One of my guilty pleasure favourite movies is The Greatest Show on Earth, a Cecil B. DeMille epic about circus life. I went to a couple of circuses as a child. Once, when a smaller touring company came to Kempsey, I remember the rickety, temporary seating and the smell of popcorn, but little else. Later, when a Russian circus was touring, we drove up to Coffs Harbour to see them there, a traffic jam of cars trying to get into the same carpark. I think it was the case of the latter (but I can’t be sure) where I also saw the brown bears tied up out the back, between sessions, and I felt such pity for them.
That was a long time ago, and things are different now as far as using animals is concerned (thank goodness). I suppose I still have a little romance in my heart, in light of the movie, maybe, when it comes to the circus – and especially when it comes to Cirque Du Soleil, brand extravaganza, entertaining people from around the world since its beginnings over twenty-five years ago. Ovo is their show that is currently in Australia, beginning in Brisbane, here in Melbourne until the 31st March, before moving across to Perth.
I was invited to attend a show last week, and also to participate in a meet-and-greet with one of the show’s performers. Sebastien Savard, travels the world with his wife and two children, and he talked about their creative, nomadic and vibrant lives with Cirque. It certainly sounds like quite an adventure. And he is a wonderful violinist. Interestingly, the main lead’s name in The Greatest Show on Earth and high up on my ‘baby name list’ for Riley was Sebastian.
Back to the show, Ovo was visually splendid thanks to the vibrant costumes and makeup, its performers gasp-inducing and mesmerising, making a mistake (the aerial flyers didn’t have a great night on our particular visit) forgivable. The show moves at a quick pace and its perfect running time (intermission included) for smaller children. The comedic elements of the show, particularly the audience interaction, were clever – although my friend and I were a little worried at one point when Master Flipo came up our aisle, thinking we could be next to be singled out and have the spotlight on us!
I came home and showed the kids the program and raved about my favourite acts, explaining who-did-what. Only convincing them all the more that they wanted to see it next!
If you’re in Melbourne, tickets are available here and there are early 4pm sessions to choose from the on the weekends. If you go between 18 – 24 March, $5 per ticket will be donated to ONE DROP “a non-profit organization established in 2007 by Guy Laliberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil— [which] strives to ensure that water is accessible to all, today and forever.” Quote from website.
Definitely, definitely worth doing!
Ovo performance photos taken by OSA Images, used with permission. I was the guest, along with a girlfriend, of Cirque Du Soleil at Ovo.
