Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM: A Visual Feast for Everyone

Media Invite

"Are these living things even human???"

That was the perennial thought swirling within my head as I watched the multi-talented performers attempt routine after routine at Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM. With my mouth gaping wide, no less.

If you haven’t seen a Cirque du Soleil show, TOTEM is nearly impossible to explain. It involves live music and amazing acrobat acts in a circus-like setting but yet, there are no actual animals involved.

Instead, it features an array of frog-people, spangled acrobats, tourists, unicyclists, monkeys, and scientists telling the story of evolution and humanity’s journey up the totem pole. And just for that extra magical experience and excitement, there is nothing quite like watching the show inside the Grand Chapiteau 'Big Top’, the temporary home of TOTEM set up right beside Marina Bay Sands.

Loosely tracing the journey of human evolution through a mix of mythology and science, I would say its storyline is its weakest link. The timeline of evolution is not linear and shuffles between prehistoric cavemen and futuristic spacemen.

But I didn't go to a Cirque du Soleil show expecting to be wowed by a storyline. I want to pick my jaw up from the floor, chew on my nails and clap my hands until they are sore.

And TOTEM did just all that to me.

In fact, I was already blown away within first 5 minutes of the show, where the opening sequence featured a handful of amphibian creatures flinging themselves in a snappy bar routine full of near-misses and remarkable unison.

This is followed by Native American hoop revelry, beach acrobatics (with muscles!), foot jugglers, unicyclists juggling metal bowls, a riveting trapeze routine, and a scientist spinning lighted balls inside a human-sized funnel.

But three segments of TOTEM really stood out for me: five women atop towering unicycles flinging bowls using their feet and catching them on top of their heads, a roller skating duo spinning at goodness-knows-what speeds on a small raised platform joined by nothing but a neck brace and a Russian Bar routine, which had acrobats flipping from one handheld bendy beam to another.

Can you just say 'WOW'?

One of my fave and rave performances at TOTEM - Cirque du Soleil! Simply astonishing agility and balance to leap from one bar to the other. Love it!
Posted by Cheekiemonkies on Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Simply astonishing agility and balance to leap from one bar to the other! I was very much in awe.

But as polished as their performances are, the performers are not flawless. And when a metal bowl is dropped or a landing is less than perfect, the reality is they are all humans who have spent years and years honing their craft. Many of Cirque du Soleil's performers are former competitive gymnasts – and in some cases, even ex-Olympians.

So when the tricks are performed successfully with such impossible effortlessness, TOTEM is truly one spectacle not to be missed.

I was also impressed with the seemingly simple raised island on the stage. Images are projected onto the island, changing along with each act. But more than that, the island hides an opening bridge that can retract or elongate to resemble props like a speedboat or rocket ship.

There were both a mixture of older and young kids in the audience during the show and it is safe to say that everyone lapped it all up. The acrobatic acts were the highlights for sure but they are also ingeniously broken up by moments of laughter contributed by a few lovable characters - so plenty of laugh-out-loud moments for the kiddos!

There are not many more words that I think can give TOTEM real justice. Each act had me gasping with amazement, while its infectious music had me clapping in unison with the beat.

The entire show is just a fabulous spectacle of the human body and what it can do. And quite frankly, it is one of those shows where the best compliment I can give is - 'You just have to see it for yourself!'

Useful Details

TOTEM by Cirque du Soleil
Dates: 28 Oct to 13 Dec 2015
Timings: Tue - Fri: 8pm | Tue (10 Nov): 4.30pm & 8pm | Sat: 4.30pm & 8pm | Sun: 1.30pm & 5pm | No shows on Mondays
Location: Under the Big Top, Next to Marina Bay Sands
Ticket Prices: $308 | $188 | $168 | $138 | $98
BUY tickets HERE.
Website: www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/totem/default.aspx

------

The media invite has been made possible by Club Med, who has partnered Cirque du Soleil to launch a completely new and unique concept in experiential travel with Club Med CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil. 

Club Med CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil is a unique playground where over 25 artistic and acrobatic activities are offered to guests in a dreamlike environment under the expert supervision of a team of Gentil Circassiens (dedicated Circus team). CREACTIVE debuted at Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic in June 2015, and has since been well-received by Club Med guests for its unique concept and offering.

For more information on Club Med Creactive by Cirque du Soleil, please visit the following:
Website: www.clubmed.com.sg 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClubMedSingapore

Contact no: 1800 2582633