The Human Circus of “Verekai” is in Town for a Limited Time
By Skip Sheffield
You don’t go to Cirque du Solelil for the story line. You go
to this French-Canadian “Circus of the Sun” for its amazing human tricks and
sheer, eye-popping spectacle.
“Verekai” is the show up through Aug. 23 at BB&T Center
in Sunrise. Created in 2002, the story ostensibly tells what happened to
Icarus of Greek mythology after he fell back to Earth. However Icarus is just
an incidental character in the larger production.
The show begins informally, with a man and woman dressed in
usher outfits playing around with audience members. Useful note: if you like
front-row seats, you could well become part of the show.
The same man and woman will reappear in different costumes
singing as part of the main show. Icarus makes his entrance overhead, wearing
huge feather wings. When he falls to Earth he is broken and crippled. The
colorful creatures he encounters in a land called Verekai will encourage him and help him get back on
his feet again. The show is essentially done in mime. Although characters
vocalize, they speak gibberish like no known language. Characters get
their meanings across by vocal inflections. Though we don’t understand what
they are saying, we get their meaning.
The music for “Verekai” is exotic and all-original, played
by an onstage band that is hidden most of the time. The music sets the stage
for the spectacular aerial, acrobatic, trapeze, balancing and juggling acts
performed by beautiful, nimble performers from all over the world. I had no
program so I can’t tell you who the performers were. Trust me; they are amazing
and their feats breath-taking.
The BB&T Center is not one of my favorite venues, and to
add to its drawbacks, $20 is demanded to park in their parking lot, so factor
that into the price of a ticket. “Verekai” uses only half of the arena, so the
sightlines are good and it has a relatively intimate feel. There are common
factors in all Cirque du Solelil shows, including amazing, brilliant costumes
and incredible feats of human dexterity. Yes, it literally is a circus, and not
one the PETA will ever protest.
Tickets are $40-$100, available at TicketMaster. Call
800-745-3000 or go to www.cirquedusolelil.com/verekai.
borrow a Lexus and park for free.
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