On Friday my parents took me and the family (minus Peanut) to see Cirque du Soleil‘s show OVO, which is currently playing in town (watch the preview above for an overview). The show is presented in true circus style, under a the big top, and was one of the most amazing performance experiences that I have ever…experienced. The acts, the costumes, the music, and the performers were all mesmerizing and top-notch. We all walked away in awe.
- Bubba and Sissy at OVO
But the most wonderful part of the evening wasn’t the performance. It was watching Bubba watch the performance. He was enthralled with every single aspect. As each new character emerged, he would point wildly and jump up and down in his seat. Several times I looked over to see him standing in front of his chair, as if to get just a few inches closer to the stage. While Sissy had a hard time figuring out what bugs the various performers were supposed to represent, Bubba never even had to think about it. He knew what each of them were based on their often abstract costumes and stylized movements, sometimes even before Wifey and I had figured them out! During intermission he ran around just outside the tent, so excited to go back in and see some more. For a full two hours after the show was over, he just kept going on about it, reliving every last moment.
As an artist, the fact that Bubba was so moved by this performance touched me in a way I can’t describe. Several times my eyes filled with tears as I watched him immerse himself in the experience. We try, as parents, to let our children find their own passions. While we certainly are very involved in the arts, we try not to be overbearing with a push that they be invested in them as well. We allow them to explore a variety of interests and encourage them to try their best in everything that they attempt. Because of this, it is even more special for me that Bubba was so impacted by this performance.
If you have the chance to see OVO, I highly encourage you to DO IT! And if you have the chance to take a child, don’t miss out on the opportunity. You won’t regret it, and it may even be one of the most memorable moments of your life.
30-Something Dad 