Story by Casey Minter
Photos by Kyle McKee
Timelapse by Will Kanellos
The ceiling of Matthew Knight Arena is hardly recognizable, and beneath it technicians rush about, some daringly hanging from rope ladders suspended from above. The crew seamlessly weaves through the performers’ lively rehearsal, dodging speedy diabolos and spinning acrobats.

A diabolo is a performance tool consisting of two equally sized disks connected by an axle and spun around a string tied to a pair of sticks, which the performers employ with magnificent precision. Their diabolos are blurs of red and gold as they fling them between each other with mind-numbing speed and accuracy.
As this group departs backstage, they are replaced by a muscular group of male gymnasts who, after brief discourse in an indiscernible language, begin their routine.  They form into four groups of three gymnasts, with the larger and taller of the groups flanking the third, smaller gymnast. As their rehearsal begins, a hushed silence permeates the dimly lit arena, and even the workers who have seen the show countless times await the gymnasts’ performance with excited tension.
 
One gymnast, apparently bored by the short wait, passes the time balancing in a one-armed handstand, quietly switching from left arm to right, making the transition seem laughably simple. A percussive, “Up!” breaks the silence and  soon the smaller performers are airborne, springing in synch to dizzying heights, transferring from one group to the awaiting safety of the next group’s arms.

 
 
 
Juxtaposed against these feats are the numerous workers completing remarkable deeds of their own,“We normally finish load-in within twelve hours, with about seventy-five people working on the many aspects of the show,” explains Adam Kendrick, one of the two stage managers working on Cirque du Soleil’s “Quidam” show.
“Thursday’s opening night performance will mark the first of six performances continuing through Sunday,” he continued.
The utter transformation of the arena is baffling, and makes the twelve-hour set-up seem an impossible fact. Enclosing the stage is a massive téléphériqu, a sort of aerial tramway used to reposition and replace sets, and to move aerial acrobats across the ever-changing stage. This feature isn’t the only technical beauty the “Quidam” crew has to work with,
“We also have the world’s largest turntable,” Kendrick laughs.
The turntable makes up a considerable majority of the stage and, together with the immersive lighting, has the ability to transform a scene from dreamy, dramatizing blues to thrilling reds and oranges.
However impressive the technological aspect of the show is, the human side is even more so,“We have a lot of different varying artists with a lot of different stories,” Kendrick says.
A brief glimpse of the men and women who dazzle audiences across the globe for a living is all one needs to know how physically demanding their jobs are,“These guys stay in top condition for their act. They want to make sure they can give their all for the show.”
The show’s cast includes a spectrum of dynamically skilled people: gymnasts, aerialists, acrobats, and contortionists are all among the show’s repertoire, as well as Olympic floor gymnast, Lisa Skinner.
“Some artists have been in acrosports their entire life,” Kendrick explains.
This dedication is apparent even in rehearsal, as the performers push themselves with a singular objective, to astonish a crowd full of eager people who will soon come to witness the fantastical show.
“Quidam” is the ninth stage show produced by Cirque du Soleil. It premiered in 1996 and has since been enjoyed worldwide by millions of spectators. Two years ago, after completing a global tour, the show was remounted in order to be more widely available. It was transformed from a “big top” show to an arena show, which involved logistical changes.
The story has stayed the same however, involving an overzealous young girl, Zoé, who is whisked into the mystical and encouraging world of Quidam. Here she encounters eclectic characters, all of which promote her ever-expanding imagination.
To the young girl, the Cirque is an artistic catharsis. To the spectator, “Quidam” is like an idyllic dream, every consummate detail cherished and remembered with clarity. Such a dream is not something to be passed up lightly, and the opportunity to experience this once in a lifetime show is quickly fading.
By the end of the weekend, the show will continue on its tour, gracing another town with beautiful showmanship. If you decide to attend one of the performances this weekend, expect to be astounded by the artistic vision presented through the dynamic stage, and the incredible, varying feats of the multiple performers. The showtimes are Friday at 3:30pm and 7:30pm, Saturday at 7:30pm, and Sunday at 1:00pm and 5:00pm.

Gallery • 8 Photos

A Night in Quidam