Kà (Cirque du Soleil)
Encyclopedia
Kà is a show by Cirque du Soleil
at the MGM Grand
in Las Vegas
, Nevada
. Created and directed by Robert Lepage
, the show and the theater cost $220 million to develop.
Kà is the first Cirque du Soleil production that deviates from the company's usual format—the production presents a more straightforward story, unlike the more abstract visuals presented by other Cirque productions.
In its review, the Los Angeles Times
stated it "may well be the most lavish production in the history of Western theater. It is surely the most technologically advanced." The New York Times highly praised all the technical aspects and costumes, but felt that it did not succeed in a particularly compelling story, rather it was "essentially about the kind of wild physical feats that all Cirque shows are about, their jaw-dropping effect multiplied by the huge dimensions of the theatrical space." The show has been seen by more than one million spectators since its opening in February 2005.
with a permanent floor; instead, two giant moving platforms and five smaller lifts and platforms appear to float through a bottomless space. A narrow boardwalk separates the audience from a deep abyss where the stage floor would normally be. From the stage level of the boardwalk up to the high grid is 98 feet (29.9 m), and the pit drops 51 feet (15.5 m) below, amounting to a total of some 15 stories from the highest ceiling grid to the lowest floor level. The opening width and depth of the performance area are each 120 feet (36.6 m). This enormous performance space is reconfigured with each scene change by the complex movements of the show's lifts and platforms.
The largest moveable platform employed in the show, the Sand Cliff Deck, measures 25 x and weighs 50 tons. A vertical gantry crane
supports and controls the Sand Cliff Deck, lifting the platform up and down 72 feet (21.9 m), rotating it 360 degrees and tilting it from flat to 100 degrees. This is attached to four 75 feet (22.9 m) hydraulic cylinders that run along two support columns. The Sand Cliff Deck is equipped with show and work lights, circular elevators to bring performers in and out, 80 'rod actuators' that sprout from the floor surface to enable performers to climb it when it is tilted vertically, and video projection tiles that allow computer generated images to appear on the floor of the deck. In one scene, the entire deck is covered with 350 cubic feet (9.9 m³) of imported granular cork from Portual which creates the realistic appearance of a beach.
The second largest platform, the Tatami Deck, is a cantilevered 30 by 30 ft (9.1 by 9.1 m) platform located upstage of the Sand Cliff Deck. It weighs 75000 pounds (34,019.4 kg), and slides in and out like a drawer to provide a horizontal stage and carry massive set pieces such as the Wheel of Death.
These two decks can appear alone or together or simply disappear from view; they can move in front of, behind, above or below each other.
The theater and stage were designed by British architect Mark Fisher
, the structural design of the stage platforms by New York
engineer Mal McLaren, and the torsion tube, wrist, arm assembly for the deck built by Timberland Equipment, a company that normally builds mining equipment.
In 2008, Kàs unique floating stages earned the production the prestigious Thea Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement from the Themed Entertainment Association
.
, pyrotechnics
, puppetry
, and multimedia projections that help immerse the audience in the story.
audio experience. Sound effects can be targeted, manipulated and customized to any of 16 seating zones.
The multimedia projection in the show utilizes both infrared video motion detecting as well as a system of touch-sensitive panels beneath the surface of the main 'Sand Cliff' deck. This allows the system to track the location of individual performers and change the video content accordingly. A similar example of the infrared portion of this technology can be seen in some movie theater
lobbies where people can step on and burst video projected bubbles
.
Due to the speed in which artists fall from the decks, an array of airbags had to be used en lieu of traditional nets alone. These airbags sit atop two nets, which at times are 70 feet (21.3 m) below the point the artist begins the fall. The airbags contain individual cells which can inflate and deflate independently. In case a power outage occurs, each airbag has its own uninterruptible power supply which can last up to 30 minutes.
