Reflections on Last Night

 Hi There, 

It's been a big week here in the small house. I've been leaving for work 3.5 hours earlier than normal, but going to bed only a half hour or so earlier... 

This means I want to sleep, which hasn't given me time to do the things that have defined my morning. These things include breakfast, blogging and games. 

It's fine, and this morning i was able to go back to my regular scheduled program. 

Anyway... 

Last night I watched Luzia by Cirque du Solei. Here is a quick review of what I saw. 

Performance 1/2 star

Production Values 1 star

Direction 1 star

Audience response: 1 star

My response: 1 star

Total: 4.5 stars

So, The set and direction of Luzia were the strongest of the seven Cirque shows I have thus far seen. The set featured a central device which was used for nearly every act, creating a unified device that was technically and visually impressive. As far as direction, choices were made to make call backs to previously made choices. An example of this is that every time a piece of equipment floated in from the sky, birds would be attached higher up the rope. It was an unnecessary choice, but it made the piece feel more than a disjointed collection of impressive acts. 

The performers were a mixed bag of incredible and good. There were a number of drops from the acrobatic team, which is not what I would expect out of a Cirque-level show that's already completed a Montreal run. Likewise, while almost all of the performers had the incredible energy of an opening night show, some seemed to be already phoning it in which makes me curious about their visible enthusiasm in a month or few. I should point out, that the excellent performances were far more prevalent, and I am choosing not to speak of them due to not wanting to spoil the show. Here are some general notes: Audience engagement sections were extremely good and fun. The lead has excellent comic timing. Nearly every performer seemed to love doing their act. Extras and set crew did an excellent job of adding to the visual world of the show and were sometimes my favorite part to watch. 

My experience of the show was that it was, for lack of better word, horny. While circus always features beautiful young strong people, this one really seemed to lean into heteronormative urges. Despite the presence of a two foot long phallus and a comic strip tease act, I don't feel that any act or costume was so explicit to put up a content warning; but if expressions of male-gazed heteronormative sexiness make you uncomfortable, you might want to consider speaking with people who have seen this show. 

The folks around me were a diverse collection of age and experience. In my aisle appeared to be circus performers who praised each of the acts on a technical stand point. Behind me was a cadre of high school aged girls who squealed with delight every chance they got (especially at the comic strip tease act and the contortion act, both of which were had male performers) and oooh'd whenever something beautiful happened. In front of me was a family with two kiddos under five, so were jumping in their chairs they were enjoying it so much. Across my lap was my much older son, asleep by the second act as he is wont to do. 

It was beautiful, the acts were enchanting. I loved it. The audience loved it. too soon it was over. 

I can't wait to tell people to see it. 

Insight on the creative process

 What's the difference between spies and secret agents? Gymnastics and acrobatics? Kindness and being nice? Facilities and building services? 

If I'm being honest, these are the great questions in my life. If I'm being REALLY honest most of y'all wont find them too interesting. 

But for those of you: Spies are a limited version of secret agents, acrobatics are more gentle on the body and can be performed on harder surfaces, nice is kind without self-respect, and building services do not include security services. 

I can't wait to open this page in 8 years, whistle low and wonder how I could have been so wrong. 

I reckon everybody has little things like this, small distinctions that are important to them but invisible to most. 

Which reminds me... during the inside times, we were trying to identify the color of M&Ms by taste. 

Despite my diet... I think this is something we should endeavor to learn. 

Why? 

It'll seem like magic, my friends. 

Oh, and for the question that I can't seem but struggle against.... for 15 years, I have attempted and failed to answer the simple question of "What is Clown" perhaps I will have to put some thoughts down. 

But it time to head to perform Building Services, so I'm off as acrobatically as I can!

My Coffee Tastes Soapy, and That's All There is to it.

 Good Morning! 

This transition has a delay , and I'm uncertain if it will work. 

Hopefully it will allow me to keep posting deep into a run of things and stuff. 

This one's coming out less smooth than it's brethren, friends. 

