The buzz of bees and the chirping of crickets reverberated through the circus tent. A large, nearly five-foot tall egg stood at the center of the stage, and the audience sat captivated with mystery waiting for the show to begin.

On February 3, Cirque du Soleil debuted their show OVO in downtown San Jose.

With the presence of a live orchestra, an intricate set design, intense colors and lighting, elaborate costumes, and a masterful plot, the performers and crew were able to put on a show that left the audience awestruck with a standing ovation.

The first scene was delivered with a blast of bright colors and lively music. Appropriately titled “Master Flipo and the wake-up of the community,” not only do the creatures come alive on stage, but also the audience is literally woken up and filled with excitement and intrigue as the acrobats fluttered, crawled, buzzed, and flew about the stage.

Although the plot was not the highlight of the show, it still served its purpose to entertain the viewers. The performance told the story of an adolescent like ladybug longing for young love. Her wish is soon granted when a quirky and a little awkward critter titled “The Foreigner” arrives. Panting, after what seems like a long trek, he finally lays down the large egg, which he has been hauling on his back. It is instantly love at first sight for both creatures.

Throughout the course of the show, the performers manage to balance the romance and comedy performed by the Clown, Ladybug, and Foreigner with the intense, daring acts of acrobats in the air and on the ground.

Within the first half, Chinese acrobats in the guise of red ants master the art of juggling large kiwis and other performers on their feet while lying supine. Swift and nimble, the small actors roll around the floor protecting their harvest while the sneaky grasshoppers attempt to steal their food.

During the second half, the grasshoppers play a prominent role as the stage transforms itself into a moving trampoline. They each do multiple flips, bounce high up in the air, and land nearly at the edge of the stage.

Other enticing acts that kept the audience on the edge of their seats were the metamorphoses of the butterflies, the unicyclist upon the tightrope, and the “Wall.” Acrobats swing through the air, rebound off walls, and summersault about the stage. Flashes of crimson, gold, neon green, and aqua sparkle and illuminate the theater as they accurately portray the insect behavior.

The arrays of color, tricks, and different personalities all come together, as these creepy crawly critters transform themselves into majestic pieces of art.

The show is a definite must see, and Cirque du Soleil has definitely succeeded in recreating the busy and active life of these tiny creatures.