Drama in the air

THE BEST way to watch a show by Cirque du Soleil – indeed, perhaps the only way – is just to sit back and enjoy the spectacular acrobatics rather than try to be clever and interpret the meaning behind every act.
The Canadian troupe’s latest show, “Quidam”, which means “anonymous passer-by” in Latin, has the archetypal storyline of a girl named Zoe whose boredom stems from being neglected by her parents. She then falls down the rabbit hole into an imaginary world – quite like Alice in Wonderland – where she encounters many bizarre characters who entertain her and guide her back to reality.
In its first show at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani on Wednesday night, “Quidam” opened with a thrilling German wheel manoeuvre, in which the acrobat artist played the part of the spokes spinning and turning the giant wheel. More acrobatic wonders followed. The aerial silk contortion was haunting yet beautiful. The fanciful twists and turns of the female acrobat wrapped in red silk, many times suspended in thin air – in my own interpretation – mirrored the emotional struggle of young Zoe.
The mood was then lifted with some light-hearted music accompanying a skipping-rope performance reminiscent of the enjoyable childhood game, only this one was played out with far greater dexterity and well-choreographed high-frequency jumps.
Although it is based on the story of a child, “Quidam” has a dark undercurrent and many ghoulish characters appear on the stage. One of these was the headless man holding an umbrella and walking aimlessly in the “rain”. This plot, as did several others, lost me and I began to lose track of the |journey of little Zoe and |instead allowed myself to be sucked into the marvellous |display of superhuman strength and bravery of the acrobat artists.
The “statue” act was the highlight of the night, the sight of two beautifully sculpted |bodies balancing in harmony and never losing contact for a second deserved the undivided attention of the audience. Another heart-stopping act was the Banquine session, which was akin to a blockbuster gymnastic and ballet feat that had the acrobatic artists forming breathtaking structures while throwing and leaping off each other.
The interlude show, which included audience participation for a silent movie sketch, provided much comic relief but again, its purpose seemed totally detached from the theme. Also, red balloons kept popping up throughout the show, with Zoe holding a bunch of the balloons in a few scenes and tiny red balloons floating above the dancers in another. It would be interesting to know the symbolism, if any, of these props.
The first Cirque du Soleil show to use everyday clothing, “Quidam” lacks the razzle-dazzle of the usual circus costumes. That does not in any way diminish the allure of the performance as its biggest appeal is still the remarkable skills and agility of its performers.

“Cirque du Soleil Quidam Live in Bangkok 2015” is being staged at Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani through Monday.
There are three performances tomorrow, at 1pm, 4.30pm and 8pm and two on Sunday at 4.30pm and 8pm. The final performance on Monday is at 8pm.
Tickets costing Bt1,000 to Bt5,000 are available from Thai Ticket Major outlets and online at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.
Call (02) 262 3456.