fogus Punch when he said
"This is degenerating into a cartoon." Though I doubt the line was
intended to be self-referential.
The episode features the spasmodic Patrick Léonard from the Cirque
spin-off troupe Les 7 Doigts de la Main as an arm-chair sports fanatic
who gets sucked through his television set into a comic book version
of the Olympics presided over by the Gentle Giant from "O" (Didier
Antoine). It would seem natural that Cirque would want to pay tribute
to the Olympics and to sports in general but this episode is more of a
mockery. Speaking of "Mochries" fans of Canadian improv comedian
Colin Mochrie of Whose Line is it Anyway will be disappointed to learn
that his much touted "cameo" translates into a mere 15 seconds of
screen time where he wasn't allowed to do anything but mumble
gibberish at the camera as a sportscaster. What a waste of talent!
Another oversight; Montreal has an authentic Olympic Stadium, The Big
'O', a relic of the 1976 Games. It would have been so easy to film
the episode on location to gain a sense of authenticity instead of
using a budget set in a TV studio, which underlines the episode's
artifice.
"Winds of Courage" starts off encouragingly enough with strong
performances by Polynesian Fire Knife dancers Fua'an Faitau and Steven
Silulu and Human Torch Ray Wold (all from "O"). A blink-and-you-miss-
it Spanish Web performance by Marina Bouglione (only one or two
skills) is followed by La Nouba's Igor Arefiev Sr. who performs a
tightrope routine on a tennis net to a Mission Impossible-style score.
This act, along with the remainder of the acts adapted from the live
Cirque shows, are so horribly misplaced, abridged and altered they are
effectively ruined. Juggling by Varekai's Octavio Alegria just isn't
as exciting or impressive without the energy of an audience. Why
would they change an act as powerful as Mystère's Hand to Hand (a new
routine performed by Jarowlaw "Yarek" Marciniak and Dariusz "Darek"
Wronski) with its evocative staging and haunting score and reduce it
to a ridiculous wrestling match? Varekai's Water Meteors (Bin He,
Siguang Li, Junping Yan) and Alegía's Manipulation (Maria Silaeva)
acts are cut down to a fraction of their full length (Maria doesn't
even get to perform the ribbon portion of her rhythmic gymnastic act)
and placed in the hokey context of a medals ceremony. My advice to
Solstrom's production team; if you're going to take acts from Cirque's
live shows, don't alter them! You'll never improve on what was
originally created and you're devaluing them by putting them into
these contrived story lines.
Of the non-Cirque acts featured the highlight of this episode is a
remarkable aerial straps performance by 16-year-old Roman Tomanov.
Already a highly skilled gymnast and aerialist, his performance evoked
images of the aerial routines performed by Anton Chelnokov, Alexandr
Dobrynin and the Atherton Twins, all of whom this young performer can
give a run for their money. While already technically impressive,
Roman's act has the potential to be sublime if properly costumed,
choreographed and scored by Cirque for a live show.
The remainder of the acts are of the slapstick physical comedy variety
of which there is entirely too much in this episode. Pat Léonard
performs part of his "stair dance" on a large foam pillow, the act is
so much more amusing in the context of 7 Doigts where it opens the
show and sets the spontaneous and irreverent tone for the live
performance. In Solstrom it just comes off as childish. Matt Hugues,
"the rebound acrobat" from Circus Oz, invades a diving competition to
perform his juvenile "comedy trampoline" act. And Azimov
Choukhratbek, Dmitrii Khamzin, Abdoullaev Khamdam, Abdoullaev Mourat
and Ulugbek Raimdjanova, a group known as Kung Fu Clowns perform an
asinine mock martial arts display.
Not soon enough, the episode concludes when three Chinese Pole
Acrobats (Paul Herzfeld, Darin Inkster, Sébastien Tardif) scamper up
the poles and become human flags.
My main gripe about Solstrom has been and continues to be that Cirque
completely abandoned its artistic integrity for this series. The
resultant shows are uninspired and boring.
To paraphrase Cirque director Franco Dragone; you cannot capture the
live show on film without betraying its artistry. Cirque's film and
television projects have historically been their weakest link. The
brilliant creativity of the company's live performances has not
translated well onto the screen. Cirque's Imax film "Journey of Man,"
though visually impressive, suffered from many of Solstrom's problems;
contrived storylines, ineffective character use and unnecessary,
interruptive narration. Creating innovative television and film
projects shouldn't be difficult for a company with the resources that
Cirque has. It's simply a matter of applying the same standards to
the media projects as the live shows. If subject to the same scrutiny
it should, in theory, be possible to create a film or television
experience with the same attention to detail and artistry.