The sandcliff deck has pegs built into it which are used during the Climb scene. Each peg has a sensor which will not allow it to shoot out from the deck if something is blocking its path. These pegs shoot out at a speed of 19 feet per second (5.8 m/s), simulating arrows striking the surface. Likewise, each peg can only retract with 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of pressure. Thus if someone were hanging off of it, the peg would stay in place. If something were to go wrong with the deck, a set of backup pegs are in place which can be utilized as a safety ladder to allow performers to exit the deck safely.
As for the aerial rigging system which allows performs to perform tricks in the air while harnessed, it too has safety features. If a harness or wire were to fail, a fail-safe mechanism is in place which would lower the performer to the stage or in the aisles to safely detach from the cabling system.
As the Kà theatre is inside the MGM, it too is integrated into the building's fire suppression system. During the show, stage managers must contact hotel security and ask that the fire officer override the fire detection equipment in the theatre during the duration of any pyrotechnic and fire stunts.
style of martial arts, Chinese opera
, Poi
for manipulating staves and batons, Brazilian Capoeira
dance, bungees, aerial straps, swing poles, and a wheel of death
.
twins who are separated at the prime of their youth
and must undergo a rite of passage
of self-discovery. It is about their encounters with Kà, the fire that has the dual power to destroy or illuminate."
Unlike other Cirque du Soleil performances, Kà offers four pre-shows. Once the house opens, guests are greeted by the villagers of Kà ("Gatekeepers") with different professions such the mayor and his wife, the healer, the gossip, and so on. Twenty minutes before curtain, two musicians enter the lobby and climb up to two stringed instruments specially designed for Kà and integrated into the architecture. Ten minutes before the show, actors appear in the metal framework to the left and right of the stage and perform flips and leaps assisted with ropes to dive into the audience and attempt to scare viewers. Five minutes before showtime, a staged act informs the audience that there is no flash photography or cell phone usage allowed.
The story is told in a total of fourteen scenes, each of which is preceded by movement of one or more of the massive stage elements.
Cirque du Soleil utilized a new type of digital screen printing in order to design many costumes for Kà, examples of which can be seen in the Forest People, Archers, and the Counselor's Son. The Forest People's costumes rely on printing the performers' body definitions onto the actual fabric to enhance the appearance of making their skin actually look like it is truly blue and green. Inspiration was drawn from the African Maasai warriors' ritual scar markings. As for the Archers, skin-toned Tactel
was selected and tattoo designs were printed on it to make the Archers' tattoos look truly realistic. They also have moulded rubber toes attached to their shoes, giving the appearance that they are barefoot. Tattooing techniques used for the Archers were also applied to the Counselor's Son. In addition, a ripped piece of kilt
is superimposed on his costume; this was made by using "shibori
" (a Japanese tye-dyeing technique).
The crab puppets seen in the beach scene each took approximately 1,300 hours to create.
that accompanies the acting, acrobatics, and singing that takes place on stage. During various portions of the show, different musicians make appearances in the show, performing in costume directly on the stage. The vocals in Kà are provided by a mezzo-soprano and an alto voice, both of which are female.
Originally, Kàs score was to be composed by Benoit Jutras
. However, Jutras left the show because of creative differences, and the music of Kà was composed by René Dupéré
, who has composed music for multiple other Cirque productions, including Mystère
at Treasure Island
, and Cirque's touring production of Alegría.
The soundtrack for Kà was released on the 18th of October, 2005. In addition to the original score, the soundtrack features several 'inspired by' tracks. Although the album is somewhat remixed, most of the content remains faithful to the show.
Conducted by Hollywood veteran Simon Leclerc and co-produced, arranged and engineered by Martin Lord-Ferguson, the Kà soundtrack features a symphonic orchestra of 57 musicians and a choir of over 40 singers, making Kà Cirque du Soleil's most "ambitious recording to date." The album features the voices of Élise Velle (René Dupéré's wife) and a young soprano boy named Philippe Lapan-Vandal. In addition, the 'inspired by' tracks, with the exception of "If I Could Reach Your Heart" (performed by Élise Velle), feature the voice of Canadian world artist Nitza Melas.
