According to Cirque du Soliel, the name OVO means “egg” in Portuguese. This timeless symbol of the life cycle and birth of numerous insects represents the underlying thread of the show. Graphically, OVO hides an insect in its name: The two O’s represent the eyes while the letter V forms the nose.
As the production unfolds at Capital One Arena the stage becomes a living forest with insects that are part of a colorful ecosystem that is truly breathtaking. Now, as a reviewer, I am NOT a fan of bugs, or insects of any kind, hence my trepidation for this review. However, I am a huge fan of Cirque, and they did not disappoint.
I can’t praise this company enough. The performers live through their art, combining it with athleticism and dance within their acts, and their endeavors are amazing to watch.
Additionally, the amount of creativity in the costumes and the make-up consistently leaves us in awe. Costume designer Liz Vandal uses textures of colors and materials that illuminate the bodies, wings, or legs of the characters so that they are recognizable creatures without being overly “creepy crawly.” Lighting designer Eric Champoux uses a wonderful array of effects with spotlights, floor lighting, and set lighting with some moveable screen effects. Sound designer Jonathan Deans makes the forest come to life with insect sounds as the audience walks in.
Like any Cirque du Soleil show, there is a story. This particular one was quite charming. It centered on a buzzing (yes, buzzing) romance between a Fly, aka the Foreigner, and a Lady Bug. The dialogue that they had was obviously a made-up bug language, but it was very clear what they were trying to convey and their interactions were sweet and hilarious. Neiva Nascimento (Brazil) is a ladybug with some serious star quality.
One of the most remarkable acts is “The Wall” featuring Oleg Kuzmin (Russia), Sergyi Rysenko (Ukraine), Wei-Liang ‘’Sky’’ Wu (China), Dmitry Fedorovskiy (Russia), Kilian Mongey (France), Christoffer Sogaard (Denmark), Mikhail Kostianov (Russia), Ramarni Levena (United Kingdom), Boris Samsonov (Russia), Wellington LIMA (Brazil), Dmitrii Nikitin (Russia), Nathanael Rivera Drydak (Canada), Nathan Shuh (Canada), and Ben Van Overberghe (Belgium) as bouncing crickets. The amount of height they reach every time they hit their trampolines is a real wow factor and highlight of the show.
All the acts are brilliant, from the aerialists, trapeze artists, and acrobats. The vocalist is Alessandra Gonzale, whose hauntingly beautiful voice adds great effect to the atmosphere of the entire show.
If you can’t get to this one, get to any Cirque du Soleil show that you can. It’s worth it.
Running Time: Two hours with a 20-minute intermission.
OVO plays through September 15, 2024 (September 14 at 11:00 am, 3:00 pm, and 7:00 pm; September 15 at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm) presented by Cirque du Soleil performing at Capital One Arena, 601 F St NW, Washington, DC. Purchase tickets online.
