My Mother's Day Present for 2010

[puppetmaker]

I first saw Cirque when I was up at the Yale School of Drama. I use to go into New York City when I could especially when I couldn’t stand it anymore at the school. The YSD was a meat grinder that would chew you up and spit you out without as please or thank you but I know it made me a much better stage manager and a better person after it was done with me. I just had a hard time of it when I was there.

So I was in the city walking around and I just happen to walk by the tent with a sign for this group called Cirque du Soleil. I bought a cheap ticket, walking into the tent, sat down and in an afternoon my entire world changed. I saw the human body do things that I would have thought impossible. I was amazed and dazzled by everything from the costumes to the music to the energy in the tent. I believed in the power of humanity and it gave me hope, which I had been sadly lacking.

Since then I have seen every touring production of Cirque either in Atlanta or here in New York. I have seen the show in Orlando at Disney. I haven’t seen any of the Vegas shows since I haven’t been in Vegas for quite a while. But someday I would like to.

Cirque has become a touchstone for me. It reminds me of what is possible. It gives me hope for my future. It inspires me as an artist and a human being. It is hard to put in words how much the work of Cirque has meant to me over the years so let’s say a lot.

Caroline loves Cirque too. Her first show was on New Years Eve in Orlando when she saw, until she fell asleep, La Nouba. Since then she has seen live productions of Corteo and Kooza and has enjoyed both. She has seen all the others on DVD or on Bravo when they do a marathon but seeing it in person is a lot different from seeing it on TV. For one thing there is a lot going on in the background that the camera never picks up or focuses on.

Peter knows how much Cirque means to me. For Mother’s Day he got us tickets to the afternoon show of Ova today. We are hoping that the weather holds out or at least clears up for us.

I am grateful for the magic that is Cirque Du Soleil.

Comments

[first-lobster.livejournal.com]

I'd love to hear how Ova is - I've seen two of the Vegas shows - and was really impressed with "O" the water show - really incredible.

And happy mother's day!

[beeker121.livejournal.com]

Enjoy - I saw that show when it was in San Jose. For the last act I swear they found a way to turn gravity off.

[querldox.livejournal.com]

What's your take on how Cirque's been evolving over the years? Admittedly you haven't seen these since they've not left Vegas to my knowledge, but all of the last three and next Cirque Vegas shows have been built around a particular "artist" (quotes due to Believe); Love around the Beatles, which is considered a significant success and great show (seen it and agree), Believe with punk magician Criss Angel (didn't see it, since I literally never saw a positive review for it in Vegas), Viva Elvis around, well, Elvis (haven't seen it, mixed opening reviews; nowhere near as bad as Believe's, but nowhere as good as Love), and the 2011 touring show which will become a 2012 Vegas show will be built around Michael Jackson's music.