Review: Cirque du Soleil takes to the ice with 'Crystal'
Cirque du Soleil's first foray onto the ice is a dazzling tale of a girl stuck between life and death after falling through a crack in an iced-over pond. While the premise of "Crystal" is a little dark, the show manages to create a vivid, high-flying spectacle that stays true to Cirque's typical style.
The show, which plays at PNC Arena through Sunday, starts in typical Cirque fashion with a humorous "clown" warming up the crowd. Cooper, who appears throughout the main show, has a bucket filled with snowballs that he likes to throw at the crowd. People love to throw them back at him, with comical results. The light-hearted opening is a hit with children and adults, so make sure you arrive a little early to catch the entire segment.
As light as the opening is, things get a little heavy when the actual show starts. Things begin with a video sequence projected onto a giant glacier of ice. Crystal is seen arguing with her parents. Soon, she opens a door in the glacier and runs down the nearby staircase. She is running away but falls through the ice only to be trapped in this dream world.
Cirque is known for its elaborate costumes, lighting, acrobats and humor. This show takes all of those things and puts them on ice. While there is the obvious comparison to "Disney on Ice," this show is far from anything I've ever seen at a Disney show.
Crystal is first greeted by acrobats tumbling and spinning across the ice. In one of the most high-energy moments of the show, Crystal interacts with a crew of hockey players who speed skate off ramps doing stunts and flips. Crystal also played to the hometown crowd by wearing a Carolina Hurricanes jersey during the routine.
At various points, different skaters take on the role of Crystal. During the "Homeswing" routine, Crystal swings and flips off of a trapeze high above the ice to a cover of Sia's "Chandelier." Below her, skaters come out with elaborate swings that are reminiscent of the singer.
The first act is the more playful side of Crystal's mind, while the second act has her delving into what it would be like to grow up, get a job and find love. One of the most powerful moments was when Crystal imagines falling in love. She and her prospective suitor spin and flip above the ice in a routine set to Beyonce's "Halo."
It is important to note that most performers had extra safety harnesses attached to them. Others had pads and spotters on the ground below. This is definitely reassuring after an aerialist plummeted to his death performing a high-flying act during Cirque du Soleil's "Volta" show in Tampa, Fla., earlier this year. It was the third death in Cirque's history.
While the story is a little disjointed – we never really get to understand Crystal's troubles at home, and some of her fantasies are a little "trippy," like the "Day in the Life" scene with a mock playground and school setting – the acrobats, aerial performances and humor keep you engaged.
Unlike some Cirque shows, this one is actually good for the entire family. Younger children might not be able to follow the entire story, but they will appreciate the performances.
I took my 5-year-old son with me to see this show. He loved the clown at the beginning. The sequence where Crystal left home was a little confusing to him, but he did perk up with the action started on the ice. While I'm sure he didn't follow the entire storyline, he loved the hockey scene, the juggling and just about everything else. When Crystal skated across the ice to spell "The End," my son started to tear up. I'm not sure whether it was the show's happy ending – Spoiler alert: Crystal gets out of the pond and is reunited with her family – or if he was sad because it was over. It was the first Cirque show he has seen and the first theatrical show besides "Paw Patrol" and "Peppa Pig." He loved it and said he can't wait to see another show like it.
