Totem, Cirque du Soleil new show 2018 in Paris, review and pictures

From October 25 to December 30, 2018, Cirque du Soleil is back in Paris for its yearly show and presents Totem at Plaine de Jeux de Bagatelle. A show you don't want to miss!

As it happens every year, Cirque du Soleil comes to Paris for a few weeks to present one of the touring shows. This year, don’t miss it and discover Totem at Plaine de Jeux de Bagatellle, a show running from October 25 to December 30, 2018.

For 35 years now, Cirque du Soleil, the famous Canadian company, has been very successful throughout the world by entirely reinventing circus codes: no animals, no race for better overall performance but a show, a story to attend, paced with extraordinary acts that happen from both sides of the stage and at the same time, an enchanting music and incredible sets!

Since its creation back in 1984, the company created over twenty shows and some are in residency in big hotels or casinos, such as in Las Vegas, and others are always touring all around the globe.

Each year, one of the famous touring show comes to Paris for a few weeks. We remember of Varekai, Corteo and Amaluna, for example.

This year, please welcome Totem, a show created in 2010 and that sets up in Plaine de Jeux de Bagatelle from October 25 to December 2, 2018.

TOTEM follows the human species from original amphibian state to ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage, evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations. Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. Between science and legend, TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.

Written and directed by Robert Lepage, the multidisciplinary artist (theater director, playwright, actor and film director) which global critique agrees to recognize his modern and unusual work sets no bounds between disciplinaries, and we owe him the writting and the staging of this beautiful show.

The first creatures of the show are amphibians, first marks of life on Earth, skillfully jumping and twirling around bars... Than, Indians try to tame hoops in a very ethnic demo of hula hoop. The contortionist, whose body looks so malleable and double-jointed, seems to turn into an insect...

Following the evolution of the future human species, thieving monkeys - of several kinds - appear, creating a chain worthy of the human evolution. Monkey costumes are extremely realistic. In "Totem", we also encounter a crazy scientist in a hybrid and futuristic act...

Whether it's up in the air, tied to air hoops or on a bar, jumping on bamboo sticks, Cirque du Soleil acrobats are putting on a show. And what can we say about the Chinese girls juggling on top of a unicycle...?

Cirsque du Soleil hasn't forget about clowns: before the show starts, they entertain the audience, already seated to come back later wearing a swimming suit, while the fishing clown still can't catch anything, sometimes juggling, sometimes sculpting.

The whole is accompanied by a live orchestra and singers, performing ethnic music: African, Native American, Gispy and Punjabi.

Once again, Cirque du Soleil promises us a very colorful show with acts perfectly mastered and incredible backgrounds.

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.