Quidam

Quidam is a spectacle of the Cirque of the Sun of which the first take place with Montreal on April 23rd, 1996. Coming from the Latin “quidam” meaning person whom one does not name clearly, this spectacle of round dissociates others by its darker atmosphere. It is also the first spectacle of the company to follow a scenario. Quidam speaks about the men, it is a spectacle close to us, reason of his success which is not contradicted.

Design

an unknown passer by, a solitary flanor, the pressed individual, the unspecified character… whoever. That which goes, comes and lives in our too anonymous companies. That which in the mass forms the silent majority. That which shout, dream and sing of each one of us.

After the phantasmagoria and the marvellous universe of preceding creations, Franco Dragone (director) wanted to create a spectacle more anchored in reality. It joined together around him Gilles Co.-Cross (directing of creation), Michel Crête (scenographer), Dominique Lemieux (costumes), Luc Lafortune (lightings), Benoît Jutras (type-setter), Debra Brown (choreographer), François Bergeron (originator sound) and finally Guy Laliberté (Guide and founder of the circus).

The tone was thus given as of the beginning. Finished the angels, the demons and other characters of this gauge. The originators wanted to explore our real-world and all the anonymities which live it. Today the children are confronted with realities of the world of the adults (the war, social problems). Can one still speak about the innocence and the unconcern of a youth which grown in a universe which is not it his but that of the adults? It is the base even of Quidam . Indeed, by creating the spectacle, the originators have creates a scenario. Zoe, a little girl, wants flees a world which does not bring anything any more to him: these parents deal only with them and remain of marble vis-a-vis its trouble. The universe which it will discover is the beginning of a voyage which will make him change its vision of the life.

This spectacle which pays homage to the anonymities and inspired by the Surréalisme. It suggests that even the lost hearts can be saved by imagination. It is a message of hope in a world which does not promise any more.

Numbers

Quidam contains what one calls a lifting skeleton which is the base even show. It is around this one that the universe of the spectacle is built.

Since its creation, the spectacle knew certain modifications. Nevertheless certain numbers always belonged to the spectacle. It is the case of the German wheel, of the steel children with their number of twin wheel, of the number of air distorsion, cerceaux air, surprising number of skipping ropes, of the smooth cords, balance on canes, the statues (hands with hands), of the flying cords (mixture of trapezoid and cords smooth) and of the very impressive number of banquine.

Other numbers were added with the wire of time like juggling. When with the disappeared numbers, they are the numbers of handling and Hula-hoop.

Universe

Quidam tells a history. It is that of Zoe, a little girl who is bored. She wants to know the joy, the shivers and all these feelings which can fill its life. His/her parents are absent: his/her mother is indifferent and his/her father is egocentric person. They do not realize that them girl moves away from them at the beginning of the spectacle. Zoe will explore a world which is not it his and which will give again hope in the life to him. It is the " Quidam" , a man without head with an umbrella which will start all the spectacle while dropping a hat that Zoe will hasten to carry in her place. This character who seems straight left his imagination represents everyone and anybody at the same time. John then will arrive and guide Zoe and the spectator in the world of Quidam by proposing the marvellous one to him and disturbing it. Accompanied by the Target, allegory of the joy and the kindness on which everyone can cling, Zoe will discover a surrealist world inhabited by strange characters. The aviator with his skeletal wings does not fly. It knows that it has wings? With T it already tried to fly? It can be wanted to flee our world and its problems. The white bitches they do not have appearance. They all identical, are dehumanized and carry out the same movements, automatically. The stray ones are the lost hearts, given up which make of their suffering a source of inspiration. Finally Bang - Bang is an aggressive character, full with force whereas it seems without life. Its heart lives its body.

The scene is overhung by a structure in arch making it possible to make arrive and leave people by the top. This structure evokes a hall of station, place or crosses many anonymities which each one make their life. When with the scene, it is a plate which turns at the desired time. That makes it possible to the characters to move with respect to the spectator while remaining motionless.

Quidam it is also a musical universe. Composed by Benoit Jutras, the inspirations go from the classical music to modern sonorities like the rock'n'roll with the piece “Shore”. Sometimes soft, sometimes energetic, the music gives a dramatic intensity to the spectacle. It is the vector of the emotions. Among the instruments used, we have violins, violoncellos, percussions, saxophones, synthetizers, electric guitars and traditional as well as a variety of other string instruments. The music also combines the voice of an adult and that of a child giving him a single sonority. Quidam is one of the spectacles most original of the company. It is a single spectacle by its environment.

Rounds

Turned Northern - American 1 (Canada and the United States): 1996 -1998.
Turned European: 1999 - 2001.
Turned Northern - American 2 (the United States): 2002.
Turned Japanese: 2003.
Turned Canada - Australia: 2004 - 2005.
Turned Northern - American 3 (Canada and the United States): 2006 - Present.

External bonds

Official site
Site dedicated to the Circus of the Sun
photo Gallery of the spectacle.

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