Cirque du Soleil's Kooza.
On Friday, April 11th, I saw Cirque du Soleil's newest touring show, Kooza in Hartford, Connecticut.
Left Sharon with Mer and Karyn around 4:45pm. Got to Hartford at 6:20ish. The traffic wasn't bad, and it was an enjoyable ride down. It's all hills and long stretches of highway, it's relaxing. I love Hartford because it's a tiny, quiet city with like, no cars anywhere. It's odd, but maybe it's because I'm used to the bullshit chaos of Boston.
We had time to kill, so we stopped at a McDonalds. As soon as we walked in, everyone turned and stared at us. Meridith was like, "What the fuck.. everyone's looking at us." We brushed it off and ordered food. Mer went back up a bit later to get something and the cashier was like, "You guys from around here?" We can't figure out how the fuck they knew we weren't from Hartford. We don't have Boston accents! We weren't dressed any differently than anyone else, except maybe a little overdressed? I was wearing a dress but I didn't look overly nice or anything. We concluded that a.)We were dressed too nicely and therefore looked out of place cause we don't look like white trash, b.) Everyone was really just looking at me cause I am a freak and everyone stares at me cause I look like a clown with my makeup and crazy hair. Or huge boobs, I don't know. It was amusing.
Got to the tents around 7pm. The tents setup was different.. instead of having two seperate merchandise tents, it was one big giant one. It was a little cramped, but it was ok. We sat in our seats and we had a decent view: section 206, row J.
-----
I haven't followed up on this show at all. I knew nothing of it when I saw it. The DVD isn't out yet, so I haven't seen much of the acts. I was excited for contortion because I've always thought the Mystic Pixies were awesome. But that was all I knew.
The opening was hilarious. They had a few members in the audience. One guy sat on Meridith's lap and handed us fake Cirque du Soleil money. It was interesting to see Gordon White doing basically the same character he did in Varekai.
The opening of the show was a bit.. tame? It starts very quiet and slow. There's no huge spectacle or anything, like when Varekai or Corteo open. But the opening of the center stage with the band and singers was really cool. I loved how mechanical but beautiful it was.
Contortion
Yeah, they're pretty incredible. Unfortunately, I've seen so many contortion acts, plus Mystic Pixie acts, that contortion no longer shocks me. I felt a little sad that I wasn't as amazed as the audience was. Their costumes were gorgeous, as was the makeup. For fourteen year olds, they're CRAZY. The audience fucking DIED when Julie Bergez did the crazy move she did in the M&M commercial.
Solo Trapeze
The woman's outfit and hair were AMAZING. She looked so kickass. And I LOVED the music. It all got the viewer going... I was expecting this fucking awesome trapeze act.... no. She does all of like, three or four moves. The entire act is of her spinning the bar back and forth to get enough speed to do the trick. It was quite lackluster. Which was sad, because I thought it was going to be awesome. I love aerial acts, but this was kinda blah.
Unicycle
I fucking hate bike acts. But this was really neat! It was sweet, and the two performers looked like they really liked eachother. I wanted to cover my eyes when he would spin her around fast, I was so sure he was going to drop her!
I think at this point was a volunteer clown act or something. I know I was laughing hysterically and I loved it. The clown acts were sooo effing funny. I know a lot of people hate them, but it was hilarious. I later learned *SPOILER!!* that almost all of the volunteers aren't real, and are family members or wives of other artists *END SPOILER* but either way, it was hysterical.
There was so much chaos and audience interaction with the clown acts, with artists running through entire rows of people and making them all stand up and sitting on people (happened to Meridith again), I loved it! It was hilarious.
Highwire
It was pretty cool. I still don't understand how they don't fall. Agh.
Intermission.
WHEEL OF DEATH
HOLY SHIT. If I was an old lady, I woulda fucking had a heart attack!!! This act almost made me cry, I was so scared!! hahaha, this is the one circus act I have never seen live before. I was most excited for it. That is the most TERRIFYING act I have EVER seen. So much room for error! The first time the artist was ontop of the wheel and it went so fast that he flew off of it... every damn female in the audience SCREAMED at the top of their lungs. I just wanted to fucking curl in a ball and cover my eyes. It was SO hard to watch, haha. Got the most applause for sure.
