Quidam
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Quidam (pronounced "key-DAHM"; IPA: [kiː'daːm]) means "a certain one/thing" or "anonymous passerby" in Classical Latin, and is the ninth show produced/performed by Cirque du Soleil.
The entire show is imagined by a young girl, named Zoe, a sad and forlorn girl who is alienated and ignored by her parents. She dreams up the whimsical world of Quidam in an attempt to escape her sadness.
The title refers to the feature character, best described as a giant Headless Horseman sans horse, carrying an umbrella and a bowler hat. Quidam is said to be the embodiment of both everyone and no one at the same time. Subtitles at the beginning of the official video state: Quidam: a nameless passer-by, a solitary figure lingering on a street corner, a person rushing past. One who cries out, sings and dreams within us all.
According to Cirque's literature: Quidam highlights our frailties and our anguish in the face of the new millennium that lies before us. It also underlines differences, conveying positive feelings and resentment and confronting our dreams with our nightmares. Quidam is more scripted than previous productions, integrating performance and theatricality to a greater degree, and draws on the emotional relationships between the performers in the troupe.
Near the beginning and end of the show, a disembodied female voice stoically proclaims:
"What is right, and what is wrong ... karma ... karma"
[edit] Characters
[edit] Officially Named
Based on descriptions by the show's creators, Zoe's poem in the interactive program on the music CD, and actors themselves in interviews, listed here in order of appearance during the show:
- Zoé
- An average little girl. She is bored yet curious, and she longs for the fun and excitement she believes lie just beyond her reach. When her parents ignore her, she suspends them "for a minute or two or three."
- The Father
- Completely, though unwittingly, self-absorbed. His white shoes are the only indication of a hidden personality.
- The Mother
- Conveys an air of absence and alienation. Inside her lie fear, frustration, and desire.
- Quidam
- The Quidam may have stepped out of a surrealist painting or been conjured up out of Zoé's imagination. He is anonymous; he is everyone, and, at the same time, he is no one.
- John
- Part game-show host and part substitute teacher with his own renegade lesson plan, a ringmaster of sorts; an eerie but charming guide through the world of Quidam.
- The Target (La Cible)
- Originally known as Karl or Fritz (based on the actors' real names), a living, human bulls-eye (possibly the personification of the carpet on the family's floor, which has the same design), fired at by everyone, left vulnerable perhaps by a gentle nature and kindness, ironically remaining light-hearted and happy--answering to everything with a smile. "A sweet, but frantic romantic" who can "fly with ease from the highest trapeze." (Asexual; has been played by male and female actors.)
- Les Chiennes Blanches
- The silent chorus, the nameless and the faceless; the dehumanized, mechanical crowd, simultaneously leading and following.
- Boum-Boum
- Aggressive and physically fit, yet lifeless, struggling, as though the body lives on only because the soul refuses to leave it. From the darker side of human relationships--an evil seduction. Enjoys screaming at the audience and walking away proudly like a bully on the playground, but if an audience member screams back, will run away like a frightened child! (Asexual; has been played by male and female actors; a.k.a. La Mort.)
- Rabbit (originally Funny Bunny)
- Female looking for love all the time! Plays, and likes to tease. Never knows if the one she has is the good one, so she goes to someone else. Chases and gets chased by other characters. "A genius in ecology, lovey-dovey, and astrology." Has no tail, and each ear is twice the length of her head! Referred to as Donkey Ears by fans. The character's original French name on skethces was Peau d'Ane, which translates roughly as ass/donkey skin.
- The Aviator
- Has skeletal wings, but doesn't look quite ready to take off. Perhaps he doesn't know he has wings. Perhaps he knows, but can't fly. Perhaps, like Icarus, he has tried and failed. Or perhaps he simply wants to escape this world and its problems.
- Les Égarés
- Lost individuals who gather together in the streets and abandoned buildings of Quidam. They sublimate their suffering, transforming it into something magical and inspiring.
