Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam brings together graceful acrobatics, sophisticated visual effects and an eclectic mix of music for an exceptional night of entertainment.
Quidam’s unique use of light, music and color distinguishes it from traditional circus performances. All 11 acts are filled with imagination and talent.
The visual artistry of the show is unmatched. Quidam explores both dreams and nightmares, as well as the surreal and abstract. If the performance was frozen at any single moment, the lines, shapes and colors of the picture would be worthy of display in any museum. The live performance adds movement and sound, making for a stunning show.
The presentation of the acts is thought-provoking, emotional and entertaining. Its theme explores human frailty and angst as society enters the new millennium.
In French, the word “quidam” refers to anyone – a nameless person on the street, someone in a crowd or one of the silent majority. Cirque du Soleil celebrates the idea of quidam – its costumes are inspired by people living on the streets.
Each of the acts is unique and passionate. One of the most dramatic acts is the “Aerial Contortion in Silk,” in which a contortionist intertwines herself within a red silk cloth suspended from the ceiling. She demonstrates her elegant dexterity as she performs lyrical movements to music.
Another memorable act is two artists performing “Statue – Vis Versa.” Two performers balance with one another as if they were carved in stone. They execute the extraordinary act with absolute control and concentration, as their slow but precise movements demonstrate the beauty and sensuality of the human body. No applause or sounds escape from the captivated audience until the end of the performance.
Originating in Italy during the middle ages, “Banquine” is an acrobatic act performed by 15 artists from Russia and the Ukraine. They form astounding human pyramids in which one man supports the weight of up to five people on his shoulders. Performers’ faces are painted a stark white, and the women dress exactly alike in bleached blonde wigs and garter belts, representing the namelessness of quidam.
Four young Chinese women perform the “Diabolos” act in which each of them spins while tossing a Chinese yo-yo in the air. Dressed in silver outfits that resemble the costume of the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, they skillfully play and try to out-do each other by performing flips and tumbling, never dropping a yo-yo.
No circus is complete without a ringmaster, and Cirque du Soleil is not an exception. The ringmaster is eerie like a clown. His trousers are a bit too short, his socks pulled up a bit too high, but the off-beat style adds to his wacky character. The ringmaster is delightful, as he dances with a coat rack and plays darts with a dart board positioned on top of his head.
The two clowns provide the comic relief. Bumbling and uncoordinated, they pop up intermittently to smooth transitions between acts.
From humorous moments where the audience explodes in laughter to acts that silence the crowd, Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam combines unique, diverse acts into one spectacle. With more than 50 performers from all over the world, Cirque du Soleil offers a spellbinding show full of enthralling moments.
Cirque du Soleil continues at Tysons Galleria through Oct. 18. Ticket prices range from $20.25 to $46.25 and are available through Admission Network USA.