Juggling
He didn't drop a single damn thing! He was incredible. Uh, the costume was a bit funny but that's ok. But, the act was kinda long and not exactly WOW!ing. In Varekai, I always thought Juggling got the most applause because he got the audience really into it. But this juggling act just kinda went on and on and on. He was definitly the best juggler I've ever seen though.
Teeter Board
Costumes were adorable and I wish I could wear them everyday. They did amazing flips. One girl did this ridiculous flip with both legs tied into one giant long pole. I wouldn't be able to balance myself on that while standing still! This girl freaking did backflips and twists and shit with it. Incredible.
There was another volunteer clown act at some point, but wasn't nearly as funny as the first. The end of the show was kinda sad, and didn't end with a bang, but it was sweet.
****
After the show ended, my friends and I waited around for about 10 minutes. The ushers were completely chill, they didn't even ask us what we were doing waiting around. They seemed awesome here in Hartford, not anal like I've seen in Boston.
Justin Sullivan, who plays the main character Trickster, came out and greeted us. He still had his makeup on, which was effing GORGEOUS. He was really sweet (and oh-so pretty) and showed us behind the stage. I touched the balls they use in Charivari. I just reread that sentence and feel dirty now. Anyway, I saw the drum set used in the solo, the contortion stage, highwire contraptions. The curtain that separates the stage from the back is HUGE, but very pretty. It looks seethrough, but you can't see through it. It didn't seem as complicated as Varekai's backstage.
He then took us backstage to where all the artists were. Most of the performers were changed and leaving. Saw all the workout equipment. There were a few woman sitting on the couches infront of the TV, who happened to be the two "volunteers."
We chitchatted for a while. I'm a fucking tool you guys. I was really nervous, and didn't want there to be any awkward silences... so what'd I do?!?! I asked stupid awkward questions. Like, "Where are you staying?!" .. I meant it in a, "oh, so you're staying in the city that's cool" kinda way, but it came out in a "OMG WHEREAREYOULIVING SOICANSTALKYOU" kinda way. And was like, "sooo i'm friending you on Facebook"... WHO ASKS THAT! WHO! I do. And I just made myself look like a total dork who knows too much about their personal lives haha. I'm like, still kicking myself for asking retarded questions.
Justin was totally cool though, and offered to let me backstage again when they come to Boston, and SIT BACKSTAGE AND WATCH THE SHOW FROM THERE. Which was mindblowing. And if that happens, would be the greatest most coolest goddamn thing in my life.
--------
I must thank Rod for asking Justin to show us backstage. It was totally fucking awesome of him to do that and it completely made the night amazing and unforgetable. So thank you :)
- The show itself was interesting. It was different from the other shows. Except for maybe one or two acts, I didn't feel like any of them ended with a bang or amazing move. I'm also not entirely a fan of traditional circus acts such as juggling, tightwires or bikes, but this show made them interesting.
- The music was great and I'd love to get my hands on the soundtrack. One of the singers was amazing, Tara I believe. I loved her voice. I wish I could've seen the singers more, for the most part they stayed up on their balcony thing.
- The costumes were all amaaazing, as with the makeup. I remember being so disappointed with Corteo, thinking they used boring makeup and costumes, but I ended up loving those. The costumes for Kooza were all gorgeous.
- This show made me appreciate Corteo more, and I wish I'd seen it more than three times. And miss Varekai with a GODDAMN PASSION.
- I had so many perfect opportunities to take pictures or film the show, but I didn't wanna deal with it. Plus, pictures wouldn't come out nearly as good as Dina's, so why bother!
We left Hartford at 11:45, and didn't get home until 1:20. Driving at night sucks, especially in the rain.
***
When Kooza comes to Boston in September, the tents are no longer being put up in Revere, a ghetto town north of Boston. It's now going to be put up in DORCHESTER... the most ghetto town in Massachusetts... ALSO DIRECTLY NEXT TO MY COLLEGE, UMASS BOSTON. I would be able to fucking see the tents from my classrooms, if I were still going to UMass Boston in the fall. If I didn't get into MassArt, I was going to work as an usher at Kooza cause I could just walk over there right after class, but now at MassArt, I'll be a bit farther away and my classes will interfere with working, so I can't do it. One day, I will fucking work as an usher, goddamnit! But damn, the tents will be 20 minutes away from my house! It makes me wish I didn't get into art school, hahhaha.