Through the music of Kà, René Dupéré
attempts to provoke various emotions and moods such as drama, emergency, serenity, passion, and even "the birth of love". Dupéré describes the music with an "African flavor" and states that he wants the audience to feel that the show is "full of energy". He says that the music is not intended to sound as though it belongs to a specific time frame. "It could be from medieval times or even 200 years in the future...the music itself is ageless."
The tracks on the Kà soundtrack are listed below.
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
at the MGM Grand
MGM Grand Las Vegas
The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and largest hotel resort complex in the United States in front of The Venetian. The MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. Created and directed by Robert Lepage
Robert Lepage
Robert Lepage, is a playwright, actor, film director, and stage director from Québec City, Québec, and is one of Canada's most honoured theatre artists.- Life and work :...
, the show and the theater cost $220 million to develop.
Kà is the first Cirque du Soleil production that deviates from the company's usual format—the production presents a more straightforward story, unlike the more abstract visuals presented by other Cirque productions.
In its review, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
stated it "may well be the most lavish production in the history of Western theater. It is surely the most technologically advanced." The New York Times highly praised all the technical aspects and costumes, but felt that it did not succeed in a particularly compelling story, rather it was "essentially about the kind of wild physical feats that all Cirque shows are about, their jaw-dropping effect multiplied by the huge dimensions of the theatrical space." The show has been seen by more than one million spectators since its opening in February 2005.
Set and technical information
Kà lacks a conventional stageStage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
with a permanent floor; instead, two giant moving platforms and five smaller lifts and platforms appear to float through a bottomless space. A narrow boardwalk separates the audience from a deep abyss where the stage floor would normally be. From the stage level of the boardwalk up to the high grid is 98 feet (29.9 m), and the pit drops 51 feet (15.5 m) below, amounting to a total of some 15 stories from the highest ceiling grid to the lowest floor level. The opening width and depth of the performance area are each 120 feet (36.6 m). This enormous performance space is reconfigured with each scene change by the complex movements of the show's lifts and platforms.
The largest moveable platform employed in the show, the Sand Cliff Deck, measures 25 x and weighs 50 tons. A vertical gantry crane
Gantry crane
Gantry cranes, bridge cranes, and overhead cranes, are all types of cranes which lift objects by a hoist which is fitted in a hoist trolley and can move horizontally on a rail or pair of rails fitted under a beam...
supports and controls the Sand Cliff Deck, lifting the platform up and down 72 feet (21.9 m), rotating it 360 degrees and tilting it from flat to 100 degrees. This is attached to four 75 feet (22.9 m) hydraulic cylinders that run along two support columns. The Sand Cliff Deck is equipped with show and work lights, circular elevators to bring performers in and out, 80 'rod actuators' that sprout from the floor surface to enable performers to climb it when it is tilted vertically, and video projection tiles that allow computer generated images to appear on the floor of the deck. In one scene, the entire deck is covered with 350 cubic feet (9.9 m³) of imported granular cork from Portual which creates the realistic appearance of a beach.
The second largest platform, the Tatami Deck, is a cantilevered 30 by 30 ft (9.1 by 9.1 m) platform located upstage of the Sand Cliff Deck. It weighs 75000 pounds (34,019.4 kg), and slides in and out like a drawer to provide a horizontal stage and carry massive set pieces such as the Wheel of Death.
These two decks can appear alone or together or simply disappear from view; they can move in front of, behind, above or below each other.
The theater and stage were designed by British architect Mark Fisher
Mark Fisher (architect)
Mark Fisher OBE MVO is a British architect. He was born in Warwickshire, England.Fisher graduated from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London in 1971. He was a Unit Master at the AA School from 1973 to 1977. In 1984 he set up the Fisher Park Partnership with Jonathan Park...
, the structural design of the stage platforms by New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
engineer Mal McLaren, and the torsion tube, wrist, arm assembly for the deck built by Timberland Equipment, a company that normally builds mining equipment.
