My, oh my, here's 'Varekai'

What could best describe it?  Everything spinning and when it stops you’re in a world of pure imagination. Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory captured that fascination on screen, but this time, you’re not in a cinema.  You’re actually sitting snugly in your seat with eyes glued to a massive stage.  Music rise in a crescendo and lights suddenly flood the stage and there you see a winged mortal depicting the Greek myth of Icarus, a man with angel wings who wanted to escape the island of Crete, but his wings melted when he flew too close to the sun.  Rather than falling to and drowning in the sea, Icarus lands in a lush forest and there he met enchanted creatures that taught him how to fly again.  The forest is called “Varekai” which means “wherever” in the Romani language of the gypsies, dubbed as the universal wanderers or nomads. 

Lucky for us, this “wherever” place will finally be shipped and transported to Manila in its magical, fanciful, extravagant, and mesmerizing best.  For two hours, both fact and fantasy will unfurl the plot from where you are seated, before your bedazzled eyes.

Behind Varekai is a creative team, all masters in their craft, who took this touring production from its premier in Montreal in 2002 to various countries around the world.  This is easy to forget when you watch before you the summation of the work that this pool of talents has produced. They sing, dance, pirouette, juggle, fold, bend, and stretch the body into odd shapes — like human rubber bands — and be acrobats, clowns, illusionists, trapeze walkers, and aerial flyers, all jaw-dropping to watch, yet so real and comfortable to accept.  Humor is thrown in just in case the audience needs to break the dramatic ascent of its exhilaration before it resumes its steady climb.

Cirque du Soleil, literally translated as “circus of the sun,” has been in this business of spreading awe and magic since 1984 when it all began in Quebec, Canada.  Canada is home to some of the most talented and world-renowned artists like Paul Anka, Celine Dion, Michael Buble, Diana Krall, Nelly Furtado, and the favorite heartthrob of my grandnieces and young “tweens,” Justin Bieber. 

I first heard of this company while visiting a good friend, Maurita Arce, who was the director of sales and marketing of Hong Kong’s Kowloon Panda Hotel.  She said, “Letty, do you want to watch Cirque du Soleil?”  “What’s that?” I asked.  “It’s like a circus, you know, with different acts featuring contortionists, trapeze artists, clowns, musicians, lavish props, etc., except this one is much more enchanting because of its dramatic lights, ethereal music, and fantastic costumes… basta, you will love it!” exclaimed Maurita. 

The basta in her hurried description got me so rapt on high that I agreed to watch the show.  Soon, my grandchildren, family, and friends got to enjoy the lavish productions whether in Melbourne, Maryland, London or Las Vegas. 

Each production promised mind-boggling entertainment as the performers defied gravity, pushed the imagination to unimaginable levels until it became de rigueur to simply expect the unexpected.

Tough act to follow: In Varekai, the performers sing, dance, pirouette, juggle, fold, bend, and stretch the body into odd shapes — like human rubber bands — and be acrobats, clowns, illusionists, trapeze walkers, and aerial flyers, all jaw-dropping to watch. Varekai is a journey to a realm of fantasy with man, machine, music, and magic. 

Therese Tinio of Hoopla Inc., the promoter of Varekai, said, “It took a lot of gentle persuasion (more like arm-twisting) to convince the producers to bring the show to Manila, and now it’s all happening.”  

The cost was a major constraint, but with some give-and-take negotiations, they were able to move the numbers to make the show competitive and affordable to the target audience.  “It’s certainly something worth saving for; far better than the other foreign entertainers we’ve had to our shores,” claimed Therese. 

At the launch held at the Manila Hotel, the venue was virtually converted to a rich, green, and pulsating forest.  The producers of Verekai, headed by its general manager, Robert MacKenzie, gave a sneak preview of some of the acts that would enthrall and entertain the audience. That set me to imagine a ringmaster of sort heralding the arrival of a kaleidoscopic world where nothing was compromised to open up the mysteries of the world and of our mind.

Varekai premieres on June 22, and will run until July 8 with 20 performances before the production moves to our other South East Asian neighbors.  The blue and yellow striped grand chapiteau (big top) – resembling medieval-like tents or wafer cones – will rise just across from the Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta. 

A reminder: Make sure you choose seats with a clear view of the stage and not obstructed by structural posts.  Be assured, however, that the seating layout makes it possible for everyone to enjoy the performance from any angle so do not worry about not getting close to the stage.  The acts are not confined to the main stage or the ringside seats alone; there will be so many wondrous things happening inside the tent for the audience to enjoy wherever they are seated.    

Varekai is a journey to a realm of fantasy with man, machine, music, and magic.  I recently held hands with my grandson when I watched Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas.  The thrill that we both experienced blended young and old into a package of pure escapism and ice cream delight. 

”Ah basta, you will love it.”   

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Seats can be reserved at K “http://www.hoopla.ph/” www.hoopla.ph or check the official website of Cirque du Soleil at www.cirquedusoleil.com to book on line.  Call 775-0939, 881-0947 or 0919-4508125 for further details.