A big thank you to the PR team for inviting us to experience Cirque du Soleil ECHO for the media premiere screening. No monetary compensation was received for this rave review.
It’s my favorite time of year – when Cirque du Soleil returns to the Seattle area! This time they are back with ECHO, which premiered this week under its iconic Big Top at Marymoor Park. As with every Cirque show, with this new production you will see the pushing of boundaries of circus arts with jaw dropping athleticism and grace that will leave you mesmerized.
With Cirque’s ECHO you can expect much hilarity, back-to-back awe-inspiring acts, a great storyline that will keep the whole family entertained…. and of course, a few moments of uncomfortable squirms as you watch contortionists and high-flying duos held up completely by the performer’s hair.
One of the main things that sets ECHO apart from other productions is the inclusion of the musicians into the storyline. ECHO features six live vocalists, with most of the musicians also singing at some part in the show. In other productions, the live music very much drove the story, but it did so mostly off-stage. In ECHO, the musicians are front and center, contributing to much of the storytelling. I felt like it added so much to the performance, and my little musicians were absolutely enthralled by the horn-topped band.
Another thing we absolutely loved about ECHO was the set designs. I’ve talked before about how much I love Cirque du Soleil fluid set designs. Unlike plays where the scene-to-scene design is done mostly behind the curtains, Cirque du Soleil employs a delicate dance of set design that allows you to watch as the stage literally comes to life right in front of you. In mere seconds, the scenes are taken down, cleared, and then rebuilt from nothing, all in one fluid motion. By using clever stage design and what can only be described as “set ninjas”, the stage transforms over and over again throughout the performance.
In ECHO an enigmatic cube takes literal center stage. The Cube is essentially the size of a 2-story apartment building, and it rotates on its central pivot, moving across the stage. Through its twists and turns, it tells a story of the earth as it changes right before your eyes. Throughout the show, you will see the cube take on many facades with projection as well as full transformation. The cube goes from a rough, natural state to a highly engineered structure then to a shell of a building, and engineered structure again, and then eventually back to its natural state.
And, while these transformations are occurring, new acts are still entertaining you and keeping the energy level high throughout the entire show. These sets aren’t simple structures or backdrops, they are beautiful, acrobatic design structures, many of which move and change amidst the most elaborate landscapes.
About Cirque du Soleil ECHO
As you would expect from a Cirque du Soleil production, the plot of ECHO is open for interpretations. All 5 of us had a totally different understanding of the plot and the conflicts even though we all got the main point of the over consumption and harming the earth. But, I loved that we all had our own take on the details.
Not up for interpretation is the incredible skill that we all witnessed on stage and in the air. Just like other Cirque du Soleil shows, ECHO combines music, dancing, amazing costumes, and some of the most mind-blowing stunts and acts you’ve ever seen.
About Cirque du Soleil ECHO
In Cirque du Soleil ECHO, human characters exist alongside anthropomorphic animals, sharing the stage and performing acrobatics together. The main driving story follows a girl {Future} and her dog {Ewai} who are both dressed in clothing emblazoned with blue skies. In the opening scenes, the two stumble upon the cube and then embark on a journey to restore balance to the world for both humans and animals. Future’s presence is both youthful and optimistic, showing hopefulness for a brighter tomorrow, and her dog Ewai adds even more playfulness and fun to their scenes.
A vibrant cast of supporting characters helps drive the story of ECHO to its conclusion, including the following: THE PAPER ANIMALS, all clad in white crumpled-looking suits with various white animal heads made of mesh so they can perform acrobatics while costumed. THE CARTOGRAPHER, a wise figure with immense knowledge and maps in hand, showing a spirit of adventure. THE COLOR PAPER PEOPLE, a tight-knit group of performers who work together to perform many acts. THE MARRIONETTE, a large colorful figure that is controlled by multiple performers on stage. He is made up of everyday objects in DIY-model fashion and has amazingly intricate movement on-stage.
DOUBLE TROUBLE acts as both the comedic relief both before and then throughout the show. Their playful rivalry and knee-slapping antics bring a burst of excitement that keeps the audience entertained. Their goal is moving around the boxes they carry and chase during the show, working together to stack them and move them across the audience.
To see ECHO in Seattle
Performances will run on multiple dates from now through March 13. Tickets range from $59 and up and the show is 125 minutes long with a 25 min intermission. I definitely advise you to show up early for parking {$25, card only} and to enjoy the festivities both in and out of the big top before the show.
Check out www.cirquedusoleil.com/ and buy your tickets now.