[edit] Unofficially Named
As described by fans:
- Femmes Voilees (i.e., Veiled Women) or Noose Maidens or Blue Girl Group
- 4 or 5 in number, plump and pretty in appearance, wearing pale-blue, low-cut dresses and see-through hoods covering their entire head. Each one manipulates a small section of rope to alternately simulate strangulation and hanging--a real danger that threatens the Cloud Swing artist who swings above them. (Members include performers from the Aerial Hoops and Spanish Webs act.)
- Roman or Goofball or Beany-Boy
- Wears suspenders, a beany, and a silly look on his face. At the conclusion of the Skipping Ropes act, he wants to stay center-stage, but John blows a whistle and orders him to leave with the other actors. Chased occasionally by Rabbit; transforms into a member of Les Egares for Banquine during second half of show.
- Spinster or Spinning Lady or Whirling Purplish
- Spins constantly at the close of intermission across the entire length of the stage for about 2 minutes if the Handbalancing act is omitted; otherwise, spins throughout the Handbalancing act. Her wig is gray-white, possibly indicating her age in metaphorical contrast to the beautiful young lady who performs the Handbalancing act.
- Spirit of Freedom or Statue of Liberty Thing or Crowned Ghost or The Wind
- A shapely lady draped in a plain white cloth wearing a spiked crown like Helios. In her sole appearance during the show, she runs to the edge of the stage facing section 204 during the middle of the German Wheel act, and stands there frozen until the act concludes and The Father walks out to the center of the stage. She then springs to life, dances gracefully around him, and exits the stage.
- Target's Sister or Spoiled Brat
- With bright red hair and white pajama-like gown, runs amok, at one point rushing to the front of the stage to stick her tongue out at the audience.
[edit] Music
Quidam's soundtrack was composed by Benoît Jutrás, and has been released in three editions featuring additional songs, alternative new cover designs, and higher quality sounds.
The music conductor does several things at once in the live performance at each show:
- Loads and triggers sequences on a Roland XP-80 Music Workstation with Realtime Phrase Sequencing
- Watches the show closely to make the music follow the action
- Conducts the band (all wear headphones; the conductor has a microphone, and counts in French)
- Listens to the band to make sure that the music stays true to the original concept
- Plays keyboards and mandolin
Half of the songs were originally written as one long sequence, which contains instrumentation that the band plays along with, like a bass and/or percussion track, extra synthy sounds, a sampled choir, etc. The big, long sequence was chopped up into about 20 little sequences that the conductor triggers by hitting keys on one keyboard, while playing the other keyboard.
Besides the conductor, other members of the band convey the passion and intensity of the show by playing:
- saxophones and keyboards
- violin and an electric violin that controls a synth module
- cello
- classical guitar and electric guitar (plus a Roland VG-8 V-Guitar)
- drums and drumpad-generated noises
In addition to Zoe who sings several songs in an invented language throughout the show, a male vocalist stationed with the band also sings during many of the songs, makes sound effects for John and the clowns, and reads the opening/closing announcements.
Quidam's speaker system comprises five smaller systems. The PAs left and right, primarily used for music, consist of four MSL-4s, two Meyer 650-P self-powered sub woofers, and one Meyer UPM-2 per side, the UPM-2s being used mostly for stage coverage. The second system, hung from the tent's cupola, comprises seven MSL-4s (one for each seating zone) and carries mostly vocals. The third system is made up of eight Meyer UPL-1s and two UPL-2s hung in the tent masts, used as delay and fills for the upper seating areas. The fourth and fifth consist of six Renkus-Heinz surround speakers and four Electro-Voice DML-2182s for sub-bass special effects.
[edit] Feature Acts
Mostly as described by the show's creators, in order of appearance during a typical set:
- An acrobat becomes master of his own domain from within a giant, 100-pound wheel, which consists of two metal hoops joined at six points, and measures about six feet in diameter (1 revolution covers about 20 linear feet). In a display of strength and agility, he rolls, turns, and spins while nonchalantly performing somersaults and twists, sometimes handsfree!
- Aerial Straps
- An aerial fantasy performed by two elegantly-dressed artists grasping cords that dangle from the overhead rails. Sometimes on the ground, sometimes in the air, they evoke sensuality through breathtaking figure!
