See This?

This means that I am getting very close to mastering a new and exciting skill!


Isn't circus fun?

Afterthought

Um... it just occurred to me that I should perhaps post the promo video for tabú.




I admit, this video makes me want to see the show, and I know three people giving feedback at the end, and trust their judgment. But then I remember that I've already seen the show, didn't particularly care for it, and trust that much more.

And that, is just one of the beauties of art.

One Week Later...

I've been putting this off for almost a week, but I feel it is my duty to comment on tabú.

The beginning of the show seemed quite promising, but it very quickly fell into a pattern of monotony, both musically and in structure. If I had to describe the show using as few words as possible it would be "chaos without content".

The transitions, as well as several scenes, all seemed to consist of yelling while swinging on/hanging off of something, most acts struck me as lacking in both technique and artistic, and while there was definitely an atmosphere, it felt more like they were trying to create a certain universe and didn't quite get there.

The German wheel 'act' was simply insulting. I know I'm a tough crowd when it comes to German wheel, but with the exception of his back salto, all the skills seemed plucked from the first session of the first year of circus school, with about as much form to match.

I did like the trapeze number and the fellow who did Chinese pole. Their acts had a much softer vibe (and music), which I'm sure helped them to stand out, but most importantly, both of these artists showed a maturity that I found the others lacked. While the Chinese pole guy may not have had the greatest technique, he had a beautiful, fluid way of moving and great presence. The fixed trapeze number was definitely worth seeing.

Because it really irked me, I need to add that the effect of lowering the apparatus to make it look like the artist just did a really big drop is effective the first time, but the next 10 times, it just makes me wonder why the artists aren't doing drops themselves?

I like the concept of having the audience move around (there were no seats, and ushers placed the public according to the scene) and I thought the Tohu was used brilliantly, though I find it unfortunate that the space outshone the actual show. There were some nice images and some good moments, but not enough to make the show worthwhile.

What Goes Up...

...must come down.

After the high of Impro Cirque the low that was tabú is simply staggering. Words fail. The experience actually left me angry. It doesn't bode well when the best part of the show was its integration into the venue...

I feel like I shouldn't even bother to write about it right now because I am in such a miserable mood that I have virtually nothing constructive to say. There were, of course, some strong points. But I'm not feeling nearly generous enough to mention them right now. Ripping a show to shreds is a pointless exercise. Even bad shows can teach an artist a great deal.

What I will say is this: If you are in Montreal for the last days of the festival and can't decide whether you should see the 7 doigts' Cabaret or tabú, don't make the mistake I made or you, like me, will be kicking yourself later.

See the Cabaret.

Impro Cirque for the Win!

Where do I start? How do I distill two nights of bursting, toe tingling, belly laugh joy, into words?

Easy.

I cheat and post a video.

ROLL TAPE!



What you just saw includes: straps in the style of a feathered animal, handstands in the style of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, really bad birthday clown, blind-folded hand to hand, and many other classic improv league themes with a circus twist.

And that was only the first night. The second night saw tissu under the sea, romantic handstand dinner, clown stopped at the border, and more!

Points are awarded at the end of each round as decided by the public's vote.

Don't like the referee's call?

Huck a clown nose at him.

But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself...

Impro Cirque is based on the Ligue nationale d'improvisation, a competitive, and hilarious, form of improvised theatre. The circus version borrows from the LNI in its format and style but stands on its own as a new kind of circus event. How fitting that both the LNI and Impro Cirque were born in Montreal.

I have never felt so overwhelmingly happy at a show. I was beaming. I was giddy. I was nothing short of euphoric. I think that if you do circus, there's a greater appreciation of the event. The fact that everything is improvised means you're not going to see the kind of death defying feats you normally would expect at a circus show. Not that there aren't spectacular moments. Also, I knew half of the players, so my heart was really quite open to them.

