#cirque du soleil quidam

[aquilas-designs]

Quidam

This is a very experimental style that I've never used before, so I'd like to know what everyone thinks of it. I wanted something that encompassed the eeriness of the show itself, and I think I managed to get it!

Quidam is such a beautiful show! It somehow manages to make something really eerie and unsettling that's also wondrous and fantastic!

And the titular character, Quidam, caught my eye immediately! It's fascinating how they can give a character with no face so much personality. I guess it helps that he's taller than any of the other characters, so his presence is always strongly felt.

I don't often draw humans because I just can't get the faces to look right. I clearly didn't have that problem with Quidam, though! 😅 If I'm able to figure out faces, I'd love to draw Target next.

~Please Reblog!~

[aquilacalvitium]

In all forms except physical I am here

[moratoirenoir]

[sweepseven]

Whoever made the decision to leave off Banquine, Spanish Web, and Handblancing off of Quidam's CD I WANNA TALK. And throw hands.

Aha, you would think!! But have you met Cirque fandom's single greatest asset, Propel Pierrot??

Propel has been around for decades uploading tons of live versions of Cirque songs, usually always in stunning quality. His collection is unmatched and I super encourage you to go through your favorite shows' playlists! Here are the Quidam ones you mentioned:

Banquine (official name: Misère) Spanish Webs Handbalancing

Some other Quidam faves of mine that he's uploaded:

Quango Tango (takes me right the fuck back in such a visceral way) Walking in the Air (my favorite Cirque moment of all time) Cage (though I originally knew it as "Rain"?? closing of the first half, so Quidam it physically aches) Cloud Swing (while you're at it watch this fucking nuts video focus on the bassist)

And lastly here is a short video interview with the very man who has caused you such pain. Carl Marsh produced the studio album and remembers such a cool level of detail for a CD produced nearly twenty years ago! I think you'll find it in your heart to forgive him. 😁

[wuwmmdraws]

Redrawtober Day 19: "Under Wraps" - the contortion in silks act of Quidam

[kirua9]

OK so cirque du soleil and 12 oz mouse are my new hyperfixations

[rebeyes]

Quidam by Cirque du Soleil (2014/12)

[pinksilvace]

what is this funny circus thing you keep posting about. it has captivated me

RUBS MY HANDS TOGETHER IN A VERY EXCITED MANNER LIKE A FLY WHO HAS DISCOVERED STRAWBERRIES

Cirque du Soleil ("circus of the sun") is a Montreal-based company that's been producing animal-less circus shows since 1984 (you may recall a joke about this from Madagascar 3 lol). Most follow a very basic plot of "[character] gets isekai'd for approximately 1h38m then goes home" but it's honestly so much more fun to make up stories one one's own imho. They're also usually composed in Grommelot, an invented language that's usually a mix of multiple languages and gibberish - i.e., it's not supposed to be understood.

A little-known fact about me is that I grew up watching recordings of these shows (because ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE HAS A PROSHOT 🙏) and love them to bits. I've seen Alegria (pre-revival), Kooza, and Kurios live as well.

The official CdS youtube channel has been uploading tons of compilations since 2020. This year, to celebrate the company's 40th anniversary, they've also been releasing a bunch of abridged versions of their shows, which you can view on youtube here.

I'm going to yammer on about my 3 favorites under the cut now :))))

1: Varekai

oghhghgh my gosh I love this show. so much. absolutely devastated it's not touring anymore :(. If they ever bring it back then I NEED to see it. You understand

This has one of the more plotty premises: rather than falling to the sea and dying, it begins with Icarus falling into a strange land and healing through the power of... love? Communal support? It doesn't really matter because the MUSIC and the STAGING and the COSTUMES oh my GOD the COSTUMES. It's such a bright and fun time with good vibes all around and I cannot recommend it enough. Bonus for Greek mythology references. Did I mention the COSTUMES

2: Quidam (2 and 3 are interchangeable for me, depends on my mood)

CdS claims that this show isn't about much. This is a lie. I could write SO MANY ESSAYS on the symbolism in Quidam and all the different interpretations people have about it. Its soundtrack is also an absolute banger that I love listening to on my own time.

The only thing to be aware of before going into Quidam is that it's a bit of a downer. I think it's the most somber of any CdS show I know of.

3: Alegria (original)

Possibly the most well-known CdS show. No joke, I think I've been watching this proshot for my entire life. I think I saw this proshot before I ever saw a cartoon.

Another great soundtrack - I like the original 1994 recording the best. Francesca Gagnon is ICONIC as the singer in white.

This is one of the few non-isekai shows out there; it depicts a kingdon that has just lost its king and shows a brewing tension between the "old birds" in the aristocracy and the young upstarts who hope for structural change.

Mystère may have been the show that solidified the CdS format, but Alegria is so ridiculously well-known and unforgettable that it's always struck me as the cirque show. It makes for a great entry point.

[cirque-coral]

just some old fan art of the main character and singer from the cirque du soleil show "Quidam" 

[sweepseven]

QUIDAM ART QUIDAM ART QUIDAM ART.

I adore this! It captures the melancholy of the show so effectively, as well as the unique texture of this costume. I'd love to see your Target!

Quidam

This is a very experimental style that I've never used before, so I'd like to know what everyone thinks of it. I wanted something that encompassed the eeriness of the show itself, and I think I managed to get it!

Quidam is such a beautiful show! It somehow manages to make something really eerie and unsettling that's also wondrous and fantastic!

And the titular character, Quidam, caught my eye immediately! It's fascinating how they can give a character with no face so much personality. I guess it helps that he's taller than any of the other characters, so his presence is always strongly felt.