- Four magical figures clad in futuristic silver-metallic tin-man dresses work two sticks linked by a string on which a musical wooden spool (similar to a Chinese yo-yo), comes to life! In their tiny hands, the diabolo twirls, jumps, and flies through the air while the acrobats themselves perform flips and build human pyramids!
- A seemingly nude woman (wearing a bodysuit) becomes one with columns of red fabric which support and cradle her high in the air. In harmony with the haunting music, contortionist and cloth intertwine, separate, and embrace again. The translucent fabric occasionally hugs the body of the performer, creating a stunning effect!
- Drawing inspiration from dance, acrobatics, and the art of manipulation, a colorful group of 20 acrobats endowed with coordination and rhythm performs this familiar child's game. A steady stream of solo, duo, and group jumps and figures!
- Whirling above the stage, sometimes together, sometimes alone on a hoop, three performers pivot and twirl through the air, performing stunning feats of grace and dexterity, sometimes dangling upside-down by a single foot or right-side-up by only their skulls!
- Alighting on the stage, the seductive performer's gracious silhouette immediately captivates the imagination. Perched on balancing canes, she moves elegantly through a series of precarious positions of ever-increasing intricacy!
- A sensational routine involving up to 20 spinning hoops that a seductive performer manipulates all over her body, combining the agility and skill of a gymnast with the flexibility of a contortionist, the dexterity of a juggler, and the grace of a ballerina. She spins one hoop on her foot raised vertically in the air, simultaneously accomplishing various contortionist-like movements on the floor!
- Artists fly over the stage, attached to trolleys on the overhead tracks. Suddenly, time stands still as the acrobats, in turn or as a group, drop into the void, stopped only by the ropes looped around their waists or ankles!
- Ball Manipulation
- Use of giant wave-like metal forms and multiple rhythmic gymnastic balls for a highly abstract juggling effect.
- Up to 5 balls fly through the air, with additional manipulation of a briefcase, umbrella, and bowler hat.
- Statue - Vis Versa
- Never losing contact, two strong, flexible performers move almost imperceptibly, assuming positions impossible without an impeccable sense of balance. The couple summon all their sensitivity and powers of concentration in their quest for perfect harmony, a testimony to the natural beauty of the human body!
- A unique and dangerous combination of Trapeze and Spanish web techniques. Spectators watch in awe as the artist carries off spectacular acrobatics, diving and twisting far above the stage!
- Banquine
- An Italian acrobatic tradition going back to the Middle Ages that combines gymnastics and ballet. Showcasing the agility of the human body, up to 15 artists perform spectacular sequences of feats and human pyramids, astounding audiences with their perfectly synchronized movements! Several versions of the act exist and may be performed at any show depending on various factors. The main difference usually involves the Flight-Exchange (a.k.a., cross-jump) maneuver; it's usually performed with 2 men (as seen on the video), but is occasionally omitted, or can be performed with 2 men and 1 lady (as seen in the 2002 Oscar performance), or with 3 men and 1 lady--the most spectacular version where all four must carefully avoid each other in mid-air!
- Clowns
- Subversive and crazy acts featuring audience participation, expressing themselves in the joyful, burlesque-toned and liberated language of clowns via mime:
-
- Attempting to coordinate the playing of a violin and cymbals and ... balloons! An unsuspecting audience member is recruited to help.
- Driving an imaginary car, a beautiful young lady from the audience is chosen for a ride-along. Clown does his utmost to get a kiss from her on their "date"!
- Directing a silent film involving 4 members from the audience: a stud-type, a floozy-type, a jealous, broken-hearted loser-type, & a fat/itchy director-type. Clown does his utmost to get them to remember their simple roles in as few takes as possible without having to fire any of them!
