For the first forty minutes I honestly thought: "well, it's gorgeous — but what new thing can you show me, I've already seen all of this."
By the end of the evening, I thought something completely different.
Below is my review, episode by episode.
"OVO" translates as "egg" in many languages. The show is about the world of insects.
1. The World of Insects
From the very first minutes — it's like falling into another world. Their own invented language, strange sounds, strange movements, strange behavior. All performers are in insect characters, and even the stagehands are insects too — very cleverly integrated. They don't "service" the show, they are part of it.
The set design features giant flowers. The lighting constantly changes color, giving you the feeling that you're not in a theater hall, but somewhere on an alien meadow.
2. The Air
All the gymnasts are magnificent. Without exaggeration. Their plasticity, movements and characters are in complete harmony: you see not an athlete in training, but a character.
An aerial gymnast in the image of a worm — that's something I had definitely never seen before. And the vestibular system of these performers seems to be something separate — not quite human.
There was also a number I would call "sex in the air." There's probably something in that :)
3. Childhood Déjà Vu
The first act, I must say, only confirmed my position. I felt as if I had returned to childhood — to my first visit to the circus. Only the costumes are brighter, the acts bolder. But come on, this was all invented long ago, you have nothing new to show me.
I was mentally checking boxes: astonishing flexibility — seen it. Incredible bodies — seen it. Wonderful tricks — seen it.
4. How Wrong I Was
The moment the second act began, I realized there was still a great deal in my life that I had never seen.
A completely new approach to tightrope walkers. That astonishing balance. A tightrope walker on a crescent moon — a different dimension. And from that moment the show never let me go.
5. The Trampolines — As If the Wall Was Pulling Them
The guys on the trampolines are simply magnificent. There was a complete sense that the wall was really pulling them. Pure violation of gravity — very cool.
5 Facts About Cirque du Soleil Not on Every Poster
1. Cirque du Soleil began in 1984 in a small Quebec town called Baie-Saint-Paul. The founders — Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix — had previously been street performers: they walked on stilts and swallowed fire.
2. Cirque du Soleil has no animals by principle. From the very beginning, all the magic rests solely on people — a rarity for a big circus.
3. The "invented language" you hear from the stage is a deliberate technique. This allows the show to be performed in any country in the world without translation, losing nothing in meaning.
4. "Ovo" was directed by Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker — one of the first female directors in Cirque du Soleil's history. Premiere: 2009, Montreal.
5. More than a hundred costumes are hand-sewn for each show, and some performers' makeup takes 1–2 hours to apply before each performance.
A Perfectionist's Conclusion
My perfectionist eye literally rested at this show. With every desire, I couldn't find anything to criticize — and I genuinely love doing that. This is truly a very good, premium and high-quality show.
And most importantly — I no longer tell myself "that's another box checked." This was one of those evenings when I sincerely didn't regret setting aside my usual routine and business matters — and agreeing to go. And for the first time in many years, I no longer rule out seeing Cirque du Soleil again.
