GUSH!

As in, this is what I'm gushing over this week. It was literally a life-altering experience. I'm tempted to say the single greatest experience I've ever had in a theatre, but that's so difficult to say. I've seen several Cirque De Soleil shows now, and they're always fantastic, but I do feel I have enough experience with the style now that I can appropriately compare and critique. Which, ha you know--I AM a theatre education major; and we LOVE to compare and critique theatre. This production had a much stronger sense of focus than a lot of Cirque De Soleil shows I've seen, which was the hardest part about it for me before. I never felt a sense of story, or a definite knowledge as to where they wanted me looking . . . the director did that really well here. There was a great balance of duets, solos, and group numbers and even in the extravagant, incredible group numbers Cirque is known for, there was enough organization for me to compartmentalize my thoughts and what I wanted to see for that moment. It was very clear to see: "Okay for this scene, this is important. If you get nothing else, make sure you grab this. But if you get that and want to look at all the other jizz going on too--go for it." I loved that. Along with that balance and focus, the music was the same way. Great rises and falls from high energy to more mellow; the classics everyone can sing along with to lesser known pieces that are equally great. The entire show went through a great chronological and emotional journey of their careers and lives, as well. Many subplots were explored and journeyed through as well, but all these characters were in connection to one another and centralized with the Beatles. I've really come to see the absolute importance of focus and direction of a story. Thank you, Dave Tinney. He's WAY big on that and it is becoming a big part of what I need in my theatrical experiences. So, the direction was fantastic. I also loved how it transitioned between the feeling of being enraptured in one character's mini story to being on acid to just being at a Beatles concert--I was there at the concert. They also used all the original tracks, digitally re-mastered I'm sure because the sound quality was exquisite, but it was absolutely the Beatles. The cast did sing at times, but it was well placed and not overbearing, for the most part they simply allowed the Beatles to do their thing and danced along. What I LOVED the most was when the characters spoke--unmicrophoned, live, and again, not overbearing, just a significant and well-placed word or phrase here or there. They told most of the story via their bodies and other forms of expression, which is definitely a visual feast. It got to a point that they could have thrown pudding and bologna on me and I would have cheered and thought it was the best thing. I was with them every moment. I had absolutely no problem engorging in the twisted, LSD world they presented before me. I just bought it--and I went right along the entire time! I know that this was due to the brilliant staging. This may be the kicker that made it better for me than other Cirque shows. It was a round, but in a sort of strange shape, and practically EVERYONE was on the front row. It was one of those theatres where LITERALLY no one has a bad seat. But I was so close and underneath and a part that it just surrounded me and absorbed me that much more. The intimacy also made me care so much for the characters that in most Cirque shows I don't even realize are significant at that moment because I'm so distracted--again with the focus. I realize that's my film-trained mind being spoken to as a part of a modern audience, but that's just how it goes. Another part that was great was that I was so concerned they would have actors that would actually portray the Beatles--and re-creating true icons ends up just coming off cheesy so often. But they didn't! Instead with digital media, they portrayed them as shadows and these elusive figures you never really see until the VERY end and then they show footage and photographs of them in tribute and a memorial as to who they really were. That was SUCH a strong choice. Additionally, they did have four leading male characters that clearly represented characteristics of each Beatle, but they were NOT the Beatles. They were separate sort of symbolic characters and that, again, was so strong. The structure and conceptualization of everything just . . . worked. Just wonderful, beautiful work to me--I LOVED it!!! I also have an entirely new appreciation for hippy, drug-induced, free love Beatles that I didn't have. In the past I haven't been a huge fan of those Beatles, I've been big on 60's, barely post-50's mindset, suit, bowl-cut Beatles . . . I thought hippy Beatles were kind of sell-outs, but I definitely don't feel that way anymore. They were just different. They evolved and grew the way we all do as human beings. They also transitioned with their generation and a very tumultuous time period. I've always had an affinity for learning about the Viet Nam War and really had a lot of reverence for that part of our country's history. And this gave me another layer of that to feel strongly about--SO interesting and wonderful. BAH! I love it!!! Okay, this has been a freaking novel. I apologize; I don't expect anyone to read all this. But again, my online journal. It's more for me than anyone else. haha thanks team! Go Beatles!