[edit] Show
Since the show's inception, the acts and sequences have varied slightly, and still change on occasion based on a variety of unpredictable factors. The list shown below primarily represents the official video filmed in Amsterdam, 1999, with modifications based on performances during the North American tour, 2006. Times listed are approximate, and may lengthen or shorten in extremely rare situations when a malfunction occurs onstage. The first half (including pre-show audience interaction) runs for about 65 minutes; then following a 30-minute intermission, the second half runs for about 65 minutes for a total of 2 1/2 hours. (The abridged video runtime is 90 minutes.)
| Minutes | Music | Feature Act | Supplements |
| 5 | - | - | Les Chiennes Blanches, Rabbit, Boum-Boum interact with audience |
| 5 | - | - | John knits while listening to radio, then escorts latecomers, and announces house rules |
| 5-7 | Atmadja | Petit Salon (Small Living Room) | Zoé meets Quidam; John takes The Father's shoes |
| 5-7 | Incantation | German Wheel (Roue Allemande) | Boum-Boum break-dances; a veiled Statue of Liberty poses; The Father releases a balloon from his briefcase |
| 5 | Steel Dream | Aerial Straps | - |
| 3-4 | Marelle | Marelle (Hopscotch) | John wears handlebars; 4 Zoé clones tease John; progressively-louder percussion players run amok |
| 5-7 | Enfants d'Acier | Diabolos | Aviator transports Zoé |
| 1 | Carrousel (part 1) | (segue) | Boum-Boum strikes boxing gloves causing thunder and lightning effects, then screams |
| 8-10 | - | (clown) | - |
| 2 | - | (segue) | The Father slowly walks through the air reading (then tearing) a newspaper while Zoé swings; John orchestrates via megaphone |
| 8-10 | Let Me Fall | Aerial Contortion in Silk (Contorsion Air et Soie) | Chienne Blanche pushes a fan to blow away the newspaper fragments; singer in bird cage; The Mother & 2 attendants carry away the contortionist; Target dances with sparklers |
| 2-3 | - | Hoops | John plays with a hula hoop (distinct from Elena Lev's Hoops act, which substituted for Handbalancing) |
| 5 | Innocence and Zydeko | Skipping Ropes (Cordes a Sauter) | - |
| 5-7 | Séisouso | Aerial Hoops (Cerceaux Aeriens) | - |
| 2 | Carrousel (part 2) followed by wind/rain sound effects | (segue) | Target or The Father floats overhead, rings a bell, and catches a balloon released by Zoé; Les Égarés release their balloons |
| 30 | - | (intermission) | - |
| 1 | Let Me Fall (reprise) | (segue) | Les Égarés have transformed and walk slowly off the stage |
| 6-7 | (untitled) | Handbalancing (Equilibre) or Hoops | Spinster spins almost continuously; other characters ride skateboards face down as if paddling surfboards |
| 2-3 | - | Darts | John wears dartboard on head; Chienne Blanche acting like seal provides balloon |
| 6-7 | (untitled) | Spanish Webs (Cordes Lisses) | The Mother releases Target from a bird cage; afterwards, red-haired brat runs to front of stage and sticks out tongue |
| 2-4 | Gopher (mambo recording by Yma Sumac) | Coat Rack | John successfully impresses Zoé; Quidam passes by |
| 5 | Rivage | Ball Manipulation/Juggling (Jonglerie) | originally performed by 3 men, more recently performed by The Father; Target catches juggled balls in a bird cage |
| 10-12 | Réveil | Statue - Vis Versa | 3 ghostlike apparitions float over stage; 1 drops confetti; another ghost walks out on stage; a male ballerina dances |
| 13-17 | - | (clown) | (On the video where this act is omitted, you can see Zoe bringing out their props at the end of Statue, but then the scene immediately cuts to the beginning of Cloud Swing) |
| 3-5 | (untitled) | Cloud Swing (Corde Volante) | 5 veiled ladies mimic strangulation and hanging; Boum-Boum struts wearing a net; guitarist bangs tambourine and plays with violin bow (as popularized by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin); red-haired brat throws tantrum |
| 7-10 | Misére | Banquine (by Les Égarés) | - |
| 1 | (untitled) | (segue) | Zoe is reunited with her parents; John and Target lead Les Chiennes Blanches in celebration |
| 5-7 | Quidam | Quidam reclaims hat from Zoé | Cast dressed as Les Chiennes Blanches reveal themselves, then return sans makeup and wigs for final bows |
| 1 | - | Boum-Boum ends show | - |
[edit] Seating
Cirque du Soleil presents Quidam under a big top (Grand Chapiteau) seating 2,544 people. The image shown here is a scaled-down version of the official seating diagram used when purchasing tickets for shows held in North America during 2006 (3 colors corresponding to 3 price levels; note that the price levels are sometimes divided differently for different cities depending on regional economy). However, it is not entirely accurate; the mid-priced sections (203 and 204) are actually about twice as wide as their adjacent sections. Also note the 4 small black rectangles representing obstructions (44-foot steel masts supporting the tent and lighting) between 101-103, 102-104, and below 103 and 104. These will affect your field-of-view if you sit anywhere behind them.
