Saskatoon StarPhoenix

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S CRYSTAL SPARKLES BRILLIANTL­Y ON ICE

Show stands out with strong sense of theatrical­ity, clear plot about young heroine that captivates crowd

- MATT OLSON

Cirque du Soleil is always good for brilliant visual spectacle and exciting musical beats, but Crystal adds a layer of theatrical­ity most Cirque shows are missing.

Crystal, the first show Cirque du Soleil has staged on ice, was artistical­ly brilliant at Wednesday’s opening. From the moment the main character (Crystal) fell through the ice and a skater was suspended from the ceiling to simulate her descent, everyone was hooked.

What makes this show really stand out is a strong sense of theatrical­ity and a (reasonably) clear plot. The audience immediatel­y gets to know Crystal and her personal struggles, and her narration allows the crowd to follow along through a surreal dreamscape as she contemplat­es her life. There is even something of a twist ending to her story.

The first half of the show doesn’t feature a lot of Cirque’s signature acrobatic “wow” moments, favouring sharp skating synchronic­ity combined with tricks and lifts to get things rolling — that is, until the “extreme” skaters costumed as hockey players come out to close the first half, doing flips and spins over ramps stationed around the ice and accompanie­d by an Irish jig-style folk-rock piece.

The second half starts slowly and gets a bit bogged down by its own metaphors as Crystal begins to contemplat­e her future. But soon the young heroine is involved in a dance with a man suspended from the ceiling, kicking off a beautiful bit of choreograp­hy that takes both characters from the ice surface into the air and back again.

The show struggles a bit with pacing coming into the second half, and the earlier skating/juggling scene seems out of place with the ethereal vibe the show tries to create — although the juggling is impressive.

So much about Crystal works perfectly: the choreograp­hy is graceful and powerful, and the use of light projection­s onto the ice to create different scenes and Crystal’s reflection are beautiful. Creating a “shadow” Crystal character is a delightful touch. The music, featuring Cirque du Soleil’s usual electronic-inspired dance, pop and a small live ensemble, provides enjoyable variety.

Does putting Cirque du Soleil on ice make its acrobatics better? It’s difficult to say, but the skating does add grace and fluidity, making the acrobatic stunts stand out that much more.

Crystal is an icy masterpiec­e unlike any other. It runs until Sunday at SaskTel Centre.

 ?? LIAM RICHARDS ?? Crystal, the first show Cirque du Soleil has staged on ice, is an icy, graceful masterpiec­e unlike any other, writes Matt Olson. It runs until Sunday at SaskTel Centre.
LIAM RICHARDS Crystal, the first show Cirque du Soleil has staged on ice, is an icy, graceful masterpiec­e unlike any other, writes Matt Olson. It runs until Sunday at SaskTel Centre.

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