The title refers to the feature character described as the headless man in the storyline. Unlike other circuses that produce animal/clown performances, Cirque Du Soleil has a focus to its shows. Quidam, a nameless passer-by, is a solitary figure lingering on a street corner.
Quidam can be anyone living in this anonymous and modern society. The storyline emphasizes the frailties and anguish of people living in the new millennium, underlining the differences and conveying positive feelings and resentment and confronting dreams with nightmares. The so-called ``art circus,'' which is scheduled to be performed from March 29 to June 3 next year at the World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong, Seoul, had it premiered at the Millennium Seoul Hilton last Thursday.
About 140 performers selected from 19 countries will give a magical performance on an outdoor stage equipped with 2,500 seats. The circus, which was created in Montreal, Canada, in 1984, has held more than 250 performances in 100 cities in 13 countries, attracting more than five million spectators so far. ``This performance differentiates itself from other circuses in that it focuses on a storyline with various performances integrating classical and contemporary techniques,'' said Kim Yong-kwan, CEO of the Mast Entertainment which invited the troupe to Seoul.
Quidam is more scripted than previous productions, integrating performances and theater into circus art by drawing on the emotional relationships between the performers in the troupe. Making the maximum use of human bodies, the troupe does not use animals. Instead, its performances mix elements of street performances and busking, circus, opera, ballet, and rock music including contortionists, jugglers, feats of strength, clowning, and trapeze artists.
In the launching event in Seoul, three actors premiered their eye-popping performances, including a German wheel that defies gravity and common sense. In the German wheel, acrobat Jason Papp, artist at the circus masters his own domain from within a giant wheel consisting of two metal hoops joined at six points and measuring over six feet in diameter. In a display of strength and agility, he rolls, turns and spins while performing somersaults and twists.
``The show is very inspirational. I like my show because artists can share their feelings with spectators during the performance,'' he said. The circus features aerial hoops, hand balancing, aerial straps, skipping ropes, Spanish webs, German wheel and diabolos.
Diabolos are performances in which four magical figures clad in futuristic metallic dresses appear with ancient toys. In this diabolos, each person holds two sticks linked by a string on which a musical wooden spool, the diabolos, comes to life. Spectators are amazed as the diabolos twirls, jumps and flies through the air while the acrobats themselves perform flips and build human pyramids.
In the acts of statue, ``Vis Versa,'' two strong, flexible performers, never losing contact, assume positions with a perfect sense of balance. Ticket reservations will begin Nov. 20.
Tickets will cost from 50,000 won to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541-6234 or visit or .
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