What: Cirque Du Soleil – Totem
When: January 17, 2014 thru March 16, 2014
Where: Santa Monica Pier
Tickets: Adults starting at $55
Parking: Santa Monica Civic Center
Photo Credit: Cirque Du Soleil
What an amazing night!
If you’re in the Santa Monica area and you have a hankering for something vivid, creative, and bold, I highly recommend checking out Cirque Du Soleil’s Totem.
As you descend on the Santa Monica Pier, the yellow and blue swirls of the big top greet you with a palpable energy. It’s most definitely showtime!
The whole experience is unusual, vibrant, fresh, electric, and whimsical.
Totem is described as “a fascinating journey into the evolution of mankind.”
The team behind the production absolutely nailed everything from costumes, makeup, choreography, humor, and astonishing acrobatic skill. I’ve seen two other Cirque shows, Ovo and Corteo, which were intriguing in their own right. Totem, however, seem to have more emphasis on lighting and had some standout visual moments. The tent falls dark and a single performer slowly drops from the ceiling encased in a wildly shimmering sparkling silver mirrored bodysuit. Blue and white toned beams of light crisscross the performer and rays of gorgeousness bounce off of them and glitter across the crowned. Honestly, it was stunning.
Cirque definitely has it’s own sense of humor and they take their creative freedom very seriously. Sometimes you just have to go with it, but find yourself smirking trying to figure out how all the scenes fit together. A Native American couple emerge on a canoe and disembark in white clingy costumes covered in silver sparkles and white and cream feathers. They glide their way into the spotlight on roller-skates and proceed to have the most sensual roller-skate performance elevated on a circular platform. Can I say I was embarrassed at times… let’s just say they never broke character and well and truly enjoyed each other while twisting, turning, flinging, caressing their way through their routine. Did I mention they were Native Americans on roller-skates…?
During intermission you were greeted by fisherman in yellow slickers hoisting up their catch of the day. As people made their way by, you soon discovered that you could pull off individual marshmallows dipped in chocolate from their fishing line. Odd, unexpected, delicious, and memorable… only at Cirque!
Photo Credit: Cirque Du Soleil
Preview the show here!
Have you seen the show? Are you tempted to get tickets? You’ll definitely be in store for a memorable night under the big top!
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