Preview: Cirque Du Soleil's 'Varekai' Captivates and Dominates

Elizabith Costey ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Many people know the tale of Icarus, the young man who flew too close to the sun, fell out of the sky, and into the ocean below. What most people don’t know is that there’s a happier ending to the tale which has been brought to life by Cirque Du Soleil’s enchanting production, Varekai.
True to Cirque du Soleil’s vivid style, Varekai is a captivating culmination of vibrant costumes, brilliant lighting, mesmerizing music, dynamic stage and set design, and of course, heart-stopping aerial and acrobatic acts to keep you on the absolute edge of your seat. Varekai, however, is rather unique in several ways. Varekai is perhaps one of Cirque du Soleil’s strongest touring performances and has been running since 2002. The show has been performed for over six million spectators across the globe and also promotes two unusual acts. The first is a baton-twirling act performed by a world champion baton twirler. The second is a high energy Russian swing act, where performers are quite literally launched into the air, somersaulting and twisting until they land lightly in the hands of their fellow performers.

The latter of these two inimitable acts is particularly exciting. During a casual practice hours before the show opens, onlookers gasped and paused in their work just to watch the performers. Even without the costumes, lighting, and the music, it was heart-racing to watch as the flyers soared through the air, rotating and tumbling as if the laws of physics (let alone gravity) had no bearing on their bodies. Now add in the rest of the classic Cirque du Soleil effects, from costuming to music to staging to lighting, and Varekai becomes absolutely breathtaking!
The very name, Varekai, comes from the Romani word for ‘the unknown’. It refers to a sense of adventure, wonder and discovery; sentiments that this Cirque du Soleil performance definitely reflects throughout every vivacious act. Cirque du Soleil’s Varekai is a fantastic show for all ages. Uplifting and whimsical, audience members will be thoroughly entertained throughout every single act.

Tip: If given the choice at a stage performance, go for seats that are above stage level. While you can still see the show clearly from every angle, the lower your seats are, the more difficult it is to see the full stage. With a show like Varekai, seat location makes a huge difference.