Soaring To New
Heights
Author: R. J. Donovan
With vibrant music and a sensual fusion of drama and
acrobatics, Cirque du Soleil has returned to Boston --
this time with "Varekai," meaning "wherever" in the
language of the universal wanderers. More than 50 artists from 30
countries are represented in this year's innovative production.
 Set in a lush forest, "Varekai" is inspired by the
mythical tale of Icarus who flew too close to the sun.
Here, the young man falls from the sky into a kaleidoscopic
world filled with fantastic birds, bugs and assorted creatures. While his
flight through the air may have been aborted, his journey on the ground is
both surreal and amazing.
As Icarus, Anton Chelnokov is stripped of
his wings but rises in the air in a fishnet that he uses to display an
almost effortless strength. He sails to the peak of the yellow and blue
tent and soars above the forest floor only to spiral down to earth once
again.
  Icarus' betrothed is played by Irina
Naumenko (left), a lithe and limber contortionist who balances on
canes in a segment that (to her credit) is almost too painful to
watch.
Throughout the vibrantly costumed two hour show, the
audience is treated to any number of spectacular presentations. Three
youngsters (Liu Xinxin, Wang ZhinXhen and Zhang
Cheng) each twirl twin water meteors suspended from ropes. Four
shimmering green females (Helen Ball, Cinthia Beranek, Juliana
Countinho and Sophie Olfield) work a triple
trapeze. And six tumblers (Stiv Bello, Roni Bello, Javier Santos,
Pedro Santos, Oleana Durnyeva and Mariya
Kanatnykova) engage in Icarian Games, involving one member of
each team reclining back on a tipped board to wildly toss, twirl and spin
a respective partner with his feet.
Dergin Tokmak offers a masterful solo
ballet on crutches while Octavio Alegria juggles
everything from boomerang-ing straw hats to ping pong balls.
Although all the performers are exceptional, one act is
really quite unusual. Dressed in mirror-image black leather outfits,
brothers Andrew and Kevin Atherton
present an aerial act suspended from wrist straps. Whether gracefully
soaring as one unit or presenting a mid-air reflection of one another,
they are remarkable.
Comic relief is supplied by Jordi Deambulants
and Joanna Holden. The duo works the crowd as
the audience enters, returning during the first act as an Aladdin-like
magician and his hapless assistant. Corny and incredibly amateurish,
they're so awful, they're good. Deambulants returns in the second act as
greasy lounge singer who can't seem to stay in his spotlight. At the
conclusion of the number, we see the spotlight attendant is none other
than Holden, who has victoriously ruined the act.
Saving the best for last, "Varekai" comes to an eye-popping
finale with 13 Russian acrobats on two gigantic balancing-swings (top
photo). They are not only propelled back and forth between the swings but
fly up to the rafters only to be caught in huge spandex-like sails. It's a
definite crowd pleaser.
Even the slightest detail is important in a Cirque du Soleil
show and "Varekai" is no exception -- right down to the fireflies that
float through the darkness and the pre-show sounds of water dripping in
the rain forest. Production values are top notch throughout, with
Eiko Ishioka's fanciful jewel-toned costumes and
Nathalie Gagne's intricate make-up providing a treat for
the eyes.
Written and directed by Dominic Champagne,
"Varekai" is working its magic at Suffolk Downs through September 5.
© 2002-2004 RJD Associates. All Rights Reserved.
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