I an't got the skills today, and I blame my lack of coffee. I blame my lack of coffee on me drinking it slowly. I blame drinking it slowly because it tastes like soap. I blame the soap task on account of my choice to follow tradition and now make coffee in a different vessel. 

Here's what happens when you go with tradition instead of reality. 

The Q-Ness Stirs, the Plot Thickens

 There are eldritch abominations in the world my friends. 

They've always been amongst us but they sometimes change their form. 

Sometime they wear people suits... but sometimes that's just people. 

Anyway, 

One such snake that slithers at my feet occasionally bites me. When it does I open my eyes and go, "WOAH, how did I get here?"

We've all been there, right? It's just a regular day, you get home form a normal day at work and your phone rings. 20 minutes later, you're eating tofu curry out of half a coconut shell at a friends place while people dance nakedly around you. This has never happened before, and will never happen again for the rest of your life. Somehow, the universe went click and things got weird.

We've all been there, right? 

Right?

Anyway, this is what I live for. It's like seeing life on the other side of life. 

I call this the Q-Ness. 

I find it when I'm not looking, but I find that I find it more often when I am open to finding it. 

How does one open themselves to the serendipity of the universe?

Be Curious

Say Yes

Listen

and most difficult, expect nothing. 

A Weird One Today: Form of Water!

 Good Morning! 

It is deceptively cold inside today, a marvel of modern technology. 

You think, " I'm not made of ice cream, I can wear my woolen suit to work!"

They find you after lunch, a puddle in your penny loafers. 

I used to have it figured out. loose jeans, heavy shirt - protected from the sun and a breeze would work like air conditioning. 

Well friends, not in Toronto - there's no breeze so all that extra cloth is nothing but sponge.

While sponge is rarely pleasant to wear, some times it's a necessity. 

It's awkward to get your hands dirty in linin. It's silly to get sloppy in silk. 

So I have a new plan. 

Double sized shoes - with actual sponge inside!

As you are on this side of my brain, I don't have to tell you, "No, they're not orthotics."

After lunch, I pay a guy $20 to enter my office, throw the sponges in the fridge for a couple minutes and then squeeze me out back into my penny loafers. 

I need to re-think the financials on this one... once they left me in the fridge, and ever since my assets have been frozen. 

 Good Morning,

The World Cup is about to begin again, here in my home town. 

The locals a battening down the hatches like RAGBRAI is rolling thru.

Meanwhile, math is happening at the house of Q lives. 

"Son, fractions is just division on ice." I say.

"Whaaat?" he screams in his ear piercing morning mode. "You mean they're frozen?"

"Yep. Frozen in time, Just like this song." I proceed to sing a blues ballad I made up in fifth grade about knowing fractions. 

He's not impressed. He is now singing Jingle Bells with meows. 

Well, a 1/3 of the household is amused. With numbers like that, I can run for office! 

More likely I'ma make a run to the grocery store. 

If you follow sport, I hope your team wins. 

Later!

Again?

 Hello, 

Back in the ancient days, when the towers were standing, I was deep in the process of trying to get ahead in life when I didn't know my ass from a tea kettle. 

Truth be told, I still carry the scars from toilet paper bursting into flame as i tried to wipe the boiling vessel. 

During those times, my patron looked me over his glasses and said, "Q, if you burn down my theatre, I will hate you forever." 

This was my patron. This was my friend. There was next to zero chance that such a situation would occur. and yet he said the words that I needed to hear at the time: "Hey Guy, this thing we do is dangerous and there are major consequences if you fuck it up." 

I'm a dad now, and he's a little boiling tea kettle of energy. His mother and I try to follow my patrons advice. We point out the consequences of actions, and we give him guidelines on how to proceed safely into the world - often spinning. Seven years and zero broken bones later.. it seem to be working. However, the kid really wants a skateboard, so we shall see. 

And it's time for work. Projects for today include maintenance on fire emergency systems. Fun stuff. 

Until next time, my Friends.