By Daily Press staff
Those who tuned into the Emmy-award winning documentary series “Cirque du Soleil Fire Within” this past season were treated to an intimate look at the latest creation by the group of artists taking the entertainment world by storm. With eight separate shows currently running across North America, Europe and Asia, the modern-age circus just may be the greatest show on earth.
“Fire Within” followed the travails of those behind Varekai, which translates to “wherever” in the Romany language of the gypsies — the universal wanderers. Presently, wherever happens to be the STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles, where Varekai will be running under the blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau through November 23.
For the uninitiated, Cirque du Soleil is the internationally renowned circus that was the brainstorm of Guy Laliberté, an accordion player, stiltwalker and fire-eater from Quebec City. Since the show’s creation in 1984, Laliberté has guided the teams through the creation of every show, garnering rave reviews worldwide and re-establishing the circus arts’ relevancy in modern society.
Conceived by a new creative team, led by writer and director Dominic Champagne, VAREKAI has played to sold-out audiences, standing ovations and critical acclaim in the first nine cities of its current North American tour. The production is intended to pay homage to the nomadic soul, and honor the spirit and artistry of circus tradition.
The LA Times called Varekai “Magnificent and intoxicating… Cirque du Soleil soars with VAREKAI”.
Cirque du Soleil has played to more than 30 million spectators in 130 cities across the globe. Just like Cirque du Soleil’s seven previous productions, Varekai is comprised of an international cast of performers and artists, representing 14 countries.
Following Varekai’s performances in Los Angeles at STAPLES Center, the show moves to Pomona for a premiere on Thursday, December 4 at Fairplex. These will be the only Los Angeles engagements of Varekai. Following the New Year, the show has its premiere in Costa Mesa at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center on January 16, 2004.
Tickets for Varekai are available by calling 1 (800) 678-5440, or online at cirquedusoleil.com.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 14, 2003. Read the original PDF.