Editor’s Note: The Western News was recently invited to spend two days with Cirque Du Soleil on the set of Varekai in Salt Lake City, Utah. While there we spoke with cast members, creative personnel and production crew in a behind-the-scenes look before it opens in Penticton later this month.
Varekai is a journey outside of time through an enchanted forest where magical and whimsical creatures dance their way along the paths to wherever.
In the Romani or gypsy language, Varekai is “wherever” and this Cirque Du Soleil classic is truly an “acrobatic tribute to the nomadic soul” every step of the way.
The physical and spiritual melding of choreography, comedy and incredible athletic feats are testimony to the dedication of the nearly 100 cast and crew who have worked the travelling show in its more than 4,000 performances since opening in Montreal in April 2002.
Artistic director Fabrice Lemire is currently the man at the heart of the enchanting voyage which picks up where the Greek myth Icarus leaves off, and is behind the raw passion and vibrancy it exudes.
Having worked with Cirque since 2008, he joined the current production three years ago.
He was classically trained in dance in Paris and toured the world as a principal dancer and guest artist with many productions. He is responsible for maintaining the show’s artistic integrity, concept and content as well as overseeing the performers and artistic team.
To him, the underlying theme of Varekai is not unlike life.
“You mould it the way you want, you push your destiny to where you want, if you want to challenge your destiny then do it, if you fall, then you stand up again and walk,” said Lemire sitting stage front at the Salt Lake City Maverik Centre. “OK, you’ve lost your wings how do you get up and go forward.”
He admitted one of the biggest challenges is maintaining the highest level of entertainment while remaining true to the author’s original concept.
“First is to understand the vision of its creator and respect it and in some ways help it evolve, take it to the next level,” said Lemire. “But it’s not a piece of museum that we don’t touch, it’s very much a living organism so how do you add to it so it continues to live and breath and to evolve.”
To accomplish that, he puts much of the responsibility on his cast as well as himself.
“I don’t like the status quo and when I talk to you about me being outside the box, that’s what I’m asking of the performers as well,” said Lemire. “My request from the performers is, give me your emotions, what is your intention, tell me your story.’ All of this is very much finding within themselves someone they are not so they surprise themselves so they grow as an artist.”
One cast member who fits the bill is veteran entertainer Steven Bishop.
For years one of Queensland’s hardest working physical performers, the dentist turned comedian/clown and who is married to a stilt walker, is always a crowd favourite.
The people in the seats are also where his boundless vitality comes from.
“It’s like a game, like a sport, it gives you back the energy, you’re playing with the audience,” said Bishop. “That sets the flame of passion and it’s fun and there’s no limit to how much you can throw yourself into fun.”
Before joining Varekai in 2004 he had formal theatre training in Paris and tucked a number of other disciplines under his entertainment belt including ventriloquism, miming, stunt work and improvisation.
His stunt work included Scooby Doo the movie and he once did a straitjacket escape suspended upside down from a crane. He even toured with a French stilt street theatre company.
To this clown it’s not just getting a laugh, but the quality.
“Is it a gut-wrenching laugh or is it ‘ha, ha, ha’ or what we call a Christian titter, that’s what we don’t want,” explained Bishop, the father of four. “We want people to just be erupting inside with a very connected, visceral laugh.”
He also likes to get out in the communities they tour and find “little treasures” to personalize his act for the audience.
When he learned about the issue with the naturists and Three Mile Beach Bishop quickly replied: “A nudist beach? I’ll be looking into it. I’ll definitely be there with, uh, bells on.”
Varekai comes to the South Okanagan Events Centre May 13 to 17 and tickets are now on sale.