Just hours before the Cirque du Soleil show Varekai opened at the Pacific Coliseum Wednesday evening, acrobats and gymnasts practised a series of intricate trapeze moves that saw several men literally fly through the air, in one case landing and balancing on the waiting hands of two fellow athletes.
The men calmly coached each other on, their quiet intensity a verbal cue as to just how dangerous these moves can be if not taken seriously. It’s quickly apparent the men are not simply completing a series of “tricks.” Instead the creativity and fluid motions of the men transforms their athleticism into something closer to an aerial ballet.
Their skills are put to good use in the story of Varekai, which takes place in a world where everything is possible. The story begins when a man falls from the sky and is parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world populated by fantastical creatures, where he sets off on an adventure both absurd and extraordinary.
Transcribed, the word Varekai means "wherever" in the Romany language of the gypsies – the universal wanderers. This production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai.
Prior to opening May 20, the Courier was invited for a behind-the-scenes tour of the production.
Varekai runs through May24 at the Pacific Coliseum on the PNE Grounds on East Hastings Street.
Visit cirquedusoleil.com for ticket information.
