"Actor: Konstantine Besschetnyj"

• Cirque Du Soleil - 4-title pack - Dralion/Varekei/Journey Of Man/A Baroque Odyssey | DVD | (12/01/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Four thrilling Cirque Du Soleil DVDs in one spectacular box set. Titles include: Drailon Varekai Journey Of Man and A Baroque Odyssey. Cirque Du Soleil - A Baroque Odyssey: A unique and inspiring look into the heart of the Cirque du Soleil(TM) universe. This 10-year anniversary retrospective made in 1994 highlights the essence of Cirque du Soleil - the amazing energy and spirit that gave birth to the phenomenon and the breathtaking artistry that has captivated and delighted audiences around the world. Cirque Du Soleil - Dralion: A combination of ancient Chinese circus tradition and the avant-garde this is a celebration of life and the four elements: air earth water and fire propelled into a futuristic dimension. Here the costumes reflect the cinema fantastique while the music bursts into the electro-symphonic realm of a world yet to come. Cirque Du Soleil - Varekai: Deep within a forest at the summit of a volcano there is an extraordinary world - a world where something else is possible. A world called VAREKAI. From the sky falls a solitary young man and the story fo VAREKAI begins. Parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest a kaleidoscopic world populated by fantastical creatures this young man sets off on an adventure both absurd and extraordinary. Cirque Du Soleil - Journey of Man: Journey Of Man is a breathtaking odyssey that follows the stages of human development from birth to maturity with each stage presented by a Cirque du SoleilTM act. The signature Cirque du Soleil celebration of colour light music and costume combine with a backdrop of various natural and historical landmarks around the world creating a triumph of artistry beyond compare. From the opening explosion of light and sound that represents the universe's formation 'Journey of Man' leads us through the birth of the Universal Child as it travels from childhood through adolescence and manhood on to maturity. An awe-inspiring feast for the senses incomparable artistry and stylish elegance make this an adventure of a lifetime.

• Cirque Du Soleil - Quidam | DVD | (27/12/2000) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  When Cirque du Soleil first ventured beyond Canada's borders, its powerful, singularly ambitious "reinvention of the circus" seemed quixotic. Inspired by European precedents, this was a big top downsized to a more intimate, single ring, as the French-Canadian troupe jettisoned animals, banished the usual fright-wigged clowns in favour of funny folks versed in (gulp) pantomime, and focused on acrobats, contortionists and illusionists. Conventional wisdom would have held that such esoterica was doomed, but anyone lucky enough to catch that initial Cirque production (or, for that matter, any of its subsequent offerings) knows just how wrong conventional wisdom can be.Cirque's creative brain trust, including "guide" Guy Laliberte and director Franco Dragone, have crafted each production as an extended performance piece framed by recurrent characters, unified production design and underlying themes. Already mesmerising visual tableaux and astonishing illusions are given an added poignancy (and, occasionally, true gravity) by the productions' underlying comments about society, conformity, beauty and emotion; even without such conscious motifs, however, Cirque's sheer artistry is never less than riveting.Quidam revolves around an Everychild, living with self-absorbed (and deliberately archetypal) parents, who is whisked away to a vividly surreal world where Cirque's remarkable acrobats and artists take literal flight. Their tools are often prosaic--oversized flying rings, an open steel wheel large enough for a single inhabitant, skateboards, ropes--yet the resulting images are stunning. Injecting further drama and atmosphere is the score (here by musical director Benoit Jutras), which is as far removed from traditional circus music as Cirque's "acts" are from Barnum & Bailey. Performed with synthesisers, electric guitar, solo reed instruments, percussion and voice (often singing in a kind of Esperanto that's tantalising yet foreign), Cirque's music can be dismissed as New Age only until heard in its intended context. Quidam can't quite achieve the sheer, enveloping wonder that its theatrical source does, but for fans of Cirque du Soleil's unique performance art, this latest presentation sustains the troupe's magic. --Sam Sutherland, Amazon.com