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ongoing - Sun. Aug. 29 "A teeming world of insects." That's the way Cirque du Soleil is promoting its latest dance-acrobatics-contortionist-music-mindscramble extravaganza to hit Boston, "OVO,' which is up at Fan Pier and Pier 4 through Sunday Aug. 29. That raises the question: Who don't like bugs? Most of us, I'd say, especially in this summer of tree-and-leaf munching beetles and those damn carnivorous blac k bastards that attacked me out on Plum Island's beach. I grew up in Maine where the mosquito is the state bird, and was amazed that at the University of Maine, which I went to as an undergrad, there was a department called Entomology. Imagine, a whole area of study where you spend your life hovering over insects! I mean, an ant farm is one thing, but ... At any rate, the human insects at "Ovo" are a far friendlier and cuddlier bunch that what you'll see out in the natural world. Some of the 'sects and 'sects buddies (frogs, bats, we think) we could idenifty: grasshoppers, crickets, ants, butterflies and ladybugs. Some, we just had to figure were nebulous/ambiguous insects working out their problems amidst this colorful ecosystem. Their life: They work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. I truly enjoy Cirque du Soleil productions and refuse to join any backlash-because-they're-big movement, but I've also thought most of the time the "storyline" created was just something flimsy (even if drenched in Meaning) on which to hang to physical movement. And so what? I'd figure out what the show was "about" from reading the production notes and enjoy the mostly wordless stage activity and sounscape for what it was. Look at it this way: It's kind of like the 3-D "Alice in Wonderland" but in real live 3-D. Colors, shapes, sizes, movement. In "OVO,' though, there's less to figure. You can pretty much settle in and watch the trapeze action (sometimes right above the net they've strung over our heads), the wall-climbing-and= leaping frogs, the sinuous movements and contortionist fun with the ladybugs, the moth that is on a rope and emerges out of its cocoon. The name "OVO" means “egg” in Portuguese. It was directed and written by Deborah Colker, the first female director at Cirque du Soleil. You'll see, but won't be able to count 54 performing artists from 16 countries. As usual, the band and singer are super - the music a wordly mix of exotic and lush, classical and pop, beat-driven and laid-back. Remember the '80s artist known as Enigma? Cirque du Soleil music follows his path. Here's how the press notes describe "OVO's" plot: "When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It’s love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual. OVO is overflowing with contrasts. The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torrid, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic. And as the sun rises on a bright new day the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew."
What "OVO" doesn't have? For me, it's the "Wow!" factor that comes when you see your first Cirque. It's kind of like seeing a David Bowie or Pink Floyd extravaganza the first time and then on subsequent tours. After that, you begin to learn the landscape and enjoy it, just not with your jaw dropping. That said, I realized there was a smile on my face throughout this two-and-a-half hour production (including intermission) and there were acrobatic surprises and buggy contortionism that was quite amazing. Flora and fawna emerged; I believe a tree stalked the insects. A huge spider web covered the stage as the second act began. The trampoline bouncing and synchronization of the insects and amazing. No collisions and constant action. I can only imagine the time that goes into staging one of these things and the precision as to how and when these performers hit their marks.
Performances: Sunday, at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Fan Pier, 800-450-1489 www.cirquedusoleil.com/ovo |
