Cirque du Soleil on Broadway?- Page 4

[broadway guy]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 11:05am

I watched IRIS and here are my thoughts:

It wasn't exactly what i thought it would be. I thought the performers get drowned out on that huge empty stage and I did eventually see the plot line but There wasn't much of it but i did see a little bit of focus on it. I didn't realize that the guy playing the piano was buster and I had to rewind the video to actually see what he was doing. I really wish cirque would establish their plotlines better but more on that later.

The acts themselves were great obviously. I found act one a bit boring though. One thing that really got me a big agitated was they hardly even used the whole stage! Most of the acts were in front of the proscenium. I was thinking to myself " why do they need such a big theatre if they are only using half the stage"?

Act 2 is MUCH better than act 1, and I loved what they did with the opening. The chaotic scene at the beginning of act 2 was a highlight.

My main critique of cirque is the the thin story behind the shows. Cirque seems to always have to freeze the storyline to get a circus act in INSTEAD of having the cirque act move the story forward. They usually have a theme for a show and have established characters in the beginning and you have them go on this journey but then you never get a conclusion of their journey. The circus disciplines are great and everything but without something moving the piece forward it feels like I am just watching circus act after circus act without understanding what this act pertains to the piece.

Its very hard for me to watch a cirque show when it just feels like none of the acts are connecting back to the "story". Cirque is more about THEME than PLOT and that's fine but i wish they would be a bit more persistent in getting the storyline acrossed so you understand why the lead character is going on a journey or is in this world in the first place.

Not all of their shows are like this however. VARAKEI is one of the few cirque shows that really has a plot from beginning to end. Many of the acts in Varekai propel the story forward and create a consequences. Some of the acts in verekai are more "Character pieces" that tell you more about the character instead of just a circus act just showing discipline for the sake of it. I have never liked when A performer is done with the act and waves to the audience. It takes me completely out of the show. Shows like KOOZA and LA NOUBA have story lines that you can follow but others don't and It's not that Cirque can't do storylines, it just seems like that isn't there main focus and thats fine i guess.

Updated On: 7/3/13 at 11:05 AM

[justincharacter]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 11:05am

@broadwayguy That is the rumor, but it's not closing in Montreal where all arena touring shows play for the last time where it all started. So I find it very weird that its supposedly "closing" in Madrid. But either way, Alegria is a very old show, it's nice...but it's old lol
I see what you are saying about the stories. Amaluna is one that has acts in the show that pushes the story forward (well...Dianne Paulus directed it after all). I'm still a little confused how you thought Act 1 was boring, haha. Act 2 did have a "brighter atmosphere" but the long 10 minute clown skit was a bit boring and unnencessary. The footage was recorded by a soundboard, so you cannot see the detail of what's going on, so you think the stage looks extra huge.


Updated On: 7/3/13 at 11:05 AM

[broadway guy]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 11:15am

Thanks for the info justincharacter. I have yet to see Amaluna but i have heard its more plot based. Do you know what is happening with Cirque2014? I have heard it was going to be a extreme sports theme but then i heard that idea is being scrapped?

Edit: yeah idk I just got a little bored by act 1. Probably because I am watching it in my room and not live. UGHH the clown act was wayyyyy to long.

Updated On: 7/3/13 at 11:15 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 11:19am

"I watched IRIS and here are my thoughts:

...I didn't realize that the guy playing the piano was buster and I had to rewind the video to actually see what he was doing."

The other night I watched the original "Oklahoma!" movie (which I had never seen before) on a TV that had no sound. I just do not get what all the fuss is about. The show didn't make much sense at all. It's just not clear.

[justincharacter]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 11:35am

@FindingNemo Oklahoma didn't make sense? @Broadwayguy I have not heard anything about Cirque 2014 since they announced there was going to be one. I won't expect to hear anything about it until about two months before it's previews, like how ONE was very secretive during creation.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 11:45am

Sometimes this place is denser than the chemical haze at a Cirque show.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 11:49am

Justin what is your top 5 favorite cirque shows? This board hardly ever talks about cirque so I am enjoying this.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 11:56am

Don't worry, Namo, your intent was clear as day.

[justincharacter]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 12:04pm

Woah, that is hard to answer: 1. IRIS (I don't know, it's different and that's why I put it at 1, it probably won't stay there for a while) 2. O 3. ZED 4. La Nouba (The music is absolutely incredible, I love the soul sounding of it. Truthfully, the music is the only reason why it's at 4) 5. Algeria or Quidam (it's a tie between the two. Quidam is a much stronger show emotionally, and I love it. A lot of symbolizing that's deep)

Updated On: 7/3/13 at 12:04 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 12:11pm

Quidam, to me, is the most interesting show musically and plot-wise. It's a bit of an Alice in Wonderland ripoff, perhaps, but the way that Zoe dreams up a threatening but beautiful Freudian-inspired wonderland full of twisted version of the everyday people and items around her always thrills me. The plot may be slight, but the acts become the plot as we see the way the creatures are metamorphosed out of being her family, furniture, etc.