In 2008, Kàs unique floating stages earned the production the prestigious Thea Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement from the Themed Entertainment Association
Themed Entertainment Association
The Themed Entertainment Association is an international non-profit association that represents creators, developers, designers and producers of themed entertainment...
.
Effects
Kà combines complex automationAutomation
Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization...
, pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics is the science of using materials capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound...
, puppetry
Puppetry
Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance which involves the manipulation of puppets. It is very ancient, and is believed to have originated 30,000 years BC. Puppetry takes many forms but they all share the process of animating inanimate performing objects...
, and multimedia projections that help immerse the audience in the story.
Sound and video
The Kà theater, which has a capacity of 1950 people, is equipped with a total of 4774 loudspeaker drivers in 2139 cabinets: a pair of speakers at ear level in every seat and hundreds more strategically placed around the auditorium. The digitally mixed audio system routes an intricate mix of sound effects and music to these speakers to create a very dynamic surround-soundSurround sound
Surround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and...
audio experience. Sound effects can be targeted, manipulated and customized to any of 16 seating zones.
The multimedia projection in the show utilizes both infrared video motion detecting as well as a system of touch-sensitive panels beneath the surface of the main 'Sand Cliff' deck. This allows the system to track the location of individual performers and change the video content accordingly. A similar example of the infrared portion of this technology can be seen in some movie theater
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
lobbies where people can step on and burst video projected bubbles
Liquid bubble
A bubble is a globule of one substance in another, usually gas in a liquid.Due to the Marangoni effect, bubbles may remain intact when they reach the surface of the immersive substance.-Common examples:...
.
Safety
Kà takes safety very seriously in the form of technical implementations as well as training. Such areas include power sources, fire precautions, falling, harness equipment, and other such items among many others. As an example, many performers wear earpieces during the show in order to hear cues when they can perform various stunts safely.Due to the speed in which artists fall from the decks, an array of airbags had to be used en lieu of traditional nets alone. These airbags sit atop two nets, which at times are 70 feet (21.3 m) below the point the artist begins the fall. The airbags contain individual cells which can inflate and deflate independently. In case a power outage occurs, each airbag has its own uninterruptible power supply which can last up to 30 minutes.
The sandcliff deck has pegs built into it which are used during the Climb scene. Each peg has a sensor which will not allow it to shoot out from the deck if something is blocking its path. These pegs shoot out at a speed of 19 feet per second (5.8 m/s), simulating arrows striking the surface. Likewise, each peg can only retract with 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of pressure. Thus if someone were hanging off of it, the peg would stay in place. If something were to go wrong with the deck, a set of backup pegs are in place which can be utilized as a safety ladder to allow performers to exit the deck safely.
As for the aerial rigging system which allows performs to perform tricks in the air while harnessed, it too has safety features. If a harness or wire were to fail, a fail-safe mechanism is in place which would lower the performer to the stage or in the aisles to safely detach from the cabling system.
As the Kà theatre is inside the MGM, it too is integrated into the building's fire suppression system. During the show, stage managers must contact hotel security and ask that the fire officer override the fire detection equipment in the theatre during the duration of any pyrotechnic and fire stunts.
Cast
A team of over 300 people make up the production team for Kà, ranging from technicians to support staff. Eighty people from this team comprise the on-stage artists and performers.- Archers and Spearmen: They try to destroy the empire.
- Chief Archer's daughter: She is desired by the villains but is not interested in them. As she falls in love with the Twin Brother, she finds her loyalty divided.
- Counselor: He is the antagonist of the storyline.
- Counselor's son: He is also a villan, and also tries to win the heart of the Chief Archer's daughter.
- Court jester: He helps protect the Twin Brother.
- Firefly boy: He is the ultimate protecter of the forest and beloved of the Twin Sister after he saves her from falling to her death. He is also the one who decides the fate of Kà.
- Forest people: They live harmoniously with nature in the forests, and they offer protection to the Twin Sister.
- Nursemaid: She provides companionship to the Twin Sister.
