紐時賞析／疫情仍在肆虐...太陽劇團復出 挑戰不少

Cirque du Soleil’s Return Could Be Its Most Challenging Feat Yet

太陽劇團復出 挑戰不少

As COVID-19 vaccinations accelerate around the world, the Cirque du Soleil announced last month that its two longest-running Las Vegas shows, “O” and “Mystère,” will return this summer. “Luzia,” a crowd-pleaser featuring acrobats jumping to and from a pair of huge swings, will open at Royal Albert Hall in London in January. And talks are underway to reopen in China, Japan, South Korea and Spain.

全球各地加速接種新冠肺炎疫苗之際，太陽劇團於4月宣布，該劇團在美國賭城拉斯維加斯兩大長青劇碼「O秀」和「神祕境界」，將在今夏恢復演出。以雜技演員在兩個巨大鞦韆間飛來躍去為賣點、深受喜愛的「露齊亞」，明年一月將在倫敦皇家艾伯特音樂廳登場。太陽劇團並在洽談於中國大陸、日本、南韓與西班牙復出事宜。

At a time when the pandemic is still raging and uncertainty remains about people’s willingness to return to large theaters, the attempted comeback by the Montreal-based circus is a litmus test of sorts for the live-entertainment industry.

疫情仍在肆虐、觀眾重回大型劇院的意願也仍不確定，總部設在加拿大蒙特婁的太陽劇團企圖於此際復出，堪稱對整個現場表演產業的考驗。

But before Cirque shows can restart, it must put back together a company that was all but dismantled at the start of the pandemic.

但太陽劇團在重新出發前，必須把在疫情剛爆發時就幾乎解散的劇團重新聚攏。

During its 400-day hiatus, Cirque’s revenues plummeted to zero, and it shed nearly 4,700 people, or 95% of its workforce, leaving many of the world’s best trapeze artists and acrobats confined at home, unable to practice.

在暫停演出的400天期間，太陽劇團的營收驟降到零，並裁減近4700人，相當於95%人力，讓許多世界一流的高空鞦韆表演者和雜技演員坐困家中，無法演練。

With touring on the horizon, the circus also faces the logistical challenge of navigating different health and safety rules across the globe. “It’s going to take a very long time for the Cirque to come back to what it was before the pandemic — if ever,” said Mitch Garber, who stepped down last year as Cirque’s chair.

隨著國際旅行恢復在望，太陽劇團還面臨後勤挑戰，必須配合全球各地不同的衛生安全規範。去年卸下劇團董事長一職的賈伯說：「太陽劇團要花很長時間才能恢復疫情爆發前的盛況——如果還做得到。」

Yasmine Khalil, who recently stepped down as Cirque’s executive producer after 25 years at the company, said the group retained a sparkling global brand, while the pandemic offered the radically scaled-down organization the opportunity to reinvent itself.

在太陽劇團任職25年、最近卸下執行製作人一職的亞思敏．卡里爾說，劇團保有閃亮的國際品牌，而疫情也讓規模極度縮減的劇團有機會改頭換面。

Under new rules by Clark County, in which Las Vegas sits, shows can proceed with no social distancing once 60% of the state’s eligible population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Masks will be required.

根據拉斯維加斯所屬內華達州克拉克郡的新規定，只要州內有資格打疫苗的人口中有六成至少已接種一劑疫苗，節目開演時就不必保持社交距離，不過口罩還是得戴。

Cirque must also grapple with out-of-shape circus artists, many of whom have been forced to pursue other ways to make a living.

太陽劇團還得解決表演者身材體能走樣的問題，他們之中許多人被迫另謀生路。

For Uranbileg Angarag, a Mongolian contortionist, rehearsing favorite moves from home — including putting her legs 180 degrees in front of her head while balancing on a cane in her mouth — has been difficult: The ceiling of her apartment in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital, gets in the way. She has supplemented her income by offering online yoga classes.

對蒙古族柔軟體操表演者烏蘭比勒格．安加拉格來說，在蒙古首都烏蘭巴托家中排練最喜歡的動作很困難，包括讓身體騰空，僅僅靠著嘴巴咬住的一根拐杖達到平衡，同時雙腳往頭部前方攤平180度，因為天花板會妨礙動作進行。她在網上教導瑜伽以貼補收入。

文／Dan Bilefsky 譯／李京倫 核稿／樂慧生