One might call the darkness inside the Totem tent “primeval.”
By the time the show begins, the audience finds it has been transported back in time to witness the evolution of mankind, from amphibian state to man’s desire for flight.
Totem, written and directed by Canadian Robert Lepage, is coming to Columbus Aug. 22 through Sept. 15. It’s Cirque’s first big top production here since Corteo swung by in 2007.
The show draws on mythology from all over the world in its representation, focusing on natural imagery. A large turtle shell is one of the main set pieces.
“(In mythology) the earth is often represented as a turtle,” says Francis Jalbert, Totem publicist.
Totem, more than any other Cirque show, uses digital projections to set its scenes – from an Icelandic waterfall to swamps to volcanoes.
“The audience is moving from surprise to surprise,” Jalbert says. “We’re always in a completely different environment. You’re traveling around the world without leaving your seat.”
The very creation of Totem was an evolutionary process for rings acrobat Olli Torkkel. The Helsinki, Finland native, a gymnastics coach and competitive gymnast, was discovered by a Cirque scout at a 2009 European gymnastics championship.
“I said, ‘I’m really interested in joining Cirque one day,’” Torkkel says. “Luckily, (the scout) contacted me a month after that they had a role that fits me well, that I would be the right profile with the right skills.”
Torkkel joined two other rings artists to form the Rings Trio. Together, they spent eight months
creating and perfecting their act.
“Everything was new for me. Coming from gymnastics to the performing world was a big change,” Torkkel says.
Acting and ballet classes were part of his transformation from gymnast to Cirque cast member. Because performers’ skills are so integral to the shows, each individual’s particular talents are analyzed during the creation phase; performers frequently create brand new tricks that are first seen in the Grand Chapiteau, the large tent in which each big-top Cirque production is performed.
The Rings Trio’s act is performed on swinging rings. A powerful winch pulls the acrobats higher. The three soar 30 feet above the audience, performing an aerial act that Torkkel describes as “hip-hop style.” The other two members of the trio already knew each other and had been in other shows before, so Torkkel had to hurry to catch up.
“For me, it was challenging. I felt honored to be in such an experienced group of people, but … it was completely new and it gave me pressure to learn fast,” he says.
The three would practice their routines over and over, reviewing video of themselves each night in slow motion, watching for weak points as football players would study game film.
“We made the act tighter and tighter. If there were slow moments, we were able to fill them or make them faster and shorter,” Torkkel says. “That same kind of creation is still going, but not on as big a scale. We still try to fix every single detail of our act.”
Timing is an important aspect. Torkkel and his partners must perform their parts in sync without watching each other; without focus, the act becomes dangerous, especially given the fact that they perform nine or 10 shows a week.
“You cannot see each other. You have to feel each other,” Torkkel says. “There is music to help us with timing. We follow the music, we follow the automation of the winch and we follow each other.”
In addition to the rings, part of a beach-themed segment of Totem, Torkkel also plays a caveman during the Evolution Walk.
“That’s the other fun part for me, having the freedom of creating the other kind of character,” Torkkel says. “We are free to give our ideas and be creative with the development of the character. The director says what he likes of the themes that we propose and think would be funny, and he guides us in a specific direction.”
And those details include make-up, which performers including Torkkel must apply themselves. Coming from the world of sports, it was strange to him at first, but he’s learned to embrace it.
“In the beginning, it didn’t feel like the most normal, natural thing … but you learn to enjoy and to take advantage of your costume and make-up to give a better performance,” he says.
Including crew and family members, Totem totes along 165 people on its tour. Over the last four years, the cast of 46 performers from 15 different countries has become very close.
“I learned so much about performing and now, after four years, we work really well together … as friends and as a small family supporting each other,” Torkkel says. “Our team is really strong and I’m super happy to be a part of it.”
Lisa Aurand is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
