"Do you have any idea what this is about?" my friend’s son asked me at the intermission for Echo. The honest answer is... no. Aside from a few Vegas shows, plot has never been the point of Cirque du Soliel shows. The show description is "When FUTURE and her best friend Ewai stumble upon an enigmatic CUBE, they set in motion a journey of life, discovery, hope, and empathy, quickly learning how their actions have the power to shape this world."
Ewai is a blue dog, whose outfit would cause furries to growl with envy. At the start of the show costumed performers dart around the stage in white – rhinos and geckos and assorted other creatures. Then the circus acts begin.
A pair of acrobats’ spin attached by their hair. Shirtless men do a highwire act. Clowns stack boxes. A contortionist makes the audience audibly cringe with disturbing flexibility. How does this shape the world? I don’t know. Is it entertaining as heck and stunningly beautiful, yes.
The heart of the show is a massive three-story cube, which features stunning projections, as well as being used in acts. A giant robot puppet explodes from it that is jaw dropping in its size and movements. It is a sight to behold. According to director Mukhtar Omar Sharif Mukhtar, "The creative intention for ECHO was to try and create something our fans haven’t experienced yet in a big top." The show succeeds in that.
Fans of Cirque du Soliel will love Echo. Those never having seen a show will bein awe of the feats of athleticism and skill. Echo is a beautiful thing to experience, even if you leave with more questions then answers.
Echo plays under the big top at the Stampede Grounds until October 19th.Tickets are available at https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/echo
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Contributor Jason Clevett |
Locale Calgary |
Topic Cirque Du Soleil | Theatre |
