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Costumes & Characters
More than 1,200 costume elements were produced for VOLTA by the artisans in the
costume workshop at Cirque du Soleil’s international headquarters in Montreal. The
stunning costumes echo the themes of alienation and self-realization,
and embody the fatuity and overindulgence of self-realization that have gone awry.
They also reflect the DIY (Do It Yourself) mentality of those who strive to
"find their free".
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The coat MR. WOW wears as the host of the MR. WOW SHOW, a golden coat – a super
bling outfit truly befitting of an executive producer and supreme judge that demands
to be the center of attention.
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In his TV show outfit, MR. WOW represents the ultimate level of celebrity:
solid gold through and through. Gold colored dragon scales make up his hard, exterior
shell. His shell is also a representation of the superficiality that is sometimes
associated with fame. The JUDGES costumes are as big as their egos and the importance
they want to have. Clad in metallic gold and black, the JUDGES are the anonymous,
two-faced judgement that society imposes on us. Metallic glitter gives their flamboyant
neo-Baroque costumes a hard shine that underscores their self-importance.
In the world of VOLTA, the Greys represent the
everyman. Donned in multiple shades of grey, the prints and patchwork-type patterns and
textures of their outfits mimic the bleakness of the landscape and blend with
the blandness of the stage. Their costumes are held together with belting from head to
toe, suggesting a more thrown-together, use-whatever-they-can-find look. Some of the
Greys are in a transitional state to becoming Free Spirits; when they
remove their coats, the backs of their shirts have colorful patterns showing their
individuality.
Free Spirits are open-minded, life-loving travelers who won’t hesitate a moment
to veer off course for the sheer sake of adventure. On their travels, they collect
meaningful objects and trinkets, which they attach to their costumes. The fabrics
and prints call to mind extensive travel and encounters with many cultures of the
world. Their complex, richly colored outfits evoke handmade techniques such as macramé
and crochet. The make-up designs are inspired by vibrant Hindu colors such as oranges
and aqua blues. The colors on the characters’ bodies are applied with sponges full of
holes or, in the case of the Swiss rings performers, using various paint splattering
techniques.
Waz
Once a young boy full of dreams and aspirations, WAZ has since slipped into
the invisible doldrums of the GREYS. In search of love and acceptance, WAZ
becomes a contestant on the MR. WOW SHOW to access the ultimate consecration.
His quest becomes derailed when the part of himself that makes him unique and
that he’s been trying to hide is revealed to the world. It is only upon meeting
the FREESPIRITS and in returning through the memories of his childhood that he
once again comes in touch with who he truly is, and has the courage to show his
true self to the world..
The Greys
The Greys are the everyman, city dwellers who have accumulated the dust of
inertia over time. Like the Elites they aspire to become, the Greys are out of
sync with their true selves. Lost in the fog of misguided hopes, they have a
tendency to look for happiness in the wrong places. They live their lives
permanently glued to their cell phones and screens. Mostly cut off from one
another, they settle for their everyday routine, the tedium of repetition.
Greys come to the MR. WOW SHOW for a chance to bathe in instant
celebrity. If they win, they are transformed into Elites. But what they
don't realize is that they're merely switching from one false promise to
another. Like Waz, the Greys have faded over time, letting fear get the best
of them.
The Free Spirits
The FREE SPIRITS have earned their place in the world. Formerly GREYS,
they have escaped the everyday. They see through the outer appearance of people and
embody the glorious acceptance of everyone. They are not bound by rules or
expectations. And this is not because they are lawless. It is because they are free and are
driven by freedom. They strive to live in a world with no walls or barriers. Benevolent and
life-loving; they truly care for others. They travel the world, collecting and sharing
experiences. They are real, genuine and always seek to fulfill their potential and that of
others. The FREE SPIRITS and the GREYS are two sides of the same coin. To the FREES PIRIT,
difference is a strength.
Ela
Ela is the archetypal Free Spirit. She sees the untapped potential in
others and tries to rouse them from their apathy. She is there at the right
moment for GREYS in search of a meaning in their life and to help WAZ set out
on his journey.
Mr. Wow and the Judges
They represent the collective judgement of society. The MR. WOW SHOW is
the show of all shows. The one that can catapult you from being a nobody to
being a real somebody. MR. WOW, as the executive producer and supreme judge,
possesses the supreme veto – holding the power to make or break contestants.
You never know which way he will vote.
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