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cogency
13, Jul 2018

Volta, high-voltage return to the past

by Steve Cohen
The Cultural Critic

Volta by Cirque du Soleil, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks, Pennsylvania, through August 19, 2018.
 

The word volta means a turn in time, or a return. Cirque du Soleil says that the title of its latest show, Volta, refers specifically to an about-face. Either way, this theatrical invention lives up to its billing.

As seen in its premiere under a huge, Arabian-night tent in Oaks, Pennsylvania, Volta is a return to the era of variety shows. It’s a throwback to the format of Ed Sullivan and of Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey, as we see a procession of separate acts. The level of athleticism is spectacular, far exceeding the standards of yesteryear. Like the performances of Olympic athletes or professional ballplayers who eclipse the records of their predecessors, these performers exhibit superb strength. In fact, some of Volta’s performers have experience in the Olympics.

Acrobatics, tumbling, ladder climbing, and double-dutch jump roping take the spotlight. A violinist, a ballerina, and a unicyclist have their star turns. And a clown displays impressive dance skills. The finale, where men on bikes criss-cross and loop over each other within curved surfaces, is a direct descendent of the familiar circus act where motorcyclists whirl inside a metallic sphere.

A young man with blue hair and a Mohawk woman on roller skates move between the acts, but their significance is unclear. A story line or a clear theme is missing, as Volta lacks the narrative and the drama of previous Cirque du Soliel productions.

Volta is written and directed by Bastien Alexandre, with Jean Guibert as the director of creation. They claim that Volta “tells a spellbinding story about the freedom to choose and the thrill of blazing your own trail” and “is about being true to oneself, fulfilling one’s true potential, and recognizing one’s own power to make it possible.” These claims, however, are not plainly discernible.

Anthony Gonzalez is composer of the space-age future-pop score, and musical director. The show’s name also refers to a jolt of energy, and that is certainly accurate. The show is high adrenaline and high decibel. Lights (LED and strobe) and projections are eye-catching.

The Canadian-based Cirque du Soleil, French for “Circus of the Sun,” is known for cutting-edge shows featuring aerialists, acrobats and contortionists, with no animals. Its previous offerings include immersive productions with themes such as the movie Avatar, or the music of the Beatles or Michael Jackson, or fire and warfare.

Tickets are available at cirquedusoleil.com/volta

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