I don't often draw humans because I just can't get the faces to look right. I clearly didn't have that problem with Quidam, though! 😅 If I'm able to figure out faces, I'd love to draw Target next.

~Please Reblog!~

[aquilacalvitium]

A bunch of thoughts that are incomprehensible to people who aren't Cirque Du Soleil fans

Target and Nico have the same energy and would almost definitely be friends

Someone please introduce Aviator from Quidam and Aviator from Kurios to each other, they'd be besties

Klara moves like a clockwork doll and it's mesmerising to watch

You can see Time Master's effects on the flow of time by watching Klara and Microcosmos in the background

This meme I made

I think Gongli (chair balancer from Koozã) would be Carlos' (chair balancer from Kurios) plus one at Klara's dinner parties

Volta's ending is a tad abrupt methinks

Ela is just awesome, everything about her is awesome, I want to be friends with her

Is that other person with blue feathers in Volta another character? Or is he still Waz? It's a bit ambiguous and I'm not good at subtext

Quidam (the character) somehow manages to be somewhat intimidating while also having very strong "safe person" energy

The Seeker suddenly gains two assistants in Creature De Siam that have not existed at all up to this point

They always turn even the singers into characters in the shows and I love that so much

They always manage to do something with the stage itself, from traps doors to a revolving platform to prop tracks and sometimes more than one of the above

I tried learning French so I can understand the characters but it is an evil language and putting myself through that would count as self-torture /j

The wiki refers to the train at the beginning of Kurios as Mister Microcosmos' outfit but he is standing elsewhere on stage when the train comes in so I actually have no idea who that is

Time Master doesn't get enough appreciation, I get that he isn't as merchandise-able as Klara and Nico and Mister Microcosmos but his act, aside from Chaos Troupe 1900, is definitely my favourite

Also the track for his act is not on the ost and that is a crime

Neither is the track that plays between 11h11 and Bella Donna Twist or the track that pays right before Hypnotique

And for some reason Departure is half of the track for Hand Theatre and then suddenly goes into the track before Dangerous Flight? I'm a bit confused there

I've started assigning names to character who don't have names or who's names I can't find anywhere

I refer to them by their actor's names like Carlos and Gongli

If they're a group or I can't find the actor's names I make something up I.e. I refer to the banquine performers in Kurios as The Beachgoers because I mean look at them it's a fitting name

WHY DID THEY RETIRE MICHAEL FROM KOOZÄ HE'S MY FAVOURITE CLOWN IN THE SHOW I WILL FOREVER BE UPSET ABOUT THIS

Also I can't find a single good quality picture of Michael in his grotesque-whiteface-esque costume that he wears for the whole show apart from during his pickpocket routine which is weird

I kinda can't stop staring at Klara or Nico any time they're on stage because their individual styles of body language are just fascinating

How does Quidam (the show) have such specific energy? I can't think of a better word than ethereal. Like it's unsettling but also feels safe and familiar somehow? Idk but I love it

WHY isn't Bella Donna present for the finale? That woman carried so much of Bella Donna Twist and then dips??? Give that woman the standing ovation she deserves!!!

The Quid Pro Quo/Mr Wow Show scene has probably more dialogue than the entirety of most of Cirque Du Soleil shows I've seen

Waz's outfit on Quid Pro Quo is. Something. I really want to know how that was made and what materials were used - this is coming from a guy with ZERO interest in textiles

Actually all of the outfits in Volta are crazy, even the Grays have interesting stuff going on, major props to the costume department

The fourth wall may or may not exist at any given point in time and it's fun to look for it

Especially when there are characters who thrive of off breaking the fourth wall (all clowns) vs characters who never once break the fourth wall (I.e. The Innocent or Ela or the Curios)

I DID NOT MEAN TO HIT POST THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT

I guess if I have any more thoughts I'll just come back and edit this post

[moratoirenoir]

[sweepseven]

[wuwmmdraws]

Redrawtober Day 9: "A Hidden Face" - no face is better hidden than that of the Quidam itself

[storyweaverofgondor]

Most written theater on AO3

I got bored and did this. Since AO3 separates these alphabetically and by numbers, each is the most written for of their section. I ordered them according to number of fics. This is accurate as of 4/15/2023 at 10:12 am. Beyond that? Probs not! FYI This is nonsense made out of curiosity. Again i was just super bored and made a list.

Les Miserables - 24861

Hamilton – 20337

Be More Chill – 7525

Newsies – 6389

Dear Even Hanson – 5672

Phantom of the Opera – 4947

SHAKESPERE William – Works – 4903

Romeo and Juliet - 2366

Cats – 1449

Wicked - 1444

In The Heights – 918

The Prom - 855

Anastasia – 676

Elizabeth – 548

Jesus Christ Superstar – 509

Love Never Dies – 441

Tanz Der Vampire – 379

Kuroshitsuji – 238

A Very Potter Musical Series- 180

Orthello – 172

9 to 5 – 88 (I counted all the numbers as a single section)

Ghost Quartet – 85

The Magic Flute -  39

Urinetown – 20

YANK! - 14

Quidam – 7

Xanadu & Xi Tai Trilogy - 2 (There is only two productions in this section and they tied)

According to this, Les Mis and Hamilton fans are extremely productive. Most theater works on AO3 is you guys, hands down! Also, HEY, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL! I SEE YOU, QUIDAM, SQUEEZING IN AT THE BOTTOM THERE, MY LOVELY! AND CATS, MY BELOVED! Sneaking into the top 10 and beating Wicked by five. Good for you, Cats Fandom!