Last week I went to see one of the last representations of Cirque du Soleil’s latest show, Echo, at the Montreal Old Port. I wasn’t planning on writing anything about it…until the evening came.
Let me preface this post by saying that I’ve had the luck of seeing more Cirque du Soleil shows than I can fully remember. While over the years going to see their shows whenever they stop by has become a favorite habit of mine, over the last couple years I have to admit I had started to wonder if I was becoming blasé.
You see, few experiences compare to seeing acrobats do things you never even knew were possible for the first time. I can vividly remember my first experience seeing Saltimbanco, and the imagery of the trapeze segment of Totem is still deeply ingrained inside my brain over 10 years after the fact in a magical moment that I cherish to this day.
Over the years, these memorable experiences blend and become less numerous as you become accustomed to seeing similar experiences; it loses its freshness. Not to take anything away from the artists, as everything they do on stage is still mindblowingly impressive and I have an incredible appreciation for their craft and the physical fitness, coordination and skill required to do what they do (as a side note, I’ve also gained even more appreciation after trying and struggling to even hold a handstand on a regular basis over the last couple years).
Echo was not one of those experiences that blend with the other Cirque shows. I walked away feeling alive and with the giddy excitement of a child discovering the world for the first time, for the first time in years.
Technology meets the arts
One of the reasons for this is a clever use of technology to create a new kind of experience unlike any that I’ve seen before from Cirque du Soleil.
Core to the setting is a massive cube that continually gets configured differently by the acrobats throughout the show. Use of lighting and high quality projectors on that cube come enrich the story, direct attention in a seamless way during the transitions between segments and bring a colourful and playful flair that permeates through the entire presentation.
At other times, the projections were used to highlight the illusion, such as during the juggling segment where bouncing balls appeared on the projection to a successful effect.
The next paragraph contains spoilers. Read at your own risk.
Another memorable moment involves the use of what I would best describe as drones to represent birds flying, leading to audible gasps of surprise throughout the audience.
In the service of story
Interesting as it may be, the increased use of technology throughout the show came with significant risks for Cirque du Soleil. For one, too many lights and special effects can become a distraction from both the story and the acrobats’ significant on-stage accomplishments, and it could also be used as a gimmicky crutch.
Thankfully, that didn’t happen. Another aspect that blew me away about Echo is its inventiveness and commitment to integrating everything that’s happening on stage into a coherent story. Where other shows in the past have at times felt like a patchwork of segments with a variable link between them, Echo feels like a complete story from beginning to end, and the use of technology and props has been cleverly done in a way that reinforces the youthful narrative being told.
One such example involves a classic Cirque du Soleil segment, where acrobats hop on a tall ladder for an impressive balance and strength feat. While hardly a new thing, weaving it seamlessly into the story using cardboard boxes as a prop turned this segment into a fresh new take on the same experience that had the audience laughing and while simultaneously being on the edge of our seats.
A new way?
It’s fitting that Echo comes on the heels of Cirque du Soleil’s revival from bankruptcy, as it feels like a bit of a rebirth and a departure from the tried and true formula that’s made it famous for decades now. Cirque has taken some risks with Echo by trying to create things it hasn’t done before, and it’s paid off handsomely with an innovative and exciting new show.
I’m torn, however, on whether this is a direction it should keep pushing towards with all of its new developments. On the one hand, the increased reliance on technology affords the directors with some incredibly exciting new creative options that weren’t available until now. This freedom was amply used in Echo and tastefully executed in a way that improves the story but still puts the focus on the acrobats. On the other hand, there’s a very real risk that a future show might execute the same strategy in a way that distracts from the experience and from the athletes’ prowess, and in such a case the same strategy could become a negative instead of a positive.