Click here to read my article on Cirque du Soleil's Quidam.
These days, there isn't a whole lot that leaves much to the imagination, especially when it comes to the realm of entertainment. Music, TV, movies - it's all pretty much in-your-face or, worse, just plain gratuitous. So, thank goodness for those creative minds from Cirque du Soleil.

The wildly successful French Canadian artistic troupe is in San Diego for an extended run (through April 18) and like Cirque's other eight productions (there are five touring shows and four resident shows), "Varekai" is just as magnificent and awe-inspiring as the others.

But in its own unique way, of course.

The magic begins, inauspiciously, in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot, with the Cirque's yellow-and-blue Grand Chapiteau tent rising above the vast asphalt wasteland. But once inside the cozy enclave (the Chapiteau seats 2,500 - and usually filled to capacity for each show), there's a palpable buzz of anticipation and excitement. It's the circus, er, cirque sans the animal smells.

"Varekai" means "wherever" in the Romany language of the gypsies - the universal wanderers. Written and directed by Dominic Champagne, "Varekai" pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition. The story is somewhat loosely based on the legend of Icarus, but it's, for all intents and purposes, merely the thread that spins the production. Yet, that's the beauty of Cirque du Soleil and "Varekai" - it spans language and narrative. What's left is the spectacle - and your own imagination.

The amazing stage set by Stephanie Ray is like a cross between and thick stand of bamboo and an ultimate treehouse.

The show begins with the sound of chirping crickets and the slow emergence of colorfully clad, insect-like cast members. From these emerges the central character of La Vigie (The Skywatcher), a wildly funny mad scientist (think Christopher Lloyd in "Back to the Future) who savors the sounds of nature.

La Vigie propels things forward, but what lifts Cirque du Soleil above a run-of-the-mill circus are the amazingly athletic and artistic acts. Flight of Icarus has Anton Chelnokov tumbling through the air swinging by and hanging from a net with graceful agility.

The Icarian Games presents old school circus acrobatics in a jaw-dropping display of human juggling. With partners using the strength of their legs to propel their partners into the air in spins that defy the presence of bones in their bodies, the Icarian artists take the tradition of the family acrobats and spin it to the new millennium. Sheer amazement.

Juggling is present (hey, it's a circus, right?), but the young Chinese acrobats twirling their Water Meteors are a true delight. As is traditional juggler Octavio Alegria, who harkens back to those performers on the Ed Sullivan Show, except his attire is not quite as staid.

"Varekai" unleashes a torrent of spectacular performers contorting and sliding (Body Skating - you'll smile at the wildly colorful outfits), flying like hawks (Aerial Straps with the graceful Atherton brothers), spinning on their knees (the handclap inducing Georgian Dancers), graceful handbalancing on canes (Irina Naumenko), even an acrobat on crutches. It's all delivered with spark, humor and true athleticism.

And then there's the show's climax, the Russian Swings. Without spoiling it for you, this spine-tingling acrobatic display combines metal swinging contraptions, sheets of billowing canvas and soaring gymnasts who send shivers down your spine, while at the same time eliciting smiles and applause all at the same time. Absolutely breathtaking.

"Varekai" is a perfect example of when craft, imagination and artistry coalesce into something that can only be experienced live and in-person. Trying to describe it is short-changing the artists who live and breath their performances. Aided by the clever and imaginative costumes by Eiko Ishioka and the pulsating music of Michael Montanaro, "Varekai" is that perfect amalgam of skillful performers given a perfect vehicle to deliver their artistry.

Cirque du Soleil again delivers a production that astonishes and has you wondering "Did I just see that? And what does it mean." And they have the temerity to leave the answer to imagination. These days, I think that's a good thing.

Cirque du Soleil's "Varekai" continues through April 18 at Qualcomm Stadium's parking lot. Performances are dark on Mondays.