Cirque du Soleil & Rebreathers?

[GoBlue!]

Hello, all-

For those of you like me who appreciate the technical aspects of theatre, I'd be interested if anyone has seen "O" in Las Vegas. While thoroughly impressed with the 1.5 million gallon stage, the set movements through the water were fantastic. I had assumed that these piece were on tracks, but frequently spotted black, human-sized forms underwater that seemed to be moving them about. I did not, however, see bubbles during the set changes....although I was at quite a distance. Does anyone know if they are using divers (perhaps with rebreathers?) for set changes?

What a spectacle.

Jim

 

[SubMariner]

Hello, all-

For those of you like me who appreciate the technical aspects of theatre, I'd be interested if anyone has seen "O" in Las Vegas. While thoroughly impressed with the 1.5 million gallon stage, the set movements through the water were fantastic. I had assumed that these piece were on tracks, but frequently spotted black, human-sized forms underwater that seemed to be moving them about. I did not, however, see bubbles during the set changes....although I was at quite a distance. Does anyone know if they are using divers (perhaps with rebreathers?) for set changes?

What a spectacle.

Jim

Two years ago we went to the show. It was amazing! At one point during the production they actually brought all the divers up out of the pool on some of the platforms. They made a great spot out of it: the divers flopping about like fish out of water before the platforms disappeared back beneath the surface. It really added an interesting dimension to the show.

Unfortunately, neither of us remembers whether or not they were using re-breathers.

 

[android]

The curtain tricked impressed the hell out of me. When they flew it out, I was thinking to myself, hmmm.... that's got to be a pain to rehang after every show.

I never noticed the divers, but it makes sense.

 

[GoBlue!]

SubMariner-

Yep, they still have the brief scene where the bottom rises w/ several divers, all in black, flapping their fins like fish out of water. I didn't make the connection that those very well may be the stagehands....just thought it was a water-themed segment. It did occur, however, that the cost of all those setups seemed a little steep just for a 30 second bit....even for Vegas!

If those were the stagehands, they were not wearing rebreathers. Just black single tanks. Hmmm.....So how do they get the bubbles to go unnoticed.

Jim

 

[H2Andy]

well... i imagine that if they are not back-lit, it's probably really hard to see the bubbles?

btw, i admire you guys who can sit through a CdS show... i go "oooh...ahhhhh" for about
ten minutes and then get bored (i am a philistene, what can i say?)

 

[cdiver2]

I saw the show and did see bubbles now and again, yes they were black tanks.
A excellent show.

 

[Scubatooth]

i read a article a while back in a magazine but cant remember wear, but to keep the visablitly of the divers that work the show they were constantly putting waves and a bubbler to keep the noticeablilty down. the way they control the sound was real intresting as they use a gravel bed on the edge to minimize the wave sound.

FWIW

Tooth

 

[Fly N Dive]

there was a tv show about this a while back, and i remember that there are divers, and they are on oc.

 

[GoBlue!]

Very cool. Thanks for the info. Obviously couldn't see the bubbles from where I was sitting + their obscuring techniques.

Now, if I can just figure out how to log a dive in O's pool.

Jim

 

[SubMariner]

Now, if I can just figure out how to log a dive in O's pool.

oh yah... count me in!