Ovo - the latest show from the Québécois aerialist and circus troupe, Cirque de Soleil, is a wholesome and magical night out for dreamers big or small.
The Agganis Arena was very easy to access and had convenient parking underneath the auditorium – perfect for the rainy day we chose to go to Boston! Once inside, we found the atmosphere to be clean and comfortable; the seats were even padded and upholstered! The aisle lighting was maintained throughout the entire event but it was in no way distracting. Making our way to our seats, we felt like we had gone deep into a forest as a damp, cool air filled the auditorium, mist crawled across the stage and bugs chirped making for pleasant background noise.
The venue capacity of 7200 people created a more intimate setting and allowed for greater interaction of the audience with the performers. You didn’t even realize the show had started as characters appear in the aisles and interacted with the patrons. This interaction was maintained throughout the show. A word of caution – don’t get floor seats if you don’t want to go on stage!
The costumes were elaborate and even more vibrant in person than in the advertisements. Not only did the cast put on the performance they also did the set changes. This made the transitions from act to act more seamless.
Although there is no distinguishable dialogue during the show, the story line in Ovo (egg) was easily identifiable: a group of bugs and forest creatures relish a prized egg. In between scenes, a subplot between several bugs wooing a ladybug provided much comic relief. Having been to several other Cirque shows this was most kid-friendly. The show had a bit of everything my son is currently into – bugs, slapstick humor and death defying feats! The show did contain some innuendo; something to keep in mind if bringing little ones – a slight PG rating for a portion of the show.
Each performance was unique while adhering to the overall theme “Ovo”. The contortion, high flying, death defying stunts often left the audience with white knuckles and their jaws on the floor. During one incredible stunt where a woman holds onto a man’s hand while spinning from 50’ above the stage, we couldn’t help but murmur to each other that there’s no one we trust enough in the world to do that! From a human body folded over a head balancing on a spike, to a unicycle on a tightrope, to jumps from a rock wall onto a trampoline, the performances were amazing.
We went in for a grown-up night out and left wishing we had brought our kids. We can’t wait to go back and share the incredible talents of these performers with our children. This show truly solidifies the lesson we’re trying to teach our kids daily - that with hard work and focus, your body is capable of amazing things!