Also, the darkness around the edges is MUCH more obvious in Quidam than lots of other Cirque shows.

[justincharacter]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 12:21pm

Quidam is incredible. The music is glorious and emotional, and the show itself is creative, unique, dark, and just plain out interesting. The Contortion in Silks act gets me everytime, it's a really emotional act. The way the artist drops, thunder crashes, and the electric guitar starts going at with the artist going crazy is such a strong section in the show. Depending on the artist, when Isabelle Vaudelle (the original artist for the act in tent and arena) "hangs herself" is heartbreaking. Gah, Quidam is a true masterpiece. Haven't seen Cirque create something like it since then

[broadway guy]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 12:22pm

Quidam is definitely the darkest show Cirque has ever done. I remember hearing stuff about people complaining cause they thought it would be a family friendly show but it turned out to be dark and scary. The Aerial silk act where the performer commits suicide is chilling.

My top 5 favorite shows are:

1. Mystere
2. La Nouba
3. Varekai
4. Kooza
5. Alegria

Believe it or not I actually don't care much for O. Many say that O is the best Cirque show but it really doesn't do anything for me.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 12:34pm

And were you in the theater live and in person seeing "O"?

[justincharacter]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 12:47pm

The silks act we are referring to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ-XYSPZjEc



Updated On: 7/3/13 at 12:47 PM

[broadway guy]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 12:50pm

Yep thats the one. Quidam has gone through many changes since the original show and i am so happy they have kept this act in good shape. By changing the "look" of Quidam i think they have made it a bit better and more focused.

[justincharacter]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 1:02pm

I haven't heard anything about Quidam closing anytime soon, so I'm guessing that's good? Heck, bring it to Broaday! (I'm obviously kidding...) Amaluna is a nice show too. I found live footage of that show too. Should I link it as well? I'm just going to say this, I found footage of a lot Cirque shows. I'll upload the ones that I can kind of see on Broadway or Off-Broadway and you guys can discuss. Or should I not?



Updated On: 7/3/13 at 01:02 PM

[Starship]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 4:07pm

Nope you should!

[broadway guy]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 4:15pm

Do you have anymore full acts of the cirque shows? I would love to see them.

[justincharacter]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 4:43pm

@Broadwayguy @Starship Name it, I have it! What do you think would work for a transfer? Name those first, I'll link them.

Updated On: 7/3/13 at 04:43 PM

[broadway guy]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 4:55pm

I actually think Mystere would work great on broadway. The Las Vegas shows would probably sellout the best! Some cirque shows are a bit to small for Broadway ( Kooza and Ovo come to mind). I think LOVE would be good on broadway also.

Justincharacter: if you have a production of MYSTERE, LA NOUBA and OVO I will love you forever.

Updated On: 7/3/13 at 04:55 PM

[Starship]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 5:01pm

Hmm..for a transfer? Amaluna and Iris. Those are the only two I can think of at the moment. Some of Cirque's earliest shows might've worked as well, though. And, with some modification, I think Corteo could be adapted for the stage.

Any shows you have to put up, link me! I'm especially eager to see Amaluna (I've only seen an hour of it), Ovo, Love, and Totem. I've already seen Corteo, La Nouba, Varakei, Quidam, Alegria, Zed, Zaia, Mystere, Kooza, O, and Totem.

[justincharacter]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 5:04pm

I have Mystere, it should be up later, keep checking back. Don't have OVO unfortunately. Eh, I don't know about Mystere transferring to Broadway. I personally think that it wouldn't work at all. No story line, just acts and music.

Updated On: 7/3/13 at 05:04 PM

[broadway guy]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 5:08pm

You are probably right. Thankyou for taking time to put up MYSTERE. Do you have La Nouba? If not i would love to see O, Love or Kooza. I know there is already a Dvd version of some of those but i prefer the live videos.

Updated On: 7/3/13 at 05:08 PM

[justincharacter]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 5:22pm

I did find La Nouba live (the singer was KILLING the score. We need her on Broadway), but it was unfortunately taken down. I did find O, two different recordings of it.

Updated On: 7/3/13 at 05:22 PM

[broadway guy]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 5:29pm

I'm fine with either one :)