In Cirque’s ‘OVO,’ insects perform fantastic feats

By Rich Fahey

BOSTON – When a great spectacle is combined with fantastic feats of strength and daring , the result is Cirque du Soleil’s production of “OVO,” now at the Agganis Arena through July 28.

For two hours, you can lose yourself in a magical, colorful world where insects of all shapes and sizes tell a simple story that will make you laugh, all while performing routines that will have you holding your breath.

This is the third visit by the show in Boston. The first run in 2010 was under Cirque’s “big top” at the Fan Pier in downtown Boston and the second in 2017 at the Agganis Arena shortly after the show was transformed into an area production in 2016. Three new acts were added after the show returned from a pandemic-induced two-year slumber in 2022.

“OVO” could be subtitled “a bug’s life” writ large. It is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight, and look for love in a nonstop riot of energy and movement.

Acclaimed Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker became the first woman to direct a Cirque show when “OVO” debuted in Montreal in 2009, working alongside director of creation Chantal Tremblay. “OVO” is Portuguese for “egg,” and a huge egg is indeed at the heart of the simple storyline.

Liz Vandal’s endlessly creative costumes bring to life the  performing insects, including crickets, red ants, a butterfly, dragonfly, ladybug, spider, and red fleas.

Your eyes may – pardon the expression —  be bugging out when you  see crickets using trampolines to scale a 30-foot wall while red ants on Chinese poles will hurtle towards the ground and stop inches short.

An  elegant dragonfly performs a hand-balancing act on a piece of equipment that is designed to look organic, like something that just might grow in an ecosystem dominated by bugs.

A spider is actually an amazing contortionist who weaves her body through part of her web as curious crickets look on.

The story revolves around a blue fly called The Foreigner who enters the insect world headed by Master Flipo, bearing a huge egg on his back that is his prized possession. The fly is bewitched by a fetching ladybug, and other insects take advantage of the situation to run off with the egg.

The courtship between the fly and the ladybug will be a comedy routine that runs throughout the show. Beware if you are sitting on the floor; the fly and the ladybug may ask you to become part of the show in a bid to make the other insect jealous.  There is no spoken language; the insects communicate with a language all their own. Meanwhile, the fly will continue to search and regain his prized egg.

The most dramatic feature of a spectacular set is a 30-foot-high wall set against the rear of the stage. The performers climb on it, disappear into it, and use it as a stage, platform, and launching pad.

Majestic projections are integrated throughout the show. It took 40 days to film a miniature forest — 24 feet by 8 feet — built of real plants. A team of 30 artists helped turn the video into a dynamic background.

Colker’s Brazilian heritage informs every aspect of the production — most notably the samba-flavored score. She also brought two collaborators from her home country: set and props designer Gringo Cardia and composer and musical director Berna Ceppas. The two worked alongside costume designer Vandal, lighting designer Éric Champoux, sound designer Jonathan Deans, and makeup designer Julie Begin.

The Cirque brand has rebounded quickly from the pandemic shutdown and there are 20 shows currently touring around the world, and a new show set to open soon in Nashville, Tenn.

The Cirque du Soleil production of “OVO. Through July 28 at the Agganis Arena  925 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. Information on tickets and more information on special events during the run at cirquedusoleil.com/ovo