Cirque Du Soleil's Ovo Will Have You Crawling To Go! - By Quentin Fears
Cirque Du Soleil's Ovo is an insect-themed kaleidoscope of wonder and color, a fantasia that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Visually the show is dynamic, thanks to a wall of projected colors and images measuring 64 feet wide and is 30 feet tall. Initially, Ovo was created as a touring Big Top show but was revamped in 2016 for arenas. The show starts with a curious inflated "ovo," the name for egg in Portuguese, taking center stage, representing the enigma of and the cycle of the insert's lives. The egg stands at an impressive 22 feet and is 28 feet wide, making for an impactful first visual of the show.
Soon the egg is whisked away unnoticed and replaced by a tiny ecosystem of arthropods. These acrobats dressed as jovial and sometimes intimidating insects toss their bodies in the air from an acrobatic structure that is 45 feet from the ground. Seeing the performers swirling and spiraling in midflight is a jaw-dropping adrenaline-producing spectacle. Like many insects, these acrobats work together, contorting their bodies in harmony to create something bigger than themselves. This show gives the insect a touch of humanity. It was like seeing the day in the life of a colony of ants, a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis, a grasshopper simply hopping around, or a ladybug in search of love.
The story centers around a nervously awkward insect and a vivacious ladybug. The awkward insert catches the ladybug's eye while holding a giant strawberry. He then attempts to woo her with cute and gawky advances. The ladybug, however, rebuffs the insect's interests and flirts with an audience member to make the awkward insect jealous. This is a hilarious moment with audience participation.
Another favorite act is the trampowall. These acrobats are on the 64-foot wall and plunge straight down to the trampoline. They do this all while being in sync with each other creating a visual dance of insects flying through the air while other acrobats are below doing tumble passes. This act is full of energy and life. There isn't a dull moment.
This show is a great way to be reacquainted with live theatre post covid lockdowns. It's full of joy, family-friendly, yet still captivating for adult audiences. The cast features 52 artists from 25 countries, some from Ukraine and Russia. These artists put themselves in precarious and often dangerous positions trusting each other with their lives to entertain and to bring joy to audiences. It's heartwarming and uplifting during these turbulent times. It's a show that will excite and bring back your childlike wonder. Cirque Du Soleil's Ovo is currently playing at the Mircosoft theatre in Downtown Los Angeles from March till May 1st. Have a spectacular time being entertained while supporting live theatre and artists committed to their craft!