But more than anything, my heart was open to something new, something wildly creative, and something that is nothing short of brilliant. My friend Phil is the mastermind behind the whole event and I cannot begin to explain how proud I am. Not only of him but of the fact that this entire concept has been hatched and nurtured in my city, by so many of my friends, and that I was among the first witnesses... there is no doubt in my mind that this is going to be huge, that it will be copied and that it will spread. It has to. Something this extraordinary simply can't be contained!

Nor should it.

Montreal reinvented circus once with Cirque du Soleil. I think it just got reinvented again.

To cap off the evening, I bought a t-shirt. Only they weren't allowed to sell them as part of the festival so I had sneak out back, under a bridge, and buy it out of a cardboard box in the back if my friends car.

If that doesn't add to the atmosphere and experience of an event, I don't know what does.

Oh, Impro Cirque!

I'm just so smitten with you!

Impro Cirque: An Exerpt

"Will you please rise for the circus national anthem..."

[all rise, hand over heart... music begins]

"Do do do do do do do do do do! Do do do do do do do do do do! Do, do do do do! Do, do do do do! Do do do do do do do do do do do do do do!"

Holy Mother of Wow!

Okay. I shouldn't even be writing this because I have a million (2) doctor's appointments tomorrow and have to get up very early in order to get to them, but something of this magnitude simply cannot wait.

I just saw my first show of Montreal Completement Cirque and it was so utterly amazing that I need to change the ticket for the show I planned on seeing tomorrow night so that I can go see this show again.

It is that good.

What show you ask?

L'Impro Cirque!

If you are in Montreal or, by some miracle, can be here for tomorrow night (Thursday, July 22nd), get your butt down to the old port for 8pm at the old Gare Dalhousie and go see this show. And it is important that you do this tomorrow because it is the last night. If you've ever seen an improv league match, its like that, but with circus. and therefore better. I will write a proper post about this when I have the chance, but something of this level of awesomeness demands immediate attention.

Impro Cirque.

Be there.

Montreal Completement Cirque

Montreal is not only my home, but also a city with a slight addiction to festivals. This summer a new festival has been added to the already overflowing roster and unlike most of the other festivals, I'm really, really excited about this one: Montreal Completement Cirque!

Cirque du Soleil.

Les 7 doigts de la main.

Cirque Eloize.

NoFit State Circus.

Impro Cirque.

Les mains sales.

Les Zyrgomatik.

A4 Circus Ensemble.

Cie EA EO.

The list goes on... and that's just the shows. There are also a number of exhibits from circus inspired jewelery at Montreal's Museum of Fine Arts, to the costumes of Cirque de Soleil at the McCord Museum. Not to mention the Tohu, which, aside from being a major show space, always has some kind of exhibition going on.

Who knew the city could hold so much circus? Often, when I'm on vacation, I don't feel like going to see circus shows. And when I'm in Montreal, I typically feel like I have to, which makes me want to go even less. But with so many shows, its hard to say no.

I begin my foray into this crazy festival tomorrow night with Impro Cirque, followed by tabú on Thursday, and iD the following week.

If you have a chance to come to Montreal in the next few days, the festival runs until the 25th. And if you can't make it to Montreal before then, come anyway. This city is always awesome, but there's no denying that it really comes alive in the summer. And like I said, addiction to festivals. You'll find something to bring joy to your soul. I promise.

GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!

In honour of the World Cup final, I would like to share this little gem with you.


No one could understand why the audience was laughing throughout the usually poetic encore. But I guess that's what happens when you combine a World Cup match the night of a show with a rather twisted clown...

Well played, H. Well played...

Home Sweet Home

I am back home in Montreal and better than ever! I've started training again and my body is bruised, burned, sore and achy. It's fantastic. There are a couple of things that I should probably mention about my circus' last stop before the summer break, but I'm just so glad to be back in Canada and to say a plus to France for two months that I don't know that I'll bother.

The summer season is slow at Kicking Sawdust, but hey, I do still have a few surprises up my sleeves, so you never know!

Have a great summer everyone!