Magic of ‘Quidem’ will fill Macon Centreplex in May

kriner@sunmulti.com

It’s not the kind of magic where a rabbit is pulled from a hat; it’s more like magical.

Cirque Du Soleil “Quidem” plans to create a magical world within the Macon Centreplex the first weekend of May, but that doesn’t mean the magic comes easy.

The Houston Home Journal learned after speaking with Adrienn Banhegyi, a 29-year-old native of Hungary who is the “skipping girl” in the show, that it takes a lot of training and sometimes years before being selected to be part of such a production.

Banhegyi is a professional jump-rope athlete in the Cirque Du Soleil “Quidem” show that is making its way to Macon.

What does it take?

As a member of the Hungarian Skipping Foundation — before she traveled to France to audition for Cirque du Soleil — she held the world record in consecutive “triple-unders.”

Don’t think life as a professional rope-jumper is an easy one. Banhegyi said her daily routine includes numerous hours of training, not just for the acts in the show but also to stay in shape and improve her skill.

“It can be very busy while we are on tour, sometimes hours spent before show time getting warmed up and last minute practices,” she said. “The energy level of jumping rope is very high.”

The same could be said for “Quidam,” the latest touring production of Cirque du Soleil is making its way down the East Coast.

Created in 1996, “Quidam” is one of many shows to make its way out of the Montreal-based entertainment company specializing in shows that cross the finesse and daring acrobatics of circus performance with the charm and tradition of storytelling.

“Quidam,” with a title taken from the Latin derivation of anonymous passerby, tells the story of Zoa, a girl bored with life and parents who pay her no attention. Only after entering the world of Quidam and meeting others like her who identify with the plight of belonging to a nameless mass does she feel closer to hope and the soul of humanity.

Banhegyi said the audience is sure to have a unique two hours and can expect and action packed show that she hopes will wow the crowd.

Her spotlight performance, jumping rope, will include a solo, duet and double-Dutch segments. Banhegyi has been on tour for the past two years doing shows in more than 40 different cities.

“My favorite state would have to be Utah just because of the landscape, but I like any city that has a beach,” she said. Banhegyi said the travel schedule can sometimes be a bit a grueling, but she said it is neat to see all the different places.

The touring production features 52 artists from 18 countries, with another 50 traveling technicians and other staff.

“We travel together and share our lives together, we have a lot of culture in our group,” Banhegyi said.

The logistics of travel or set up aren’t exotic; they’re just intense. Jessica LeBoeuf, “Quidem’s” spokeswoman, said that the trucks would roll in to Macon on Friday after the cast and crew wrap up a show in Augusta the day before.

Cirque Du Soleil presents “Quidam” in Macon

Dates:

Friday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 4, at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 5, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Ticket Information:

Adults: From $35 to $80

Children (12 & under): From $28 to $65

Military, Seniors & Students (select performances): From $31.50 to $67.50

Buy tickets here: www.CirqueduSoleil.com/Quidam

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