Note the following:
- A fourth pricing level, called VIP Tapis Rouge, can be added onto tickets in 101 and 102, but you can also purchase seats in those sections at the regular price.
- Be aware that if you sit in 101 and 102, which are the best sections, 2 acrobats from the Spanish Webs act will perform a dramatic bungee-like descent directly over your head!
- If you find yourself sitting behind a larger/taller person who obstructs your view a bit, simply ask an usher for a booster cushion; they add a couple of inches to your sight level.
[edit] Danger
Many of the feature acts put the artists at risk of death or serious injury. Aside from some slow-motion stunts where the actor appears to float, fly, or walk in the air, the Cloud Swing artist is the only one who wears a safety cord. Considering the number of rapid-fire flips she performs on her trapeze-rope, she could easily become entangled in the rope and/or safety cord. Other stunts rely solely on the actor's grip.
The worst Quidam incident on record was December 6th, 2002 during the 5:00pm show in Tampa Bay, Florida. Natalia Pestova, who also played The Mother, fell about 6 to 8 feet during the Spanish Webs act (per St. Petersburg Times, 12-7-2002). She was taken out on a stretcher to the Bayfront Medical Center, and the remainder of the show was canceled (as well as the 9:00pm show). Incredibly, she sustained no serious injuries, was released later that evening, and continued touring with Quidam into 2004. According to a Cirque du Soleil spokesperson, Karina Leduc, the fall resulted from a "technical mishap", not a mistake on the part of the acrobat (per St. Petersburg Times, 12-8-2002).
[edit] Trivia
[edit] Artists
- Ages range from 10 to 50, with an average of about 28 (continually fluctuating of course).
- In a 2006 press release, Quidam artists represented 16 countries:
- 13 from Russia
- 9 from Canada
- 6 from Ukraine
- 6 from the United States
- 5 from Australia
- 4 from China
- 3 from France
- 2 from Brazil
- 1 from Argentina
- 1 from Germany
- 1 from Japan
- 1 from Kazakhstan
- 1 from New Zealand
- 1 from Romania
- 1 from the United Kingdom
- 1 from Cuba
- Approximately 40-60 artists (56 listed in a 2006 press release) and 60-100 support personnel travel with the show.
- Cirque has an annual contract with a circus in China for new Diabolos performers. The four girls, Chinese citizens 10-13 years old, get a 1-year work visa to travel with Quidam accompanied by chaperone translators and tutors. Once the year is up, they go home.
- Kristina Besschetnaia, Aerial Hoops performer, is the daughter of Konstantin Besschetny, Banquine performer (name spellings per the 2006 souvenir program)
- Zoe casting criteria:
- Age between 10 and 13
- Small and slim (ingénue); maximum height 5' 3"
- Soprano
- Good ear for accents
[edit] Costumes
- According to Cirque's literature, the fabrics and textures used in Quidam's costumes reflect the variegated hues of a megalopolis inhabited by street people.
- Basic costume fabrics and lining materials include leather, jute, linen, crape, wool, velvet, Lycra, 42 varieties of silk, and 30 varieties of cotton from England, France, Italy, and California.
- The color scheme relies heavily on grey, accented by rich, warm colors and metallic tones achieved by dyers using a number of dyeing, printing, airbrush and tiedyeing technique. Eighty percent of the fabric is white and must be custom dyed in the Montreal costume shop.
- Each artist has 2-7 costumes (including a spare of each one), for a total around 250, plus about 500 costume items.
- 200-300 shoes, all hand painted to blend in with the colors of the costume, must be re-touched everyday!
