Ovo

2
Reviewer's Rating

The show starts off with some classic Cirque du Soleil performer spectator interaction. If, like most here, you’ve been visiting the Royal Albert Hall every year to see what the Cirque has in stock, you’re probably used to it already. The actors never fail to make the audience laugh and the tricks never get old.

On the middle of the stage is a large white egg. In fact, the whole show revolves around the ovo, egg in Portuguese and the world of insects. The theme has a great potential to explore birth and nature but the cloth egg deflates and turns out to be empty and most insects are completely unidentifiable.

This year Cirque du Soleil delivers a poorly developed theme with surprisingly no narration. Despite starting off with a rather surprising act of acrobats balancing kiwi slices on their feet (?) the show disappoints and is full of inconsistencies. In the beginning, there are notably smart stage arrangements -while the act happens up front other performers prepare the second act in the background-. But later on, while a small act barely distracts the younger ones a huge filet being set up by performers and staff, the operation takes a few minutes and does not go unnoticed.

In addition to this, the performers are frequently seen adjusting security cords around their waist. Although one cannot complain about Cirque du Soleil taking security measures for their performers, the transparency takes the magic away from the show.

If the show is a delight for children, it does not meet the expectations set by previous years. The show does start with an exciting act but goes downhill from there whereas it should and used to be the opposite. There is no grand finale. No big act. No narration. Nothing in the ovo. It’s a bit like going down Oxford Street and watching street performers, except it last two hours and costs a bundle.