I had the opportunity to added the Ovo show by Cirque du Soleil at the North Charleston Coliseum this past week. While I had always wanted to go to a Cirque de Soleil show, I still wasn't prepared for the incredible performance that was about to take place.
The Ovo show (often stylized as OVO) is essentially about insects: think of it as "A Bug's Life," but with mind blowing acrobatic. From grasshoppers who jump up vertical walls with ease to ants who juggle their food with their feet, each act in Ovo is inventive and well thought out.
Throughout the performance, I found myself wide eyed at the stunts and acrobatics that the performers were able to do. Their flexibility, poise, and strength was the most compelling part of the performance, hands down.
Dividing up the acts were short interludes focusing on two narratives: the duel between the bug's leader and a blue newcomer, as well as the blue bug's attempts to woo the beautiful ladybug. Woven into these narrative sections was plenty of humor, most of which are sight gags (so even little kids can follow what's happening).
Accompanying the performances was the live band and singers: at time, the musicians come onto the stage to interact with the performers for a layered experience like nothing I've ever seen before. Often, the musicians and singers are positioned just off the main stage: you can see them while the performers are doing their death-defying acts for a fully immersive artistic moment.
Ovo is definitely a family friendly performance! Kids will love the bright colors of the costumes and sets, and the adults will appreciate the attention to detail in every aspect of Ovo. Because the bugs talk in a made up language (think the Minions), even little kids who have trouble catching nuances in language will be able to follow along.
All in all, I cannot recommend Ovo enough! This might have been my first Cirque show, but it will not be my last.
(See the full review over at CosmosMariners.com)