Anyway,
And, because Karyn has freakishly light eyes and tiny pupils:
Left Sharon with Mer and Karyn around 4:45pm. Got to Hartford at 6:20ish. The traffic wasn't bad, and it was an enjoyable ride down. It's all hills and long stretches of highway, it's relaxing. I love Hartford because it's a tiny, quiet city with like, no cars anywhere. It's odd, but maybe it's because I'm used to the bullshit chaos of Boston.
We had time to kill, so we stopped at a McDonalds. As soon as we walked in, everyone turned and stared at us. Meridith was like, "What the fuck.. everyone's looking at us." We brushed it off and ordered food. Mer went back up a bit later to get something and the cashier was like, "You guys from around here?" We can't figure out how the fuck they knew we weren't from Hartford. We don't have Boston accents! We weren't dressed any differently than anyone else, except maybe a little overdressed? I was wearing a dress but I didn't look overly nice or anything. We concluded that a.)We were dressed too nicely and therefore looked out of place cause we don't look like white trash, b.) Everyone was really just looking at me cause I am a freak and everyone stares at me cause I look like a clown with my makeup and crazy hair. Or huge boobs, I don't know. It was amusing.
Got to the tents around 7pm. The tents setup was different.. instead of having two seperate merchandise tents, it was one big giant one. It was a little cramped, but it was ok. We sat in our seats and we had a decent view: section 206, row J.
-----
I haven't followed up on this show at all. I knew nothing of it when I saw it. The DVD isn't out yet, so I haven't seen much of the acts. I was excited for contortion because I've always thought the Mystic Pixies were awesome. But that was all I knew.
The opening was hilarious. They had a few members in the audience. One guy sat on Meridith's lap and handed us fake Cirque du Soleil money. It was interesting to see Gordon White doing basically the same character he did in Varekai.
The opening of the show was a bit.. tame? It starts very quiet and slow. There's no huge spectacle or anything, like when Varekai or Corteo open. But the opening of the center stage with the band and singers was really cool. I loved how mechanical but beautiful it was.
Contortion
Yeah, they're pretty incredible. Unfortunately, I've seen so many contortion acts, plus Mystic Pixie acts, that contortion no longer shocks me. I felt a little sad that I wasn't as amazed as the audience was. Their costumes were gorgeous, as was the makeup. For fourteen year olds, they're CRAZY. The audience fucking DIED when Julie Bergez did the crazy move she did in the M&M commercial.
Solo Trapeze
The woman's outfit and hair were AMAZING. She looked so kickass. And I LOVED the music. It all got the viewer going... I was expecting this fucking awesome trapeze act.... no. She does all of like, three or four moves. The entire act is of her spinning the bar back and forth to get enough speed to do the trick. It was quite lackluster. Which was sad, because I thought it was going to be awesome. I love aerial acts, but this was kinda blah.
Unicycle
I fucking hate bike acts. But this was really neat! It was sweet, and the two performers looked like they really liked eachother. I wanted to cover my eyes when he would spin her around fast, I was so sure he was going to drop her!
I think at this point was a volunteer clown act or something. I know I was laughing hysterically and I loved it. The clown acts were sooo effing funny. I know a lot of people hate them, but it was hilarious. I later learned *SPOILER!!* that almost all of the volunteers aren't real, and are family members or wives of other artists *END SPOILER* but either way, it was hysterical.
There was so much chaos and audience interaction with the clown acts, with artists running through entire rows of people and making them all stand up and sitting on people (happened to Meridith again), I loved it! It was hilarious.
Highwire
It was pretty cool. I still don't understand how they don't fall. Agh.
Intermission.
WHEEL OF DEATH
HOLY SHIT. If I was an old lady, I woulda fucking had a heart attack!!! This act almost made me cry, I was so scared!! hahaha, this is the one circus act I have never seen live before. I was most excited for it. That is the most TERRIFYING act I have EVER seen. So much room for error! The first time the artist was ontop of the wheel and it went so fast that he flew off of it... every damn female in the audience SCREAMED at the top of their lungs. I just wanted to fucking curl in a ball and cover my eyes. It was SO hard to watch, haha. Got the most applause for sure.