Another performing arts troupe whose humble beginnings as street
artists gave way to a meteoric rise to international acclaim which
parallel's Cirque's is the rhythm/percussion/dance ensemble "Stomp"
whose performers use everyday items such as broomsticks and dustbins
to perform acts of intricate rhythm and choreography. I've seen this
highly talented troupe perform live multiple times, and in the past
few years I have also been particularly impressed with the quality of
Stomp's media projects. In 1999 the troupe filmed a special for HBO
entitled "Stomp Out Loud" on location in New York City. The special
is a hybrid featuring acts filmed during Stomp's live shows intermixed
with original sequences filmed exclusively for television. In this
special Stomp used the medium of television to its fullest potential
by developing original routines impossible to perform on a stage. An
aquatic copper tube symphony in a sewer, a rhapsody on a maintenance
truck, a restaurant kitchen opus, all creatively filmed and cleverly
presented in a cohesive package. The troupe inventively expanded
their live repertoire and created a well-themed, artistic film to
complement their live shows. And they were able to do it without
selling out or dumbing-down their approach.
Stomp's recent Imax film, "Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey" features an array
of guest rhythm and percussion performers from all over the world;
from Spanish Flamenco dancers to Japanese Taïko drummers, African step
dancers and American marching bands all magnificently filmed in
luscious locales. Each act is introduced brilliantly with segues by
the Stomp troupe. Not a single word is uttered in the entire 40-
minute film and none is necessary to appreciate the creativity of the
troupe. Music is used as a universal human language and the film can
be enjoyed by virtually anyone. To tack on a mindless narration would
have been pointless and inane. Stomp's creators obviously have the
sense to realize that the troupes popular media projects have just as
much of an impact on their brand image as their live shows, and seek
to ensure that their film and television projects are infused with the
same creative energy that has defined the troupe.
Cirque du Soleil seriously needs to re-think its media strategy and
should borrow a page from Stomp's book and seek to produce creative
media projects that are an extension of their artistic capabilities.
I think it's a mistake to dumb-down the contents of a series for mass
consumption. Lowering the quality of the product only alienates the
current fan base and misleads any uninitiated viewers. Short of a
major overhaul of the show I'm not holding out much hope of finding
anything worthwhile to watch for in the remaining episodes of
Solstrom.
=======================================================================
CIRQUE MUSIQUE:
"Covers du Cirque"
By: Paul Roberts - Hamilton, Ohio (USA)
=======================================================================
Recently Cirque du Soleil E-group member, soulgirl31, posted the
following question: "If someone put together a Cirque du Soleil Cover
Band that only played the Cirque's music, do you think it would be
popular to the general public?" Most replies, mine included, gave a
resounding no. I won't go into my opinion of the general public's
clueless-ness of good music. But for the past few years I have
fantasized about forming a band that covered the amazing music of
Cirque du Soleil. I have given this topic a lot thought and realized
that bands should actually play before shows and during intermissions
in the traveling shows' VIP tents.
Each musician would wear the band outfit from a different show, and
the singers would rotate to change their outfits according to the song
being played. While the band played a video screen background could
show acts or visuals to accompany the music. My fantasy band would
consist of the following:
Moi: Guitar, keyboards, and trumpet (yes, I know how to play these
instruments); I would wear the Varekai bands lavender outfit (my
favorite).
Two more keyboardists: That also play accordion and occasionally
cello; one wearing an Alegría white outfit with fountain wig and
wiener nose and the other wearing a Saltimbanco clown-like outfit.
Two percussionists: One mainly playing a trap set, the other would
have a vast array of percussion instruments; one wearing the blue
Quidam outfit and the other wearing an "O" tux-like outfit.
A bassist/Stick player: Wearing a La Nouba white outfit with turban.
A woodwind player (saxophone, flute, and various ancient instruments):
Wearing a Zumanity outfit (sorry, I don't know what their outfits look
like so maybe this member could be in their birthday suit).
A violinist: Wearing a Dralion polyester maroon-color outfit.
The musicians would also play assorted percussion and sing background
vocals where necessary.
There would be four singers, three women and one man. Depending on
the song, two women would sing and the other would change her costume
for the next song. The man could also be one of the musicians who
comes out to sing a male's part where needed.
The most difficult aspect of this idea was coming up with a set list
from over a hundred great songs. So I decided that two or three songs
from each show would be sufficient. Like an actual Cirque du Soleil
event, the song order would go through dynamic cycles. The list I
chose is approximately 80 minutes long (60 minutes for pre-show, 20
minutes for intermission). Depending on which show's VIP tent the
band is playing in; there are alternate songs [in brackets] so that an
attended shows song is not played. Sit back, relax (or dance or
contort or swing from the rafters, if you'd like), and enjoy the show!
Pre-show:
1. "Alegría" (from Alegría) - Even though the song is the finale for
the show it is a good opening number due to its recognition.
[Alternate: "Kumbalawé" from Saltimbanco - Also a nice opener.]
2. "Barock" (from Saltimbanco) - This song simply rocks and allows the
band members to show off their musical skills. [Alternate: "En
Ville/Frisco" from Mystère - Another rocking ensemble.]
3. "Let Me Fall" (live version from Quidam) - The male singer catches
the spotlight in a song that is already by covered by the unmistakable
voice of Josh Groban. [Alternate: "Ballare" from Dralion - A
beautiful ballad, again featuring the male singer.]
4. "Rêve Rouge/A Tale" (live version from La Nouba) - One of my
absolute favorite live arrangements. Two completely different songs -
one a sweet ballad and the other hip-hop - that mesh so well together.
5. "El Péndulo" (live version from Varekai) - A very melodic tune that
also features some great violin solos. [Alternate: "The Forest" from
Journey of Man - Features unusual male vocals and a Kora; a tough song
to pull off.]
6. "Hinkò" (from Dralion) - How many in the audience will recognize
the guitar riff from Mandy Moore's hit "In My Pocket" (a very talented
girl and lover of Cirque du Soleil)? Plus, the guitar power chords
during the bridge produce so much energy. [Alternate: "Incantation"
from Quidam - The bridge will make the audience want to do a Russian
dance.]
7. "Amazonia" (from Saltimbanco) - One of Cirque's most dramatic
compositions with several tempo and dynamics changes. [Alternate:
"Désert" from "O" - Another dramatic composition.]
8. "The Rose Boy" (from Zumanity) - A sultry little jazz number to
lighten the mood a bit.
9. "Feu" (from Alegría) - Another song to allow the band to jam,
especially the percussionists. The insane tempo-morphing bridge is a
head spinner. [Alternate: "Euphoria" from Varekai - Also a great band
jam.]
10. "Journey of Man" (from "O"/Journey of Man) - A nice harmonious
song that allows the singer to show off her pipes.
11. "Kalimando/Kunya Sobé" (live version from Mystère) - Everyone in
the band sings the choir part in "Kalimando" then kicks into gear with
the upbeat "Kunya Sobé" to close out Set One.
This concludes the Pre-show event. Now the VIPers are herded into the
tent full of excitement with ears ringing from listeningto the
amazing sounds.
Intermission:
1. "The Opener" (from Zumanity) - A soft little number to calm the
nerves of the audience who just left an intense Act One from inside
the Grand Chapiteau. And I'd get to play a muted trumpet: Mwah mwah
mwah.
2. "Ombra" (from Dralion) - Another lovely ballad to allow the
audience to continue unwinding. [Alternate: "Liama" from La Nouba -
Just simply a beautiful song.]
3. "Ephra" (from "O") - Enough mellowness, this haunting tune features
a bass synthesizer line that gets the heart pumping.
4. "Aureus/Mutationis (a.k.a. Moon Licht)" (live version from Varekai)
- Slowing down again with a beautiful song that features beautiful
female vocals with accordion and violin solo tradeoffs. You don't
hear that too often. [Alternate: "Querer" from Alegría - More
accordion and great female vocals.]
5. "Quidam" (live version from Quidam) - My favorite closing song of
all Cirque du Soleil's shows. The repeating chorus line will have the
audience humming until the bell rings to announce that Act Two is
about to commence. [Alternate: "Finale" from Mystère - This upbeat
tune will have the audience ready for more Cirque du Soleil
experiences].
The "end" has arrived, but the crowd roars: "Bravo, bravo, play one
more...no six more!" They reluctantly go back to the incredible
Cirque du Soleil show realizing that the extra money they forked out
for VIP tickets was well worth it. Who knows, maybe if we are coaxed
enough we'll play an encore after the main event's curtain call (after
all, this is my fantasy). Any requests?
=======================================================================
LE SPECTATEUR:
"Where Do You Find All This Stuff?"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
=======================================================================
A question we get every once in awhile is how do we find all this
information we present to you each month. Some fans might think we
have direct lines to a vast database of contacts inside the Cirque du
Soleil braintrust.