- Mountain tribe: They live isolated from the empire in the mountaintop. During the story they help save the Twin Sister.
- Twins: They are brother and sister and are children of the imperial court, playing the protagonists of the story.
- Valets: They help protect the Twins.
Choreography
The choreography incorporates several types of acrobatics and martial arts, including fight scenes using the WushuChinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
style of martial arts, Chinese opera
Chinese opera
Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China with roots going back as far as the third century CE...
, Poi
Poi (juggling)
Poi refers to both a style of performance art and the equipment used for engaging in poi performance. As a performance art, poi involves swinging tethered weights through a variety of rhythmical and geometric patterns. Poi artists may also sing or dance while swinging their poi...
for manipulating staves and batons, Brazilian Capoeira
Capoeira
Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century...
dance, bungees, aerial straps, swing poles, and a wheel of death
Wheel of death (Space wheel)
The Wheel of Death, in the context of acrobatic circus arts, is a large rotating apparatus on which performers carry out synchronized acrobatic skills. The "wheel" is actually a large space frame beam with hooped tracks at either end, within which the performers can stand. As the performers run...
.
Acts
Kà is a story about "conflict and love", of "imperialEmpire
The term empire derives from the Latin imperium . Politically, an empire is a geographically extensive group of states and peoples united and ruled either by a monarch or an oligarchy....
twins who are separated at the prime of their youth
Coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
and must undergo a rite of passage
Rite of passage
A rite of passage is a ritual event that marks a person's progress from one status to another. It is a universal phenomenon which can show anthropologists what social hierarchies, values and beliefs are important in specific cultures....
of self-discovery. It is about their encounters with Kà, the fire that has the dual power to destroy or illuminate."
Unlike other Cirque du Soleil performances, Kà offers four pre-shows. Once the house opens, guests are greeted by the villagers of Kà ("Gatekeepers") with different professions such the mayor and his wife, the healer, the gossip, and so on. Twenty minutes before curtain, two musicians enter the lobby and climb up to two stringed instruments specially designed for Kà and integrated into the architecture. Ten minutes before the show, actors appear in the metal framework to the left and right of the stage and perform flips and leaps assisted with ropes to dive into the audience and attempt to scare viewers. Five minutes before showtime, a staged act informs the audience that there is no flash photography or cell phone usage allowed.
The story is told in a total of fourteen scenes, each of which is preceded by movement of one or more of the massive stage elements.
- Pageant: Kà begins with the stage set as a ship. The twins are returning home, and preparations are in motion for their arrival. The boat docks, and the entire royal family is united. The court celebrates the return of the twins by displaying fantastic feats in a pageant, while the twins each perform together on their flutes. Just as the celebration comes to a close, pandemonium erupts when the court is attacked by a group of archers. The twins watch in horror as their parents, The Emperor and Empress, are assassinated in front of their eyes.
- Storm: As the palace burns to the ground, the surviving members flee for their lives. Accompanied by their nursemaid, Twin Sister and Twin Brother attempt to escape to a boat that will take them to safety. However, the Twin Brother is left behind, shot down by an arrow. The Court Jester jumps off the boat to save the Twin Brother from his impending doom. The boat escapes, only to sink in a terrible storm.
- Deep: As a soft piano and cello duet plays, the Nursemaid nearly drowns in the water. The Twin Sister dives into the depths to rescue her, and quickly swims to the surface with the Nursemaid in tow.
- Archer's Den: As light returns, the stage is now the Archer's Den. The Chief Archer, the Evil Counselor, and their men celebrate the destruction of the Imperial Palace. The Counselor's Son unveils a model of the Death Machine that he designed to "grind bones with the magical ore to unleash the destructive power of fire" and use it to kill and destroy all that stand in the Archers' path to conquer the Empire.
- Wash-up on the Shore: The Twin Sister, her Nursemaid, and the two Valets are reunited on a golden sandy beach. As they explore, they encounter giant sea creatures, including a crab, a turtle, and a starfish. The group then leaves to search for other survivors.
