Meditations
On Thursday I caught one of the final performances of Cirque du Soleil’s Totem show in Brisbane. It was the first ‘Cirque’ I’ve seen, and I was suitably awestruck. Writing this post has been as much about trying to capture my impressions of the show as about squeezing every last drop out of that magical night.
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As my Planner brain took in Totem, I couldn’t help but speculate where the appeal lies. I was able to break it down somewhat. First and foremost, I reckoned the show appeals to our desire to exert mastery (from an archetype perspective). We observe the performers - the human body lithe, chiseled and at its peak strength and ability - and revel in a vicarious sense of risk-taking and accomplishment. Encountering the strange characters with their curious dress and mannerisms awakens our sense of awe; it’s like travelling and discovering fascinating new cultures. Humorous interludes between main acts provide entertainment value, while acts depicting love stories warm our insides and make us feel good about ourselves. The overarching theme of Totem, as the name suggests, is the “evolution of mankind”. Of course, it was meant to feel primal - and this prompted us to revert to a more instinctual mindset, facilitating our enjoyment of the movements and music.
Personally, my thoughts on the show relate to how it mesmerised me. There were the four unicyclists juggling silver bowls in perfect synchronicity, the twin Crystal Ladies spinning squares of glittering material at high speed on the tips of their toes, the intricate dance of the Amerindian and his hoops and the glittering figure of the Crystal Man who descended from the heavens, through the darkness, to proclaim the show open. From this first moment, the pounding music and hypnotic movements transfixed and suspended me in a state of wonder.
Being mesmerised is a form of escapism for the twenty-first century. It allows us to escape our lives, escape other peoples’ lives (that we’re now inescapably privy to), and escape the apparent physical limits of our world. There are, of course, other ways. You can book a retreat-style holiday, or abscond from normal routine and play hooky, for a start. Both methods have their merits. But to be mesmerised - in a darkened movie theatre, in front of a bonfire with the flames dancing close before your eyes, or under the Grand Chapiteau - is to be bewitched by rhythmic distraction, and it’s to clear your mind.