Much as we might like to say that we're trusted confidants of Guy
Laliberte and Lyn Heward, it just isn't the case. We have to scour
and comb for every scrap of information we get. That isn't to say it
isn't a fun endeavor - it is. We wouldn't be into the middle of our
third year of monthly publication if we didn't find it fun! Speaking
for myself, it's satisfying to discover interesting things about a
company you respect, and be able to write about it to a loyal, albeit
small, following.
In order to crank out all of these stories, we do hours and hours of
research. Burrowing through printed materials, websites, magazine
articles, emails. All in an effort to find that extra bit of info
that puts the cherry on the sundae, so to speak. That tiny piece of
the puzzle that suddenly makes the whole picture seem more clear.
But how do we do it? Where do we look? At the risk of "pulling back
the curtain" perhaps I can address it. Mostly we depend on the
kindness of others. People who post links to articles, those that
privately email us with information, and those in a better position
than us to know the facts. Much of what we gather is brought to us
that way. Here are some of the places we regularly look for
information about Cirque:
*CirqueClub - The official Cirque du Soleil fan club often has
interesting information, though they more often confirm already-
rumored information than break news. The discussion board also has an
occasional discovery.
*The Cirque du Soleil Yahoogroup - The largest Cirque Yahoogroup.
There are some very knowledgeable fans on that forum. There are also
several other Yahoogroups focusing on Cirque, most specializing in one
form or another - to a particular show, or artist.
*Cirqueforum.com - Not very popular at less than 150 members, but they
sometimes have interesting news. There are several posters there that
pass on a lot of good information.
*Fannish websites - There are lots of sites out there, (erstwhile
editor Richasi's Le Grand Chapiteau being arguably the most generally
comprehensive, Steven Santos' circusnews.com is also vital for it's
constant updates) with tons of info. Some specialize in a show in
depth, with lots of up-to-date news.
*Private conversations - Ah, the kindness of emailers! We appreciate
everybody who takes the time to write us with a tidbit of info. We
find out about cast changes, accidents, neat websites or articles, and
sometimes a different perspective on a news item. We accept it all,
whether via email or AIM or phone.
*Inside sources - Though certainly not the largest provider of
information, we do get the chance to talk occasionally with folks who
work inside the Cirque Machine and get information that way. Though
you'll NEVER get us to say who they are!
Anyone with enough interest, curiosity, and time can find most of the
same information we provide here. Being a monthly publication, we
sometimes don't get a chance to be the first with the info, since
others who don't have our publication deadline can "out" information
before we publish. Being first is sometimes half the battle!
So there are several ways to glean information. We try as much as
possible (unlike some email posters) to credit sources whenever we're
able (and they give us permission to). But they are out there. The
trick is to know where they are!
But now that we've talked a bit about the process, here's a small plea
for help. It may seem from our descriptions that we have a ton of
sources. But the fact is, no matter how much info we may have, we can
always use more. And that's where YOU, dear reader, come in! You can
become part of our "vast network of insider information." And it's
easy, free and fun. Come on, we'll show you how!
Fans - Every one of you reading these words is a fan of Cirque du
Soleil. If you see something, anything, that you think might be of
interest to other fans, shoot us an email about it. Heard some juicy
gossip? Been to an interesting performance? Talk with somebody on-
site? Let us know!
Industry Insiders - There are those out there that work in the
Entertainment Industry. Looking at Cirque from an educated outside
perspective is most valuable to us. What have you heard?
Cirque Employees - Yes, we know there are several of our readers who
are part of the great Cirque Machine. And we like to think that our
'zine gets passed around on tour or in HQ. Your input is the most
valuable of all. What are your thoughts about what your employer is
up to?
What would help us greatly in our quest to improve the quality of the
information we present here at Fascination! is if we had better, more
up-to-date info. So - if we asked nice - could we put out the request
to have folks out there in the Cirque-verse to keep us abreast of
things you hear?
But wait! Before you go to your computer to tap out your message,
there are a few things you should know. We are VERY protective of our
friends. We would never reveal the names of our sources or allow our
writing to provide clues to their identity. Your secret is safe with
us! (Though we can't promise we'll use everything we get. Sometimes
there will be something we've already covered, of awaiting
verification, or out of our pervue.)
If you're concerned about your employer finding out, don't use work
computers; use a home computer instead. Or if you must use a company
machine, *delete* the message out of your "Sent Messages" file *and*
your "Deleted Messages" file *immediately* after sending it. Most
corporate servers are backed up daily, including all email files,
usually after hours. If you delete it completely and immediately from
those two places, it should never get backed up! (Unless your
employer uses tracking software that records every keystroke (unlikely
with Cirque). We can't help you there!)