- Shadow Play: In the meantime, the Court Jester and the Twin Brother have taken refuge in a cave. The Jester gently tries to nurse the Twin Brother's wounds. To distract him from his pain and fear, the Jester teaches the Twin Brother the art of shadow puppetsShadow playShadow play or shadow puppetry Shadow puppets have a long history in China, India, Turkey and Java, and as a popular form of entertainment for both children and adults in many countries around the world. A shadow puppet is a cut-out figure held between a source of light and a translucent screen...
. This beautiful moment is spoiled by the archers, who, watching at a distance, plot their capture of the two. The Jester hears a sound and investigates, leaving Twin Brother alone. The Twin Brother turns and sees the face of the Chief Archer's Daughter. Their eyes meet but are interrupted as the Archers leap out and capture him. The Chief Archer's Daughter watches helplessly as the Twin Brother is carried away.
- Climb: Meanwhile, the Twin Sister and her entourage are scaling a mountain when they are also attacked by the Archers. The Archers do not capture them, but the group becomes separated.
- Blizzard: The Twin Sister and the Nursemaid are reunited through the assistance of a friendly mountain tribe, but the Archers also manage to find the clan.
- Flight: Under the threat of being captured by the Archers, the mountain tribe saves the Twin Sister by revealing their escape device — a simple tent dwelling that transforms into a miraculous human-powered flying machine. The group escapes but the Twin Sister falls from the machine, plunging into a deep, lush forest.
- Twin Brother in Captivity: The stage returns to the Archer's Den, where the Twin Brother is imprisoned in a small cage. The Chief Archer's Daughter watches from a distance, holding the flutes that the twins played before their lives were changed forever. All seems lost for the Twin Brother until he finds a friend in the kind-natured Chief Archer's Daughter, who dares to approach him. She passes the flutes to the Twin Brother, he begins to play and when she leans towards the cage for a closer look at him, he leans forward to steal a brief kiss. Although the Chief Archer's Daughter is taken aback, as she turns away from the Twin Brother it is obvious that she has also become smitten by him. After their tender moment and after great hesitation, the Chief Archer's Daughter sets the Twin Brother free from his cage, begging him to flee. Before he does, the Twin Brother makes a decision — he returns to her his flutes, the precious ceremonial gifts that were treasured by their kingdom. The Twin Brother then escapes, leaving the Chief Archer's Daughter in hope they will meet again. She cannot hide her joy — she expresses her love through a touching performance of dance using the twins' flutes. All of this is secretly witnessed by the Counselor's Son, who has desired the Chief Archer's Daughter for years. Engulfed by rage and jelousy of his unrequited love, he prepares for war.
- Forest People: The stage lights up again revealing the lush forest into which the Twin Sister has fallen. The magical forest is home to many creatures, including enormous insects and a 80 feet (24.4 m) long snake. As the Twin Sister falls, a dashing creature comes to her rescue. It is the Firefly Boy, who lives within the forest. He swoops down and rescues her, before inviting her to dance within in the trees with him. Perched high above in the vines is one of the singers, singing a sweet and exotic melody for their acrobatic dance. Knowing that she must continue her search for her brother, the Twin Sister reluctantly leaves.
- Slave Cage: Back at the Archers' Den, the Death Machine has been completed and the enslaved former citizens of the Empire (including the captured Nursemaid and Valets) toil away in the mines. The Evil Counselor and his son now sense that they have enough support and admiration amongst the Archers’ forcing them to capture the Chief Archer and assuming command of the Archers' forces. The fiendish Death Machine (Wheel of DeathWheel of deathWheel of death may refer to:* Wheel of death , a large rotating apparatus on which acrobatic and balancing feats are performed* Wheel of death , a stunt performed by knife throwers...
