Choreographed on Ice: CRYSTAL Cirque du Soleil Launches its 42nd Performance!
Cirque du Soleil, renowned for its extraordinary blend of circus arts and street entertainment, has once again pushed the boundaries of performance with its 42nd creation: “CRYSTAL”. This groundbreaking show marks the first time Cirque du Soleil has ventured onto the ice, exploring the artistic possibilities of this new frozen playground! Get your Tickets From Dec 21-31, 2023
CRYSTAL tells the story of a young woman named Crystal, an eccentric character with a restless imagination, feeling misunderstood in her daily life.
The narrative unfolds as she ventures onto a frozen pond and accidentally falls through the ice into an inverted, underwater world. This realm is a mirror of her own mind, where she encounters her reflection – a bolder, more audacious version of herself. This reflection guides Crystal on a transformative journey, helping her transform quirks into creative power. The story is a metaphor for breaking through necessary boundaries that lie on the the surface of everyday life, challenging norms, and discovering one’s individuality and uniqueness.
CRYSTAL seamlessly merges world-class ice skating with breathtaking acrobatics, a feat never before attempted by Cirque du Soleil. Given that, theatrical performaces on ice ended in the mid 90s with the Ice Capades, it’s a great time to attempt such a show. The show blurs the lines between different disciplines, incorporating synchronized skating, freestyle & classic figure skating, extreme skating, and traditional circus skills like aerial straps and hand-to-hand acrobatics. This fusion creates a visually thrilling spectacle that defies gravity and expectation. The performers, drawn from 18 different nationalities, include art, extreme, and freestyle skaters, acrobats, musicians, and even a comic, each bringing their unique skills to this icy tableau.
The costumes in “CRYSTAL” are a harmonious blend of whimsy and surrealism, perfectly complementing the show’s fantastical ice world. Crystal’s costume, with its vintage pastel blouse reflects her dorky creativity, while her reflection dons a darker version with shimmering wave patterns. The Shadow characters, representing forces in her subconscious, wear costumes transitioning from black to white with ink blot and crystal patterns. The overall design of the costumes is cleverly geared to withstand the rigors of ice performance, with special padding and non-absorbent materials that retain their glide on ice. The show’s set design, a vintage poetic cityscape beside a frozen pond, and the use of video projections and props transform the stage into various dreamlike settings, enhancing the narrative’s dream-like quality.
Cirque du Soleil’s “CRYSTAL is a revolutionary experience that combines the thrill of ice skating with the magic of circus arts. For Gen-X fans of The ice Capades, it’s a real treat to see ice theatrics reignited by the best acrobats in the world. The story of Crystal’s self-discovery and transformation is beautifully narrated through a blend of stunning visuals, innovative performances, and imaginative costumes. This show is a testament to Cirque du Soleil’s enduring ability to reinvent and reimagine the possibilities of theatrical performance. “CRYSTAL” invites audiences to glide into a world of wonder and reserve your ideal seating!
Do you like Circus performances that have a challenging stage? STRAVAGANZA is an Argentinian underwater circus where performers not only have to master the air and ground but their unique multi-disciplinary choreography involves a large custom aquarium! Take a look at our review from when Mtl had the pleasure of seeing this travelling aquatic circus.
