The first rehearsal under the new blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau takes place. An emotional upset occurs as two of the artists deal with a harsh blow. Back at Cirque du Soleil, it is time to present the new show to the press.

First Aired: November 3, 2002 (Global) February 24, 2003 (Bravo)

T-minus 30 days to the premiere of Varekai: The artists move from the studio to the Grand Chapiteau. The big top is pitched in the Old Port of Montreal and covered in a light dusting of snow. For their first day of on-site training the performers arrive at a yet-unheated backstage tent. We see Olga and Anton huddled under a blanket and Stella working out on an exercise bike while dressed in her winter coat and hat. Everybody is busily preparing for the world press launch of the show; a press conference for over 200 journalists.

After weeks of debate and many long hours, Louise Mercier and Cirque's marketing team have finally decided on a poster and main icon for Varekai, and not a moment too soon, she delivers the yellow poster with the stylized stick puppet Icarus to Andrew Watson just a few days before the press launch. She expresses her relief to him, "I feel like a pregnant woman who has just given birth." "I have another 28 days," the Creative Director replies with a laugh.

Rehearsals continue under the big top. Adrian Berinde, the show's male singer, is incorporated into the staging for the first time. During a run-through of a group scene it is painfully obvious that Adrian has never acted before, he has absolutely no performance quality. He just goofs off and waves his hands.

Fortunately, others are having more luck. The Atherton twins' Aerial Straps act has really come together. The new choreography is spectacular. The twins are determined to make their act one of the show's most memorable. "We don't want to be a standard apple, we want to be the best we can be on the stage and we want people to talk about our act when they've left. But that's all been sorted now, all that's left for them to talk about is our costumes," one of the twins says with a laugh. The Athertons are excited that their act has been chosen as one of the few that will be presented as a teaser during the press conference.

Icarian Games, another act to be presented in the teaser, still has some major kinks to be worked out. Ashley and Gareth's futures at Cirque are hanging by a thread; their performance is still weak and inconsistent. Head coach Boris explains the ultimatum issued to them, "The buck stops here and the next decision will be a drastic one." With so little time left there is no tolerance for Gareth and Ashley's fumbles. Boris talks to Icarian coach Adrian about their performance, "[It's] not acceptable and the next step is, if we can't rectify it, we take it out."

Stress is causing Gareth to become short-tempered and argumentative. During a training session he is defensive and constantly argues with his coaches. Ashley, on the other hand, just sits dejectedly and listens. Adrian lays down the line, "Training doesn't mean anything if you come last in a competition . . . We're not changing your routine unless you drop him next time and then I'm gonna take it out [of the show], end of story."

Later, Gareth works with Director Dominic Champagne to fine tune his Lizard character; a menacing, dark figure which will open the show. With the Icarian Games quickly slipping from his grasp the Lizard character may be his redemption and his only chance to save his job. Gareth goes fishing in the St. Lawrence River on his day off. He seems pensive; a young man caught between a troubled past and an uncertain future.

On top of problems with Gareth and Ashley, the Icarian Games proves to be an immensely difficult act to create a lighting design for. The inverted Icarian catchers are being blinded as they stare up into the over-head stage lights. Varekai's frustrated Lighting Designer Nol Van Genuchten admits, "Icarian Games is a really tough act to light. By no stretch of the imagination do I have a good relationship with them now."

Press Conference day arrives; the cast must temporarily put their daily struggles aside and flash their rehearsed smiles for a room full of jaded reporters. All the artists are on edge; even veteran performer Olga has a case of stage fright. As she puts on her semi- finished costume she tells the dresser, "I don't wanna go out there! No!" Raquel relishes the challenge presented to her, she relates it to Varekai's theme, "It makes you a survivor. Life gives you opportunity to learn how to fight; if you make it then you're more special than people who don't have anything to fight for." Ashley catches the flu and cannot perform in the press conference show.

Guy Laliberté and the show's creators greet the journalists. The mini-performance goes off without a hitch but little do the reporters know that just beneath the Cirque's slick veneer is a team desperately trying to salvage a show that is simply not ready. At the end of the episode Dominic directs a full dress and technical rehearsal of the show's opening sequence. It is less than three weeks to the premiere and he has not yet done a run-through of the show in its entirety. With the clock ticking down the final few days, it remains to be seen whether all the disparate elements of the show can be pulled together in time for opening night.