) is powered by slaves running in hamster-wheel cages on both ends of a long rotating pendulum arm. We recognize the two slaves in the Wheel of Death as former members of the Imperial Court. While operating the machine, the slaves escape out of the cage and brazenly taunt their captives by performing elaborate and dangerous stunts on the moving Death Machine. The enslaved Empire is inspired by the courage of the two slaves and while the Archers are distracted by the events, the Empire rises up and revolts against its captors. The bravery of the two slaves in the Wheel of Death begins to turn the tide in the war. In the conclusion, the Chief Archer’s daughter is able to rescue her father from captivity and the Twins are finally reunited.
- Battle Begins: An army, led by the Evil Counselor and his son, is preparing to crush the remains of the empire once and for all. With the aid of the Firefly Boy and the people of the forest, the Twins lead a counter attack and are victorious. In the Aftermath, we hear the cries of sorrow from the Counselor. He rushes to the side of his son, who apparently lies dying in the center of the battlefield. The stage slowly disappears into darkness.
- Aftermath: The stage lights up for a final time, revealing the same boat the twins used to return to the land. Triumphant after the battle, peace and harmony has been restored to all of the empire. The twins now rule the empire, and each has married their beloved met on their journey. The Chief Archer has vowed peace, and symbolizes this by breaking his bow over his knee. The Counselor's Son also returns. Although not dead, he has been blinded by the battle. To show he has realized the error of his ways, he makes a magnificent display through fireworks. Kà ends the way it started; in celebration.
Costumes
Asian visual iconography was the inspiration for many of the costumes in Kà: this can be seen in the imperial court and martial artists wardrobes. The Twins, for instance, have very lavish silk costumes which draw inspiration from orientalist painters from Japan, Korea, and India.Cirque du Soleil utilized a new type of digital screen printing in order to design many costumes for Kà, examples of which can be seen in the Forest People, Archers, and the Counselor's Son. The Forest People's costumes rely on printing the performers' body definitions onto the actual fabric to enhance the appearance of making their skin actually look like it is truly blue and green. Inspiration was drawn from the African Maasai warriors' ritual scar markings. As for the Archers, skin-toned Tactel
Tactel
Tactel can mean:*Tactel - a single sensing point on a tactile sensor array. A tactel is equivalent to a pixel, in that an array of tactels represents an image of the surface being touched....
was selected and tattoo designs were printed on it to make the Archers' tattoos look truly realistic. They also have moulded rubber toes attached to their shoes, giving the appearance that they are barefoot. Tattooing techniques used for the Archers were also applied to the Counselor's Son. In addition, a ripped piece of kilt
Kilt
The kilt is a knee-length garment with pleats at the rear, originating in the traditional dress of men and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century. Since the 19th century it has become associated with the wider culture of Scotland in general, or with Celtic heritage even more broadly...
is superimposed on his costume; this was made by using "shibori
Shibori
is a Japanese term for several methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern by binding, stitching, folding, twisting, compressing it, or capping. Some of these methods are known in the West as tie-dye.-Techniques:...
" (a Japanese tye-dyeing technique).
The crab puppets seen in the beach scene each took approximately 1,300 hours to create.
Music
Kà features an off-stage bandMusical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
that accompanies the acting, acrobatics, and singing that takes place on stage. During various portions of the show, different musicians make appearances in the show, performing in costume directly on the stage. The vocals in Kà are provided by a mezzo-soprano and an alto voice, both of which are female.
Originally, Kàs score was to be composed by Benoit Jutras
Benoît Jutras
Benoît Jutras is a Canadian composer known for his unique style of music, which usually includes erhus, bagpipes, and other exotic instruments. His most widely known works are the scores he has written for Cirque du Soleil, including O, Mystère, Quidam, and La Nouba...
. However, Jutras left the show because of creative differences, and the music of Kà was composed by René Dupéré
René Dupéré
René Dupéré is a Québécois composer from Mont-Joli, Québec, Canada.- Biography :Dupéré is best known as the composer and arranger of music for contemporary circus productions by the Canadian entertainment company Cirque du Soleil...
