CAVALIA - Not Just For Horse Lovers!

http://www.cavalia.net/en

I’m not what anyone would call an avid horse fan. I was almost thrown over a cliff by one last summer. Horses have always sensed my intense fear of them. But, I can appreciate their beauty. I like petting their noses, feeding them apples from Tiara’s tree, watching them while my daughter takes her riding lesson. So this is the weird part - I never imagined the impact that the Cavalia horses would have on me.

Last night I had the honor of attending the tented ‘Cirque” type show running at Marymoor until February 12. http://unrevedeliberte.cavalia.net/en/spectacle/apropos.aspx

CAVALIA - WOW! AMAZING!

I say this as an animal lover and a person who is easily impressed by anyone who gets a 1500 pound animal to prance in choreographed patterns (un-bridled, free) while drums pound out rhythms and 2,000 people watch. My dogs won’t even come when I call with a treat in my hand. And aren’t horses supposed to be skittish, easily spooked, afraid of loud noises? The horse performances in Cavalia are a result of gentle leading, not whipping, threatening and yelling, like lion trainers in the circuses of days gone by. This fact makes it all the more impressive to watch. The respect between horse and trainer is hard to put into words, even for me, a wordy person. The words mutual respect come to mind.

The show opens with an upstage cellist playing along to a large-screened view of the birth of a colt, thereby introducing us to the first moments in a horse’s life. Already we are hooked, as the mother nuzzles her baby to life and watches it struggle to stand on stilt-like legs.

When the curtains part and the long, deep stage is revealed, in semi-darkness, a lone horse runs from stage right, unbridled, and the audience holds its breath. The eerily silent hoof steps on the dirt floor to the other side of the stage, is not a mistake. It’s meant to be loose, unbridled, alone. The horse mills about to the phantasmagorical music. Our wonder comes from the realization that one doesn’t usually see these gorgeous creatures on a stage like this, running wild. Without a trainer.

Under the largest big top on earth, the lights come up and other horses burst onto the stage. Men hoot and holler and try to keep up with the herd that's doing circles around the enormous stage. This is prehistoric times, meant to suggest the days when wild horses ran free and humans rounded them up for their own use. But in Cavalia, the horses are not so much being chased but celebrated, played with. Every living thing on that stage is enjoying the wildness of the scene which sets the tone to a spectacular and moving tribute to the relationship between human and horse. (Actually their promo says “man and horse, something I felt was a typo on their website).

I can’t mention all the acts here, but eventually we delve into the Roman era and a line of majestic white horse with five feet of wavy tails, prance in a choreographed dance of precision that takes your breath away in its beauty. The handlers are masters in their field, looking, atop the beasts, like they are only along for the ride with their stoic expressions and rod-straight backs. We know better. Acrobats, dancers, flying aerialists, lassoo-ists hit the stage (or fly above) for non-stop entertainment as the horses’ involvement weaves in and out of each act. I can’t tell you how many times I said “Wow!” out loud, last night.

Cavalia’s theme is an honorable one. The relationship between human and the noble horse is as old as the hills and one to be treasured. Although there are no female (mare) horses in the show (only stallions and geldings), there are plenty female humans onstage and when watching something like this with young daughters who take riding lessons, I for one was pleased to be able to say “look how beautifully she rides” and “my favorite trick rider was the woman with the red hair”. So many times in entertainment women are relegated to less dangerous work that shows off their beauty, instead of bravery and finesse. Not in Cavalia. I can only guess that mares aren’t part of the show because of the distraction factor for the stallions and because men are more trainable. (Kidding)

One of the most moving scenes involved ‘grazing’ horses onstage, finally joined by a loving trainer who greets them all separately then appears to play with them. He has them running in a circle, changing directions and playing with one another, directed only by his words (which I’m pretty sure are French Canadian – how can horses understand French?). When one of the more playful horses breaks off to have the only on-stage ‘accident’ of the night, then joins his friends back in the ring, the trainer laughs and the message is clear. These Cavalia people love their horses.

Of course the 48 horses are the true stars in this gorgeously lush display of equine splendor as they interact with the flying gymnasts, the bungee acrobats and other Cirque–type acts of death defying brilliance. Sitting in the warm, comfortable theatre last night, I wondered how many hours it takes to get the horses to learn their choreography, what the stable tents look like, (for $25 per person, you can visit after the show), what life is like for the performers, what the horses eat to look that good, how they get them to race at full speed across the stage during the crowd-favorite western trick pony segment and other such conundrums. The sets are constantly changing to one-up the last, the costumes, lighting, music, band and choreography are mind boggling.

The Glitz and Glam and Wow factor is almost expected when you go to the big tent at Marymoor to see a revered show of this quality. But what isn’t expected is the glimpse into the essence of a horse and the feeling you take away from of having shared something magical with a creature you never knew had such ability and depth.

 I know Cavalia is a pricey commitment, especially for children, but if you want to show them something more than riding a worn-out pony around a track and give them an insider view to the essence of a horse, Cavalia is your ticket. But don’t complain that I didn’t warn you. The kids will talk all the way home about owning a horse.