- Many of the Skipping Ropes performers during the first half also perform Banquine in the second half. Their costumes are the same design but are more colorful during Skipping ropes to represent characters in real life. Following the helicopter incident after which their souls (represented by balloons) ascend into the stormy sky, the colors of the costumes are muted to represent life after war/tragedy.
- About 20 handmade, artist-specific wigs worn in the show are made from natural hair, and are washed/styled for every show!
- Altogether there are 30 bowler hats available for use in the show!
- All costumes that touch the skin must be washed everyday; depending on the fabric they are either machine washed, dry cleaned, or hand washed.
- Costumes last from 6 months to two years. Those used in acts that have friction with apparatus such as Aerial Hoops and Spanish Webs have to be replaced and repaired more often.
[edit] Grounds
- Main tent (Grand Chapiteau) is 61 feet high, 167 feet in diameter, and covers about 29,000 square-feet of ground. (Note: Official press releases state that this represents the stage; however, 167 x 167 = 27,889 square-feet if calculated as a square instead of circle to accommodate crowd walkway and outdoor restrooms.)
- Five generators supply 2,425 kilowatts of power.
- 45 trucks carry more than 750 tons of equipment.
- Kitchen, two dining rooms, and a storage room with walk-in cooler are housed in four mobile trailers within the camp.
- On an average day, private chef serves 450 meals (free for troupe; local ushers and security personnel can buy).
- One tent is a designated warm-up area with a gym and physical therapy clinic.
[edit] Milestones
- From its 4-1996 to 4-2006 Quidam has sold over 8 million tickets.
- Quidam's 3000th performance was the 1:00 show on 7-31-2004 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
[edit] Official Programs
Approximately once a year since the show's inception, Cirque publishes a new souvenir program with some new photos of the acts as well as the names and photos of the current performers. The primary way of distinguishing each edition is the background color of the cover photo behind Quidam; the secondary method is to look at the copyright statement on the credits page. One noteworthy exception is the 2003 edition produced for the Japan tour, which is of a completely different, larger format.
| Cover | Filename | Printing Date | Tour Name on Program | Pages |
| Black | (none) | "Mai/May" 1996 | 1996-1997-1998 North American Tour | 52 |
| Black | (none) | "Janvier" 1997 | 1996-1997-1998 North American Tour | 52 |
| Black | Qui.04.98 | "Avril/April" 1998 | 1996-1997-1998 North American Tour | 52 |
| Black | Qui.06.99 | "May" 1999 | 1999-2000-2001-2002 European Tour | 52 |
| Black | (?) | 2000 | 1999-2000-2001-2002 European Tour | 52 |
| Black | (?) | 2001 | 1999-2000-2001-2002 European Tour | 52 |
| Black | (?) | 2002 | 1999-2000-2001-2002 European Tour | 52 |
| Doorway | (?) | 2003 | Japan | 70 |
| Blue | Qui.05.04 | 2004 | (Canada & Australia) | 56 |
| Blue | (?) | 2005 | (Singapore & Hong Kong) | 56 |
| Blue | Qui.01.06 | 2006 | (California and Canada) | 56 |
| Blue | Qui.07.06 | 2006 | (Philadelphia, Cincinnati, St. Louis) | 44 + 8-page insert |
[edit] Show Notes
- A clone plays The Mother (sometimes the Zoe actress in a change of costume) during the Spanish Webs act because the main Mother performs in it (dressed anonymously like the other acrobats). In the early years of the show, The Father (still dressed as The Father) performed in Spanish Webs.
- Certain clowns sometimes dress as Les Chiennes Blanches and casually stroll through the audience before the show starts seeking victims for their acts.
- During Quidam's first North American tour, the Aerial Straps routine was created in case Chris Lashua could not perform the German Wheel. In 2005, Aerial Straps transferred to the Corteo show.
- During the pre-show mayhem, John tunes The Mother's radio (which resembles a toaster) to various stations. First, to a station playing "Kumbalawe" from Saltimbanco, next to one that is playing the opening bars of "Eclipse" from Nouvelle Experience and finally to a station playing the title track chorus to Alegría, to which John shows his humorous disgust by motioning to gag himself with his index finger.