, who has composed music for multiple other Cirque productions, including Mystère
Mystère (Cirque du Soleil)
Mystère is a Cirque du Soleil show in permanent residence at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It is one of seven resident Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas, the others being O, Zumanity, Kà, Love, Criss Angel: Believe, and Viva Elvis...
at Treasure Island
Treasure Island Hotel and Casino
Treasure Island Hotel & Casino is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, USA with 2,664 rooms and 220 suites, and is connected by tram to The Mirage as well as pedestrian bridge to the Fashion Show Mall shopping center...
, and Cirque's touring production of Alegría.
The soundtrack for Kà was released on the 18th of October, 2005. In addition to the original score, the soundtrack features several 'inspired by' tracks. Although the album is somewhat remixed, most of the content remains faithful to the show.
Through the music of Kà, René Dupéré
René Dupéré
René Dupéré is a Québécois composer from Mont-Joli, Québec, Canada.- Biography :Dupéré is best known as the composer and arranger of music for contemporary circus productions by the Canadian entertainment company Cirque du Soleil...
attempts to provoke various emotions and moods such as drama, emergency, serenity, passion, and even "the birth of love". Dupéré describes the music with an "African flavor" and states that he wants the audience to feel that the show is "full of energy". He says that the music is not intended to sound as though it belongs to a specific time frame. "It could be from medieval times or even 200 years in the future...the music itself is ageless."
The tracks on the Kà soundtrack are listed below.
- O Makundé
- Pageant
- Koudamare
- Storm
- Deep
- Shadowplay
- Pursuit
- Forest
- Flight
- Threat
- Love Dance
- Battlefield
- Aftermath
- If I Could Reach Your Heart
- We've Been Waiting So Long
- Reach For Me Now
In popular culture
- Footage of Kà was featured in the premiere of the seventh season of CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
, "Built To Kill, Part 1." - Kà was a part of the 2007 NBA All-Star Game half-time show.
- Kà was also featured in an episode of Really Big ThingsReally Big ThingsReally Big Things is a documentary series about massive man-made marvels like big machines, giant telescopes, skyscrapers and other massive structures...
on the Discovery ChannelDiscovery ChannelDiscovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
. - Repair of the Sand Cliff Deck from Kà was documented in an episode of World's Toughest FixesWorld's Toughest FixesWorld's Toughest Fixes is an American reality series that premiered on the National Geographic Channel on September 28, 2008. It features Sean Riley participating in various "tough fixes"; repairs and renovations done on equipment that is very large or dangerous...
on the National Geographic ChannelNational Geographic ChannelNational Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual...
. - The Kà theater was used as the set for episode 14 of the 2007 season of MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Road RulesRoad RulesRoad Rules was an MTV reality show that debuted on July 19, 1995. The series, which was MTV's second reality show after The Real World followed six strangers between the ages of 18 and 24 after stripping them of their money and putting them on an RV traveling from location to location only guided...
series. - The performers from Kà participated in part 1 of the first season finale of Top ChefTop ChefTop Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants...
on Bravo. - On 28 December 2007 the German national TV channel ZDFZDFZweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
made history when they aired Kà. - German national TV channel ZDFZDFZweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
later aired a backstage documentary named Kà Backstage in parallel to the show Kà, allowing the viewers to switch between the channels with the same timeline. This documentary included never seen before behind-the-scenes night vision shots of the crew preparing the next sets while the show was running. - "Battlefield" was featured as the percussion break in Phantom Regiment's 2008 field show "Spartacus."
- On June 27, 2011, at a San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
Game, 10 members of Kà participated in elements of the game including the first pitch, national anthem, and warm-up during the 7th-inning stretch. They also performed traditional Chinese and Brazilian martial arts during a pregame performance. - On July 21, 2011, artists from Kà performed for San Diego Comic-Con International. The performance took place on a vertical stage created by the use of an outside façade of Petco ParkPETCO ParkPetco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
.
External links
- Kà on Cirque du Soleil's website
- Kà on Mark Fisher's website (Fisher is Kà's theater and set designer)