In addition to info, we'd love to see any informational circulars
passed around. The Casting Newsletter is available on the website,
but we know there are others out there, including ones for each
specific show. If anyone would send us copies of those, we'd be more
than grateful.
Thanks in advance for those of you who'd like to help us out here. We
really appreciate your generosity.
To contact us, just send a message to cirquefascination-
owner@yahoogroups.com. Or, if that might be too "public" for you, you
can also send a message directly to me at kj@gmnameplate.com or to
Ricky at richasi@azlance.com. We'll credit you if you say it's okay,
or keep your name out of the limelight if that's your wish. But we'll
always appreciate you!
=======================================================================
CIRQUE MUSIQUE:
"A Plethora of Singles"
By: Ricky Russo - Orlando, Florida (USA)
=======================================================================
Have you ever wondered whether or not Cirque du Soleil music ever
reaches the radio? Certainly in many parts of the world it does, and
believe it or not, many of those songs are released as CD singles.
Most, however, have only been released in Europe and are very hard to
get in the United States. Here is a quick list of what you can expect
to find if you search for Cirque du Soleil singles:
1) Title: Alegría
Catalog: BMG #74321-46703-2
Catalog: BMG #74321-47661-2 (Europe)
Tracks: 1. "Irna" [4:48]
2. "Alegría" (Album Version) [5:49]
This album simply features the Alegría poster image from 1994,
black background with the bird-mask.
2) Title: Gamelan
Catalog: BMG #BQP-85
Tracks: 1. "Gamelan" (Radio Edit) [3:11]
This album features the same cover as the "O" album. The CD itself
features a pose from the contortion act.
3) Title: Love Leaves Someone Behind
Catalog #: Unknown
Tracks: 1. "Love Leaves Someone Behind" [4:03]
This album features a black background with Giulietta from the
poster posed over a red rose. The back features the meeting between
Giulietta and Frac during a performance of the show. Frac is in an
"old bird" costume, with its head piece removed.
4) Title: Querer
Catalog #: BMG #74321-48491-2 (1997-Europe)
Catalog #: BMG #43214-84915-2 (1997-BMG Nederland BV-Holland)
Tracks: 1. "Querer" [4:34]
2. "Jeux d'Enfants" [4:40]
This album features the Alegría band in a press photo on a blueish
background. Each of the band members is holding their respective
instruments.
5) Title: Quidam
Catalog: BMG #BQP-62 (1996-Canada)
Tracks: 1. "Quidam" (Radio Edit)
This single features a picture from inside the Quidam tour
programme -- a painting of a man whose head is covered by a bowler
hat.
6) Title: Quidam
Catalog: BMG #64635-27432-1 (1999-Europe)
Tracks: 1. "Quidam" (Radio Edit)
2. "Quidam" (Album Version)
This single features a picture from inside the Quidam tour
programme -- a painting of a man whose head is covered by a bowler
hat.
7) Title: Stella Errans
Catalog #: BQP-107
Tracks: 1. "Stella Errans" [4:37]
This single features a live shot of the Hand balancing act from
Dralion.
8) Title: Let Me Fall
Catalog #: BMG #74321-60499-2 (Holland)
Tracks: 1. "Let Me Fall" (Radio Edit) [3:36]
9) Title: Child in His Eyes
Catalog #: BMG #74321-67537-2
Tracks: 1. "Child in his Eyes" (Radio Edit) [3:40]
2. "Alegria" (New Arrangement) [4:20]
This album features a black background with Giulietta from the
poster posed over a red rose. The back features the meeting between
Giulietta and Frac during a performance of the show. Frac is in an
"old bird" costume, with its head piece removed.
10) Title: Kumbalawe
Catalog #: BMG #74321-26040-2 (EU)
Catalog #: BMG #74321-27393-2 (GER)
Tracks: 1. "Kumbalawe" [5:34]
2. "Saltimbanco" [5:19]
3. "Pokinoi" [5:08]
11) Title: Tzelma
Catalog #: Unknown
Tracks: 1. "Tzelma" [3:00]
This is by no means a comprehensive list of Cirque du Soleil singles,
as there is a real possibility there are more out there. This list
does, however, represent the ones that I've been able to track down
through exhaustive searching online and cataloging what has appeared
on Ebay. If you have one of these single albums and wish to contribute
further information or, if you have one that isn't listed I'd love to
know about it at < CirqueFascination-owner@yahoogroups.com >.
=======================================================================
PARTING QUOTE
=======================================================================
"We Stand on the heads of our ancestors to raise our children
towards their future."
- Mystère Programme
=======================================================================
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, Paul Roberts, and
Wayne Leung.
"Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c)
2001-2003 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.
=======================================================================
