INTERVIEW: This summer, Cirque du Soleil hangs out with the bugs
Photo: OVO by Cirque du Soleil features many bug-centered acts. Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil / Provided by press team with permission.
This summer, Cirque du Soleil is going buggy. OVO, one of the company’s most successful shows, is now touring the United States and ready to bring some insect-tastic entertainment to families. The cirque spectacle is currently set up at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, through Sunday, June 23. Future engagements include Elmont, New York; Providence, Rhode Island; and Boston, among a host of other cities.
In the show, Cirque du Soleil brings its unique brand of high-flying aerialists and stunning acrobatics to the world of insects and arachnids. The titles of these acts speak to this bug-centric programming: Amazing Ants, Flexible Dragonfly, Brave Butterflies and Crazy Crickets. The spectacle also includes original music to set the scene and bring audience members into this unique ecosystem. The action begins with the tune “Brisa Do Mar” and continues with “Cocoon,” “Frevo Zumbido” and “Orvalho.”
Janet Mallet is a senior publicist who is currently on tour with OVO. She knows the ins and outs of this “ecosystem teeming with life and unseen beings — insects that work, eat, crawl, flutter, feast, fight and court.” Recently Mallet exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What sets OVO apart from other Cirque du Soleil shows?
OVO is the only show about Cirque du Soleil that revolves around insects! We follow a strange blue fly that arrives with an egg in a new colony, and with him, we discover the ecosystem alive at our feet every day. Just like in every Cirque du Soleil show, you can expect high acrobatics, beautiful handmade costumes and props, live original music with seven musicians, as well as video projections covering our massive stage! There’s truly something for everyone!
What is it about insects that make them so fascinating and an inspired choice for a circus?
The show creator, Deborah Colker, has always been fascinated by insects from when she was a little girl. As a choreographer, she found that the non-human quality of movement was a great segue into imagination. Our artists studied the different species they portray, but they are not limited by realism. Furthermore, the variety of physical prowess in the insect world is astonishing, and we had great fun in merging acrobatics and bugs. For example, our crickets are tumblers and trampolinists. Our spiders contort and climb on ropes that resemble spiderwebs. Our butterflies fly above the stage. The possibilities are endless!
What’s the setup like for a show like this? When do you pull into town?
It takes 100 local stagehands and our 25 technicians approximately 12 hours to unload and set up the stage. The next day, it’s showtime! Prior to the premiere, we’ll go through technical focus, soundcheck, as well as a full day of training. We don’t travel light! We bring everything we need in 20 trucks from city to city every week: dressing rooms, costume shop, cooking equipment, offices, a full-size gym and washers/dryers!
Does OVO work on both levels, for adults and children?
It absolutely does! Young kids, adults, grandparents. The show is so colorful and joyful that it truly appeals to everyone. With 52 artists on stage, there’s always somewhere to look, something to see, no matter where you are! Also, since the insects speak in an inventive ‘bug-language,’ OVO is very accessible. I truly love seeing families at the show and kids with stars in their eyes. It’s the best feeling!
Is the original creative team still involved in the production, or has the baton been passed to others?
The creative team created the show back in 2009! During creation, the touring crew is also present and preparing the show to be taken on the road. However, if we make significant changes to the show, like we did after the pandemic where we added three new acts, new costumes and characters, we do work with the costume designer or the show creator to ensure we maintain the original vision and essence of the show. For the past 15 years, the touring crew has been carrying OVO by Cirque du Soleil around the world to 40 countries!
Is life in the cirque a difficult one for performers?
Many or our artists will tell you that working at Cirque du Soleil is a dream come true. That said, it is also a life of discipline, focusing and training. There’s a saying in the industry: ‘’Circus every day!’’ and that is definitely true. They train and rehearse and do conditioning, stretching, cardio on a daily basis to ensure they are top shape for their moment on stage, but also for a long circus career! For many, if not all, it’s a passion and a calling more than a job!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
OVO by Cirque du Soleil plays through Sunday, June 23, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Click here for more information and tickets.
