Review: Cirque du Soleil's CRYSTAL A Visual Frozen Treat

Cirque du Soleil's CRYSTAL: A Breakthrough Ice Experience is their first show to marry their traditional acrobats and clowns with world-class ice skaters and the end result surpasses their usual offerings with a new kind of show. The show is a beautiful combination of skating and aerial work that takes your breath away time and again as the lead character is lifted, with a single hand, and taken aloft, for a ballet of movement far above the ice. Crystal and her partner perform a spellbinding aerial straps/skating pas de deux that blurs the boundary between ice and sky.

The story follows Crystal in a loosely structured journey of self-discovery that takes place in her imagination. She soars through and above a surreal landscape as she becomes confident, liberated and ultimately, empowered. Unfortunately, programs are priced at rock concert prices, and were not provided for the Press, so I am unable to tell you any of the performers names. They are all to be commended for truly astonishing aerial work and skating.

The creative team for CRYSTAL is made up of 18 individual creators who are under the guidance of Yasmine Khalil, Executive producer and Daniel Fortin, Executive Director of Creation. Stéphane Roy is the Set Designer and has created a massive ice palace with doors that open and frighteningly steep ramps that also plays host to a myriad of projections, including filmed segments. Much of the set is metallic, including chairs and stylized metal trees that are used to create some impressive skate choreography. Johnny Ranger is the producton's Video Content Designer and he has created a visual feast that not only happens on the ice structure's walls, but also transforms the ice in the rink so that it becomes everything from undulating water to what appears to be black ink writing underneath the skaters during their routines.

Creative Director Stefan Miljevic, along with Sébastien Soldevila and Shana Carroll the Directors and Acrobatic Performance Designers for the show, have created a treat for the eyes that is one of the most cohesive and creative efforts I have seen from Cirque du Soleil. This is truly a three ring circus, in the best sense of the word, with much to delight the eye. There are moments of sensory overload, but it is never a bad thing.

Éric Champoux has created a smartly executed lighting design that is at turns bright, colorful, eerie and moody which all works perfectly for the piece. Maxim Lepage, who composed the score for the show, has created something that is both deeper and more diverse in sound than the usual Cirque du Soleil offering. Costume Designer Véronique St-Germain has dressed the performers in uniquely beautiful fashion. Standouts include the black and white variegated outfits and the geometric patterned shirts worn by the ensemble.

Kurt Browning, Benjamin Agosto and Marilyn Langlois are the Skating Designers for CRYSTAL and they have designed some impressive routines, which are flawlessly executed, including choreographed desks, glass walls, metallic trees and metal chairs that truly mesmerize.

In all, CRYSTAL surpasses the traditional ice show to create a hybrid entertainment that combines ice with the circus arts. This fresh and exciting new entertainment is visually beautiful, artfully athletic and wholly unique. If you love Cirque du Soleil, you'll find much to enjoy with this smashing new production. If you're unfamiliar with their unique brand of circus arts entertainment, CRYSTAL will introduce you to their particular brand of magic in high style.

Cirque du Soleil's CRYSTAL: A Breakthrough Ice Experience

Running Time: Approximately Two and a Half Hours, including intermission

Cirque du Soleil's CRYSTAL: A Breakthrough Ice Experience is performing at the HEB Center (2100 Avenue Of The Stars, Cedar Park, TX 78613)

Performances: Feb 14 - 18, 2018 at 7:30 PM. Additional 3:30 PM show on 2/17 and 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM shows on 2/18. Tickets are available one hour before showtime at the door or online.

Additional Notifications:
* Parking is an additional $15 charge.
* Please note hat the venue is extremely dark, due to the nature of the show, and steps are not marked or lit and are extremely dangerous when the show is in progress.
* Please note that all audience members must pass through metal detectors and empty their pockets and allow purses to be searched in a manner similar to boarding an airplane.
* The venue now has a no return entry policy. Anyone leaving the building will not be allowed to reenter.

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