Cirque du Soleil: Crystal
Cirque du Soleil: Crystal is unlike any other Cirque show you have seen. While many of the characteristic Cirque elements are present (the playfulness, the melding of fantasy and reality, the jaw-dropping athleticism and skill), Crystal stands out from the crowd. It is their first show that takes place on ice and that ice becomes an ever-changing canvas where visual light projections can change the setting, the scene and the mood within the blink of an eye.
Crystal tells the story of a young woman who is a square peg trying to fit into a round hole; a creative dreamer who is trapped in a mundane world. Fleeing from the voices telling her to conform and be “normal,” she skates onto a frozen pond and falls through the ice. In this other world, Crystal is confronted with her shadow self (in addition to a whole cast of briefcase-toting corporate drones; “shadows;” post-modern hockey players; an imaginary friend and potential love interests) and reaches a breakthrough, literally and figuratively, eventually finding the will to live an authentic life.
My daughter is almost 12 and she rated Crystal as the best live performance she has seen. She was old enough to follow the plot while also being wowed by the skating; the circus arts; the astounding lighting acrobatics and the soundtrack (which blends popular music with Cirque’s signature French cabaret sound). My son is 6 and also loved Crystal. The plot was lost for the most part on my very literal kiddo, but there was enough visual excitement to keep him entertained and amazed from beginning to end. I would consider Crystal to be absolutely perfect for older kids – perhaps 8 and up. It is a bit darker, a bit more intense and has just a touch of tongue-in-cheek raciness. It is a magnificent show and is not to be missed during its short stay in Portland.
The Details:
Cirque du Soleil: Crystal is at Moda Center through April 8th, with a 7:30pm show on Thursday, April 5th and then two shows per day Friday-Sunday. The running time is about 2 hours, including a 20-minute intermission. There are fairly loud parts of the show. If you or your little ones have sensitive ears definitely consider ear protection, as you would at a stadium concert.