Juggling
He didn't drop a single damn thing! He was incredible. Uh, the costume was a bit funny but that's ok. But, the act was kinda long and not exactly WOW!ing. In Varekai, I always thought Juggling got the most applause because he got the audience really into it. But this juggling act just kinda went on and on and on. He was definitly the best juggler I've ever seen though.
Teeter Board
Costumes were adorable and I wish I could wear them everyday. They did amazing flips. One girl did this ridiculous flip with both legs tied into one giant long pole. I wouldn't be able to balance myself on that while standing still! This girl freaking did backflips and twists and shit with it. Incredible.
There was another volunteer clown act at some point, but wasn't nearly as funny as the first. The end of the show was kinda sad, and didn't end with a bang, but it was sweet.
****
After the show ended, my friends and I waited around for about 10 minutes. The ushers were completely chill, they didn't even ask us what we were doing waiting around. They seemed awesome here in Hartford, not anal like I've seen in Boston.
Justin Sullivan, who plays the main character Trickster, came out and greeted us. He still had his makeup on, which was effing GORGEOUS. He was really sweet (and oh-so pretty) and showed us behind the stage. I touched the balls they use in Charivari. I just reread that sentence and feel dirty now. Anyway, I saw the drum set used in the solo, the contortion stage, highwire contraptions. The curtain that separates the stage from the back is HUGE, but very pretty. It looks seethrough, but you can't see through it. It didn't seem as complicated as Varekai's backstage.
He then took us backstage to where all the artists were. Most of the performers were changed and leaving. Saw all the workout equipment. There were a few woman sitting on the couches infront of the TV, who happened to be the two "volunteers."
We chitchatted for a while. I'm a fucking tool you guys. I was really nervous, and didn't want there to be any awkward silences... so what'd I do?!?! I asked stupid awkward questions. Like, "Where are you staying?!" .. I meant it in a, "oh, so you're staying in the city that's cool" kinda way, but it came out in a "OMG WHEREAREYOULIVING SOICANSTALKYOU" kinda way. And was like, "sooo i'm friending you on Facebook"... WHO ASKS THAT! WHO! I do. And I just made myself look like a total dork who knows too much about their personal lives haha. I'm like, still kicking myself for asking retarded questions.
Justin was totally cool though, and offered to let me backstage again when they come to Boston, and SIT BACKSTAGE AND WATCH THE SHOW FROM THERE. Which was mindblowing. And if that happens, would be the greatest most coolest goddamn thing in my life.
--------
I must thank Rod for asking Justin to show us backstage. It was totally fucking awesome of him to do that and it completely made the night amazing and unforgetable. So thank you :)
- The show itself was interesting. It was different from the other shows. Except for maybe one or two acts, I didn't feel like any of them ended with a bang or amazing move. I'm also not entirely a fan of traditional circus acts such as juggling, tightwires or bikes, but this show made them interesting.
- The music was great and I'd love to get my hands on the soundtrack. One of the singers was amazing, Tara I believe. I loved her voice. I wish I could've seen the singers more, for the most part they stayed up on their balcony thing.
- The costumes were all amaaazing, as with the makeup. I remember being so disappointed with Corteo, thinking they used boring makeup and costumes, but I ended up loving those. The costumes for Kooza were all gorgeous.
- This show made me appreciate Corteo more, and I wish I'd seen it more than three times. And miss Varekai with a GODDAMN PASSION.
- I had so many perfect opportunities to take pictures or film the show, but I didn't wanna deal with it. Plus, pictures wouldn't come out nearly as good as Dina's, so why bother!
We left Hartford at 11:45, and didn't get home until 1:20. Driving at night sucks, especially in the rain.
***
When Kooza comes to Boston in September, the tents are no longer being put up in Revere, a ghetto town north of Boston. It's now going to be put up in DORCHESTER... the most ghetto town in Massachusetts... ALSO DIRECTLY NEXT TO MY COLLEGE, UMASS BOSTON. I would be able to fucking see the tents from my classrooms, if I were still going to UMass Boston in the fall. If I didn't get into MassArt, I was going to work as an usher at Kooza cause I could just walk over there right after class, but now at MassArt, I'll be a bit farther away and my classes will interfere with working, so I can't do it. One day, I will fucking work as an usher, goddamnit! But damn, the tents will be 20 minutes away from my house! It makes me wish I didn't get into art school, hahhaha.
Anyway,
And, because Karyn has freakishly light eyes and tiny pupils: