I recently saw Quidam live here in Boston, and I knew that I needed to buy the DVD as soon as possible. In fact, I bought it right at the Grand Chapiteau (Cirque du Soleil's term for their big top tent) and watched it as soon as I got home. Wow. Wow. Wow! Quidam is unique from all the other Cirque du Soleil shows, including the ever popular Dralion. Quidam tells a story. A story about a young girl who has seen all there is to see, and she is frustrated in her own little world. When Quidam (a nameless passerby) comes to visit, all that changes. Soon, the little girl is introduced to a world of fantasy, beauty, happiness, and terror. The acts, which are simply incredible, are as follows:
1.) German Wheel - amazing performance of a man inside two hoops which have been connected. He spins around and does acrobatics while moving all over the place.
2.) Diabolos - 4 girls from the Peoples Republic of China whip their diabolos (Chinese yo-yo)around in every possible way. Wonderful act with great music.
3.) Aerial Contortion In Silk - a woman slowly descends from the sky contorting herself as she goes using two long, red silk ropes.
4.) Skipping Ropes - A whole group of people participate in a huge skipping rope game, but they do the most complicated and beautiful routines ever seen!
5.) Aerial Hoops - 3 women are drifted on stage from high in the air, all tangled up in one metal hula hoop. When they descend fully, they each get their own hoop, which is connected to the metal tracks above. They spin, glide, and contort themselves in the most amazing ways imaginable.
6.) *Handbalancing - Olga Pikhienko balances on metal canes connected to the stage, and what she does will astound you. For example, she is able to pull her leg up vertically over her head, and then, with one hand, hoist herself onto a cane in a split position, balancing only on that one hand! Simply incredible.
7.) Spanish Webs - 5 people and 5 ropes. What they do with one another is something so astounding you'll go back and watch it over and over.
8.) Statue/Vis Versa - 2 unbelievably strong people balance on one another in numerous positions, and all in slow motion!
9.) Cloud Swing - a unique blend of the Spanish Webs and trapeze. A great act that builds a lot of tension!
10.) Banquine - Without a doubt the best act in Quidam. 10 or so men and women from Russia and Italy propel one another through the air and land on one another with such grace. Some of the other incredible things they do include: a 4 man tower, a 3 man/1 woman in a split position tower, and numerous other gravity-defying stunts.
*In the current live show Quidam, Elena Lev has replaced the Handbanacing act with a Hoops act. She isn't on the Video or DVD, but you can catch her live when Quidam comes to your city. She is able to manipulate up to 20 hoops on every concievable part of her body!
