A rt
ulture
aced@clackamas.edu
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The Clackamas Print 5
Ovo: Human-insect hybrids infest Portland
C o n tin u e d f r o m P a g e 1
The beginning acts include a
striking red spider with a white
head dotted with black insectile
marks. She moves acfoss the
stage in an arachnids dance o f
curious exploration. She has and
covets a baby sized slowing egg
with love and gentle guarding
fierceness. Then the egg is gone.
Her expressions are as dose to
the bug like glances o f its head
and eyes that a human perform
er could ever achieve. The view
from the second row premium
seat gives an intimate view o f her
delight and beauty as she per
forms her intro. As the opening
performances progress, the lights
dim to'reveal new scenes and
variations in the light and fog
levels as groups o f ground and
air dwellers reveal themselves to
an already enthralled audience.
T h e funny Master Flipo, an
ambiguous old guy, is the obvi
ous leader o f the bugs and trou-
ble making as they come, gets
the whole community o f bugs
worked up into ah introductory
ence'a’tit e d lt h e diherent kinds
of creatures and their amazing
and impossible seeming feats o f
tumbling and gravity twisting
stunts. This dance fades into the
dark regionsof the stage as the
light dims.
A dragonfly, in a shiny
blue and winged outfit per
forms amazing feats o f balance
and contortion that seem to
go on forever and never ceases
to amaze. Several bugs start to
almost materialize out o f the
growing and thickening fog
and start to dance. T he music
and routine seems almost like
Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” for
a few moments. _
-.-
' The bug world unfolds in
a story o f their miniature soci
ety as magnified and .presented
by the incredible, production.
A rotund and ebbing ladybug
that exudes delight and^ airy
happiness fall in love with a
stranger. The strange bug has
all the inhabitants intrigued and
curious about a huge egg fie has
brought with him. The stranger
is a comical and crazy fly-like
It s a romance that has its trials jn ^ T a fito S t’^ ^ u t ^ r S n S ?
and tribulations. Like a movie on the stage o f
review, this one will not reveal • two butterflies
after a dizzy
the ending of the show.
Some highlights of the per ing and grav
defying
formance § that gained , more ity
applause included a diablo sling display o f love
ing firefly that had four o f the and play. During
flying weights going at once after their act, a huge
a few failed attempts. A spider flower that is part
contortionist that bent herself o f die set extends
and balanced in ways that made and opens up as
die audience gasp and another they seem to cli
who was a master o f the slack max, The experience
rope were favorites. T he trapeze is accentuated by
show by die flying scarabs was sweet floral smell that
spectacular in spite o f more than fills thè air. A
a few falls. Forgivable, since it peze performance
was- the first performance at a grasshoppers is a very
dynamic
presenta
new location.
Slapstick comedy and audi- tion o f tumbling and
encë participation by the strang gravity defying wall
er and Master Flipo had the walking. Cringes
crowd roaring with laughter. and covered faces
The bizarre was represented by a were abundant as
they bounced inches
d a n c in g creature called Creatura
colliding
who seemed, almost to be a drag from
on caterpillar. The erotic was or seemed as if
acted out by a high altitude and they would fly
spinning metamorphosis o f a o ff the stage.
Shows are
cocoon into a butterfly from
Top: The cast o f Ovo takes
a fi n a l bow.
Left: Crickets bounce
towards the audience.
Right: “H ustle o f the
B ouncing Fleas” stacks
sk ill on strength.
^ eon esu a^ n rru u griS n T K T ay^
and some Tuesdays until M ay
20. The show starts at 8 p.m.
Wednesday through Saturday
and 5 p.m. on Sunday. There is a
4 p.m. show on some Thursdays
and Friday and Saturday. Check
www.cirquedusoleil.com : for
specific weekly information.
Depending on seating
the price is $143.50
for premium seat
ing and $43.50
for the worst seats
w ith
options
in
betw een.
Students, seniors,
and military all get
discounts: $130.50
for premium seat
in g and $40 cheap
seats. Children, ages
2-12, cost $104.50 for
premium and $33 for
basic seating. Parking
is $8 at the Expo
Center.