This is the first time I'd seen any Cirque show. I went from being very underwhelmed about the entire idea as a child—only knowing typical American circuses—to being a very jaded adult that understood the skill needed, but still thinking circuses are for little kids or in the case of Cirque, for very wealthy adults. I am neither.
In recent years though, I'd realized that this [French-(?)] Canadian circus company doesn't seem to be going away. They've not only endured, they've flourished and pumped out show after show for as far back as I can remember. And the extraordinary prices the tickets command? Maybe there's more to this.
I hate to use a phrase like "feast for the senses" but that's exactly what TOTEM is. Smells fill the circus tent. The chemical smells from the Ports. (The original staging in Montreal was also near the ports; I imagine similar smells and cool air.) And a little herbaceous? Patchouli? Maybe it was the woman sitting next to us. The stage is kept mostly bare, but it is also a technological marvel serving as a canvas for video, lights, other visual effects. I'd heard the music in Cirque shows are pretty great in itself and was happy to see live musicians and singers providing the soundtrack for the evening. As for taste, how about free all-you-can-eat cupcakes at intermission from Cuppies (Torrance) and champagne from the bar?
There were many characters performing familiar circus acts but in amazing lavish costumes in highly creative, highly stylized form. Clowns, trapeze artists, dancers, jugglers, acrobats working on a theme of evolution. The show draws on visualizations of apes, space exploration, technology, the seasons, man's folly, emotions, native American lore, the elements, other animal life. It's really wonderful. I've been convinced. You should book your seats now. Prepare to see something entirely unique.
Dates:
Los Angeles, CA - From 11 Oct 2013 to 27 Oct 2013
Irvine, CA - From 21 Nov 2013 to 29 Dec 2013
Santa Monica, CA - 17 Jan 2014 to 16 Mar 2014
CirqueduSoleil.com for tickets
After the show we wondered if this young man is Native American. He is! And he's originally from nearby Covina. He was one of my favorite performers.
Photos are not allowed in the show. I respected the rules since the woman next to us was embarrassed when they scolded her. Here are other pics from around the venue.
So many of these trailers! Enormous show.
Free cupcakes. Vanilla bean and red velvet.
Cute umbrella design in the tents above the bar.
The unicycle girls! Mind blown. My gentleman took this photo of me at intermission.
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