5 reasons to see the Cirque de la Pointe-Sèche show

An uncommon site

Cirque de la Pointe-Sèche doesn’t do anything like the others. Forget the red-and-white big tent! Here, acrobats are performing under the stars, in an enclosure built from scratch between Route 132 and an 18-metre rock face. The spectators, for their part, are comfortably seated, safe from mosquitoes, in gutted and stacked shipping containers. This punk rock setting is part of the company’s DNA.

As soon as you walk along the wooden path zigzagging between the trees, you feel a sense of excitement. Darkness, curiosity and a hint of fatigue (the shows start at sunset) all contribute to creating this exhilarating atmosphere. This joyful buzz is amplified this year by the fact that spectators can access the stands via the sand stage and mix with the acrobats already in the ring. The show hasn’t even started yet…

Patrick Léonard’s involvement

A sign that Bas-Saint-Laurent’s only professional circus has entered the big leagues: Patrick Léonard has directed L’étranger. What? You don’t know Patrick Léonard? A founding member of Les 7 Doigts de la main, he is one of the most important figures on the Quebec circus scene of the last 20 years. This renowned artist breathes craziness into the show, exploiting every hiding place on the set. Whereas previous shows were performed in darker palettes, this one bursts with bright colors, with good-natured juggling and interludes of gentle kindness.

There’s nothing heavy-handed or moralistic about this story of a tolerant, harmonious community turned upside down by the arrival of a suspicious Mr. Lebrun carrying a suitcase. At a time when fear of the other is infecting the world, it takes the side of open-mindedness and trust. I can’t tell you how good it feels…

The prodigy child

Several internationally renowned artists have agreed to settle near the river for the summer. Around half of them are working with us for at least the second time, a proof of the germannienne company’s power of retention. Although these seasoned acrobats are true “circus beasts”, with a coolness and flexibility to make the average bear blush, the person receiving the biggest ovations this summer is the smallest of the bunch.

For the first time, a crafty child is at the heart of the story, taking an active part in the acts, including the aerial hoop. On opening night, it was the owners’ 10-year-old daughter, Elzie Gilbert. She will share the 48 performances with her little sister Xéanne and the director’s son Oskar.

With their contagious joy and promising talent, these apprentice trapeze artists charm and win the hearts of all.

The wheel of death

Who could have thought of installing an 8.5-metre diameter wheel of death on a stone wall? The ambitious logistical challenge was successfully met. And it was worth the sweat and the headaches. For those who have never seen this mythical traditional circus structure, rarely used today, it’s a huge suspended pendulum, at the end of which spin two wheels.The acrobats propel themselves to dizzying heights, giddy as mad hamsters.

Although the structure serves as an elevator throughout the show, you have to wait until the very end to fully appreciate its danger in a hypnotic duo number. Like the cherry (of steel) on top of an ice-cream sundae! On a few occasions, you’ll catch your breath as you watch the two performers accelerate their pace above the void. For this risk alone, you’ll get your money’s worth and your trip.

Live music

If there’s one other thing that sets Cirque de la Pointe-Sèche apart, it’s its original music, played live every night. The soundtrack, composed by loyal collaborator Maxime Éthier, is heady and sophisticated, sometimes exploring an Alegria-style form with Zeneli Codel’s vocals, and sometimes becoming heavier with heavy metal to tame the fearsome wheel. There’s something irresistible about this ramshackle brass band, whose playing is nonetheless tight.

To listen to the soundtrack or to buy it :
https://maxethier.bandcamp.com/album/letranger

You have until September 1st to attend to the shows. Tickets are on sale online at cirquedelapointeseche.com or by phone at 581 801-0036.