(Le Soleil, Quebec City) Very often our reaction on discovering insects is to recoil and scream. But we would happily adopt the colourful Cirque du Soleil bugs and marvel at their gracefulness over and over again.
From termite mounds to spiders' webs, we ventured through a little ecosystem where the arrival of a stranger carrying a large egg had caused amazement. We also saw love blossom between a plump ladybug and a bluebottle fly.
The opening handbalancing act—with its combination of strength and flexibility—set the bar high for what was to come. The beautiful red ants that followed did not disappoint. Rolling kiwis and corn cobs on their nimble feet, they later juggled bodies. Ants launched into the air grab flying tambourines with incredible skill and precision.
White butterflies provided an instant of complete grace, their flight a breathtaking feat of sublime elegance.
A little danger. . .
There was a hint of danger with the amazing slack wire act. An acrobat performed a series of pirouettes and cartwheels on an unstable wire. He walked on his hands, feet in the air, before dazzling us by riding a unicycle along the wire. Sitting on it? No, too easy! He pedalled with his hands, leaving his legs pointing skyward and resting his head on the handlebars! The fun-loving ladybug and the bluebottle fly brought humour to the show, their difficult love affair providing a common thread.
Before the two critters found each other, a clown tried to find potential lovers for the fly. . . I was even one of the candidates: the clown made me show a bit of shoulder, re-styled my hair and made me meow in an attempt to seduce the fly, who, in the end, was not interested! All the better, as I wasn't really into him either—but it was good fun! [. . .] OVO is teeming with moments of genius and highlights such as Créatura, a sort of giant slinky with five limbs that move mysteriously.
Le Soleil, July 31, 2009
By Valérie Lesage
Photos: Yan Doublet