- Many of the bizarre industrial sounds heard during the show are played on a Roland VG-8 V-Guitar system.
- One of the highlights of the Spanish Webs act is when the leader climbs the entire length of the rope using only his arms. The other artists climb using all four limbs, and also grab the rope between their toes with their big toes gripping it like a thumb! Sections of their costumes are made of leather to prevent rope-burns when descending.
- The next-to-last stunt in Banquine on the video involves a girl who flies to the top of the 3-man pyramid, ending up doing upside-down splits. If you look closely, you'll notice that the musicians' area is vacant, and the camera angle is slightly different so that the side seating areas are out of view. Following this stunt, the boy flies to the top of the same pyramid, ending in a perfectly still, calm upright position; you can again see the musicians and the audience, indicating that the girl's stunt was not performed during an actual show; it was edited into the video. It's doubtful that both stunts would ever be performed back-to-back in a single show due to the stress on the two porters forming the pyramid.
- When the show debuted in 1996, the Handbalancing act was named Elevated Handbalancing (Equilibre en Hauteur), and Statue was named Handbalancing (Main a Main), though the literal translation of the French is Hand to Hand (the official name of the act in Mystere).
[edit] Staging
- Engineers developed the stage over a 5-month period, but when relocating to a new venue, it only takes about 50 technicians 40 hours to reassemble it.
- Performers reach the trap-door sewer-lids on the stage via dollies similar to the ones auto-mechanics use while working under cars.
- The overhead cable system (Aerial Conveyor or Teleferique) consists of five rails constructed in seven 19-foot sections for a total length of 120 feet. Each rail houses two electric dollies that travel the length of the system; one brings the acrobatic equipment, performers, and props out from a backstage platform (the Garage), and the other raises and lowers them to the appropriate height. Since the truss is curved, the system is computer controlled so that the objects traveling on the rail will maintain a constant speed and height relative to the flat stage, even though the two dollies constantly change position and never move at the same speed.
- The 34-foot turntable in center stage can rotate in either direction at varying speeds, and can support up to 50 people.
- The performance surface consists of aluminum panels covered with mondo, a rubber coating developed specifically for use on sets and stages.
[edit] Production Credits
- Guy Laliberté, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
- Franco Dragone, Writer and Director
- Gilles Ste-Croix, Vice-President of Creation
- Michel Crête, Set Designer
- Dominique Lemieux, Costume Designer
- Benoit Jutras, Musical Director and Composer
- Debra Brown, Choreographer
- Luc Lafortune, Lighting Designer
- François Bergeron, Sound Designer
- Nicolette Naum, Artistic Director
- Marie-Helene Gagnon, Artistic Coordinator
[edit] See also
- Full Circle (film): The Making of Quidam
- List of Quidam performers (including links to their personal websites & blogs)
- List of Quidam's itinerary
- Solstrom
[edit] External links
- Cirque du Soleil's Official Quidam site
- Cirque du Soleil's Quidam Spectaculera site
- Fire Within Episode 5 featuring Olga Pikhienko's Handbalancing during London 2001 Quidam show prior to leaving for Varekai
- John Gilkey's 1995 Audition
- Patrick McGuire's Quidam Manipulation
- Quidam Lyrics and music
- Quidam show reviews:
- by Richasi
- 1996 Santa Monica describing Pre-Show Abduction by Les Chiennes Blanches
- 1998 New York Times
- 2000 London by Tunbridge Wells Juggling Club
- 2001 London by Nowt2Do
- 2002 St. Petersburg Times article index
- 2004 Vancouver by The Straight
- 2005 Singapore by The Urban Wire
- 2006 Long Beach by L.A. Daily News
- Tent Manufacturer for Quidam's 2003 NAT
- The Cirque Tribune - History of Quidam Music and Vocalists
- Zoe Actress Interviews by A Girl's World
| Cirque du Soleil Troupes |
|
Alegría • Corteo • Dralion • KÀ • La Nouba • Love • Mystère • O • Quidam • Saltimbanco • Varekai • Zumanity |
