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Cirque du Soleil gives up the big top for its new show,
Delirium. We have an inside look at the fantastic result.
With its global beats and Fellini-esque visuals, Cirque du
Soleil isn't the most obvious candidate for household-name status.
But after 22 years, a lucrative
Las Vegas residence, and more than
a few jokes at its expense, the Montreal-based company has become
synonymous with theatrical wonder.
The newest show is
Delirium, currently touring North
America. This time, Cirque du Soleil has abandoned its trademark
big top for arena stages, allowing a much bigger audience as well
as a grander spectacle. The main character floats around the stage
in a rippling balloon while giant projections splash across
screens, floors, and even the audience.
"It's a fascinating feast for the eyes," says
Delirium
executive producer
Kiki Nesbitt. The ambitious production proved to
be a challenge for even the seasoned hands at Cirque, with two tons
of equipment to assemble in each city, including massive rail
bridges that bisect the stage. Nesbitt calls creators Michel
Lemieux and Victor Pilon "a two-man orchestra" who combine
technical and visual mastery to create a symphony of light, sound,
and otherworldly acrobatics. But it's not just eye candy - there's
actually a story behind all the awe-inspiring stunts.
"It's what we would call an urban tale, about a main character who
lives mostly in his head," says Nesbitt. "We live in a virtual
world where fewer and fewer people talk to each other, and the
story concerns this quest for balance." But mostly, the show just
looks really cool.
(Above) Behold the emerging 80-foot volcanic dress, a structural
feat by costume designer Michel Robidas, who has designed outfits
for French-Canadian divas such as Céline Dion, Diane Dufresne, and
Ginette Reno.