Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Varekai brings magical forest in circus
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Cirque du Soleil, the world-famous circus troupe from Canada, returns to Korea with “Varekai” in April.
Premiered in Montreal, Canada, in April 2002, “Varekai” tells the story of Icarus from Greek mythology. In the myth, Icarus falls to his death when he flies too close to the sun with wings made from feathers and wax. However, director Dominic Champagne brought him back to life as he lands in the mysterious forest of Varekai.
The show was performed in some 60 cities since the Canadian premiere and more than 6 million people have been enchanted by the kaleidoscopic forest populated by fantastical creatures.
Fifty-six artists from the Cirque du Soleil troupe will perform “Varekai,” a smooth enactment of a dramatic story combined with acrobatic feats including aerial hoops and straps, Georgian Dance, hand-balancing on canes, juggling, a triple trapeze and more.
“Varekai” means “wherever” in the Romani language and bears the message that wherever the wind carries a person could be their new home.
The characters include Icarus, the reckless young man who falls from the sky and lands in the magical forest; the Betrothed, an exotic creature who transforms after meeting Icarus; the Guide, a wise old man; and the Skywatcher, a mad scientist and inventor.
Eiko Ishioka, the Academy-winning costume designer of “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” (1992), designed the costumes for the contemporary circus. Ishioka’s designs are based on Greek myths creating a mystical mood to the lush forest of magic.
In 2007 the Canadian troupe successfully introduced “Quidam” and earned a worldwide reputation by drawing more than 170,000 audiences to the circus featuring a whimsical world brought to life from a girl’s imagination. In 2008, “Alegria” was also performed in Korea and their Las Vegas show “O” and “Ka” were featured in the scenes of the 2009 drama “Swallow the Sun” shown on SBS.
The circus runs from April 6 to May 29. The venue for “Varekai” in Seoul will be the tent of the Big Top Theater in Jamsil Sports Complex in southern Seoul, where the troupe had previously performed “Quidam” and “Alegria.”
The tickets go on sale today at website of Interpark (ticket.interpark.com/global). Tickets cost from 60,000 won to 220,000 won. The 220,000-won “Tapis Rouge” ticket includes admittance to a VIP lounge and souvenirs such as a program and CD.
For more information, call (02) 541-6235 or visit www.varekai.co.kr.