BWW Reviews: Street-Savvy 'TRACES' Leaps to The O.C.

One would think that with the gluttony of different circus-type Entertainment Ventures out there—many of which Cirque du Soleil alone can be blamed for—that there wouldn't be any more room in the pantheon for yet another one of these shows. But, wait!

Enter TRACES, a sensational e-ticket thrill ride of a show that mixes extraordinary human feats with the easy-going vibe of urban cool. A refreshing, high-energy cross between Stomp! and, yes, Cirque du Soleil, the National Tour of this 7 Fingers (7 Doigts de la Main) Production continues its enthralling presence at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts through March 4.

A recent critical hit in New York as well as in its stop in Los Angeles last year, the more intimately-set TRACES—which, like Cirque du Soleil, is based out of Montréal, Canada—is a street-wise, stripped-down circus show that highlights unbelievable super-human trickery as an extension of gritty street performances. From tumbling and hand-to-hand balancing, to high-flying stunts and pole-climbing, the show's impressive acrobatic skills are showcased alongside seemingly-impromptu musical interludes, choreographed dance breaks, some creative street art, and even a little basketball and skateboarding. Edgy without being too out-there, the show's breezy flow and casual ease makes it feel as if these awesome performers just happen to be a bunch of good-looking, artsy, athletic street urchins that like hanging out with each other while sharing a friendly rapport and a penchant for parkour.

While TRACES certainly doesn't have the enormous cast—and the enormous budget and colorful production values—of its more high-brow, fellow Canadian big-top magicians, it still thoroughly entertains, thanks to the jaw-dropping talent and appealing personalities of its likable, charming ensemble. The show is comprised of just seven performers: Americans Mason Ames and Bradley Henderson; Taiwanese Xia Zhengqi; and French-Canadians Mathieu Cloutier, Philippe Normand-Jenny, Florian Zumkehr, and Valérie Benôit-Charbonneau (the sole female of the troupe).

Unlike Cirque du Soleil's consistent parade of anonymous, ornately-costumed flying bodies, TRACES allows a sort of "get-to-know" moment for each plaintively-dressed performer. With the help of a vintage microphone that magically descends from the rafters, each cast member takes a turn at speaking into it, giving confessional, sometimes cute-sy introductions about themselves. It's a nice, humanizing touch that helps distinguish and quickly endear each performer to the audience—an unexpected welcome surprise I didn't anticipate. Another surprise: many of the performers take turns playing the piano to provide musical accompaniment (one of them even sings a French language love ballad with a guitar)!

In between displays of unearthly physicality, there are moments of quiet reflection, humorous gags, and poetic artistry that help convey the show's so-called thematic premise as well as communicate each performer's personality. Rather than present a narrative structure in the traditional sense, the show—admirably co-directed/co-choreographed by Shana Carroll and Gypsy Snider—concentrates its forward momentum via emotionally-tinged (albeit sometimes too-abstract) vignettes. Some are just beautiful. Others just perplex.

But, lest we soon forget, the 90-minute, intermission-less show is, more than anything, truly about these young folks' kick-ass, out-of-this-world physical talents. Though they collectively come together as expert balancers and acrobats equipped with enviable power and flexibility, each performer brings a unique personal skill to the stage which this show takes care to flaunt. And just when you think that you've seen these awesome feats done before, TRACES wows you with unfathomable routines and aerial stunts that will leave you understandably wide-eyed and breathless.

Highlights include the gorgeous acrobatic pas de deux between odd couple Valérie and Mason, that's both sexy and powerful; the incredible (and amusing) expertise of Xia with the yo-yo-like diabolo; and Valérie's exquisite, hypnotic work on the suspended tissu. But the show's true high points happen when most of the ensemble is working together to show off their physical prowess. These include the ensemble's insane, rapid ascensions aided by two 18-foot-high Chinese poles; their anxiety-inducing high jumps through stacked Chinese hoops; and, later, their gravity-defying net-free flights propelled via a see-saw apparatus called a teeter board. These three stunt sections are worth the price of admission alone.

Though everyone genuinely brings greatness to the stage, it's hard not to miss the two American-born performers in the cast. There's New Hampshire-bred Mason (pictured, middle right, cradling partner Valérie), a tall, hulk of a man whose football player build and lifting power disguises an agile, graceful gazelle (with a sweet, romantic disposition to match). And then there's brooding San Francisco native Brad, whose arms are so strong they alone can hold up his entire body on its side horizontally (!) while grasping onto an 18-foot-high pole with just his hands! He also has the most mesmerizing solo act of the night (pictured above): with full command of a Cyr Wheel, he spins and weaves within this huge metal hoop as if he's the wheel spokes melded onto it. You are guaranteed to be awe-struck.

With its confident audacity, quirky personalities, and pulse-racing stunt work, TRACES is truly an exciting new breed of circus show that's not quite your typical circus show. Thanks to the winsome cast's wonderful interplay and palpable camaraderie—combined, of course, with their obvious acrobatic skills you have to see to believe—the show is a welcome departure from your average jump-and-tumble extravaganza. Think of it as the fun, illegitimate, fiesty younger sibling of Cirque du Soleil, that has plenty of fierce thrills but only a fraction of the perceived pretension.

Follow this reviewer on Twitter: @cre8iveMLQ

Photos from the National Tour of TRACES by Michael Meseke ©2011.

-----

Performances of Les 7 Doigts de la Main's TRACES at The Segerstrom Center of the Arts continue through Sunday, March 4, 2012. Ticket prices start at $20 and can be purchased online at www.SCFTA.org, by phone at 714-556-2787 or in person at the SCFTA box office (open daily at 10 am). Segerstrom Center for the Arts is located at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa.

For tickets or more information, visit SCFTA.org. For additional information on TRACES, visit www.tracesusa.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.