In Cirque du Soleil’s touring production of OVO, insects are larger than life and the world is a buzzing spectacle of color.
The Montreal-based contemporary circus returns to Pittsburgh Jan. 23-26 for the first time since 2017 with OVO, after having toured the show in North and South America and Europe. The production will be presented for seven performances Jan. 23-26 at PPG Paints Arena.
The show originally premiered in Canada in 2009 as a big-top show before being recreated for larger arenas in 2016. OVO, which is Portuguese for “egg,” tells the story of the insects’ reactions to a mysterious egg that appears one day and piques their curiosity.
Aerial artistry on display
Woven into the storyline are high-level acrobatic acts displayed by an international cast of gymnasts and aerial artists – some 52 performers from 14 countries – dressed as dragonflies, spiders, ants and more. Performances include foot juggling, hand balancing, contortion, aerial straps, slack wire, Russian cradle and a signature finale that combines trampoline, tumbling and rock climbing.
Nate Drydak from Toronto, Canada, a gymnast and former member of Canada’s National Trampoline Team and Indo-Pacific Champion, portrays a cricket in OVO. He’s been with the show for four years and says he’s constantly learning.
As part of a team of six tumblers and six trampolinists, Drydak, 29, says his act is a pleasure to perform. As part of his routine, he and his teammates are required to negotiate a large climbing wall that “constantly puts us out of our comfort zone.”
He’s only had one injury since becoming part of the team, in 2017, when an ankle injury required him to have surgery and be sidelined for part of the tour.
While transferring from one trampoline to another, “I was a little off on my timing and my leg got caught in the springs,” he says. “I missed performing in some cities, including in Russia, because of the surgery. But after it, I came back stronger and mentally tougher. You get up and brush yourself off.”
Fitness routine
During the show tour, he and his teammates participate in training sessions and Pilates classes with a physical therapist and fitness coach that “keep us quite busy.”
Although he and his friends like doing extreme sports such as snowboarding and skateboarding when he’s not performing, he says he abstains from those activities during the show season to avoid risk of injuries.
Drydak considers himself fortunate to be a part of Cirque du Soleil and says audiences should enjoy watching OVO.
Crazy stunts, mystery and humor
“Of course when you go to a Cirque show, you expect to see crazy stunts,” he says. “This show is bright, colorful and playful, with a lot of mystery and humor. There’s something for everyone.”
The trampolinist says one of the hardest parts of his job is missing home during a long tour, so he welcomes opportunities for his family to come and see his performances.
“My dad came to visit me on Father’s Day, so we got to share that together,” he says. “My mom is coming from Toronto to visit me in Pittsburgh. She’s my number-one fan.”
