There’s no act quite like Cirque du Soleil. For nearly 25 years, their largest production, “O,” has dazzled audiences in Las Vegas with acrobatics, choreography, and stunts amidst a shimmering stage and 1.5 million gallons of water. No words could do justice to describing the awe of witnessing “O” live, from the first glimpse of a diver piercing the surface from 30 feet up to the climactic routines executed with precision above the pool.
It was hard to imagine this flying spectacle ever truly stopping. Yet in March 2020, the pandemic forced Cirque’s world to abruptly halt. Shows closed; staff were let go. For over a year, the massive theater sat silent. All wondered if Cirque could rebound from such a shutdown.
Enter Dawn Porter’s Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net. The documentary offers a backstage pass as Cirque prepares “O” for its comeback in August 2021. Over compressed rehearsals, we meet the dedicated performers stepping back into dangerous roles after lengthy breaks. Through their eyes, we witness the tremendous dedication required to resurrect this aquatic extravaganza.
Porter’s up-close lens captures both the artistry and humanity of Cirque’s elite athletes. We better understand the immense challenges, from physical demands to emotional impacts, of restoring “O” to its heights. By the film’s end, the results are nothing short of extraordinary—a testament to the heart and spirit fueling this iconic production.
Cirque in Crisis
It’s hard to imagine the unique world of Cirque du Soleil coming to a sudden halt. Yet that’s just what happened in March 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdown enforcement worldwide, Cirque had no choice but to shut down all productions, and the effects were massive.
In an instant, the company went from nonstop shows across the globe to complete closure. Overnight, Cirque laid off nearly 20,000 employees—a staggering 95% of staff. That included all of their performers, many of whom held work visas specific to Cirque alone.
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The financial impact was devastating as well. Former CEO Daniel Lamarre recalls his shock in the documentary, sharing, “I never thought in my career we’d have no shows.” Indeed, the unexpected loss of all revenue pushed Cirque into bankruptcy as bills piled up.
For the performers, the shutdown meant more than lost income. It created immense uncertainty. Stranded without work authorization elsewhere, some resorted to odd jobs or moved back home. One dancer profiled started instructing online classes to keep active.
After over a year suspended, questions loomed about Cirque’s fate. Could they possibly rebuild the immense spectacles that defined them? The future was far from clear as resources ran dry. Through it all, the pandemic threatened not just the present but the very survival of this iconic company. Cirque du Soleil appeared to stand at the edge of darkness.
Back in Action
After 400 long days apart, Cirque’s stars were eager to take up their roles once more. Dawn Porter’s camera introduces us to some leading this challenging process, including aerialist Emma Garrovillo and acrobat Amber Basgall.
Preparation would not be easy. With reopening slated for August, the performers had a scant eight weeks to rebuild routines grown rusty from over a year’s absence. During rehearsals, the toll became clear—both physically and mentally. Complex acts like Basgall’s perilous boat routine required rebuilding strength and skill from the ground up.
Still, their dedication was evident. Sessions saw unending repetitions as moves graced muscle memory again. Basgall ascended rope after rope with laser focus. Garrovillo spun in the rafters as wheels turned beneath.
Artistic director Pierre Parisien demanded perfection. “Not organic enough,” he’d say. His drive to recapture Cirque’s signature effortlessness created tensions. One error and a clown faced reprimand.
Through it all, Basgall wrestled privately with anxiety and divorce. Her feats assumed new weight, with supporters now few. Such personal challenges hinted at deeper resolve driving these artists.
Knowles fondly recalled Dance’s early lessons with his brother. His passion now proved fuel. As difficult routines reunited body and mind, stamina grew by inches.
Five breathless weeks blurred past—then show week arrived. Sweat transformed into smiles as standing ovations blessed opening night. Somewhere in the rigor had emerged an elusive rhythm, a flawless naturalism hard won from the weary grace of these masters returning to a craft so dearly missed.
Above the Surface
For lead actor Amber Basgall, Cirque’s closure ignited personal turmoil. The documentary delves deep into her struggles. Already coping with divorce, pandemic isolation intensified existing anxiety after her brother’s tragic death.
A gymnast turned daring aerialist, Basgall channels complex emotions into breathtaking routines. Yet beneath roles, she remained fragile—still gripped by her veteran sibling’s passing from gun violence years prior. Viewers sense her deep scars.
Basgall proves a complex soul, conveying hardship’s ability to strengthen even as it strains. Her insights resonate beyond deeds’ surface exploits.
Married duo Emma and Jeffrey Garrovillo showcase chemistry as partners onstage and off. Living alone with young children amid lockdowns, Emma sustained artistry via improvised home training, capturing fancies of soaring once more.
These portraits offer a glimpse beyond personas meticulously crafted for Vegas lights. Shining through skill, humanity appears—from love to loss’s lingering traces. Basgall especially embodies heart beneath bravado; a reminder that healing remains work in progress, however glorious later acts.
Porter spares scenes exploring other lives’ textures too. United, solos unfold nuanced depth otherwise elusive among dazzle. Cirque flourishes on boundless spirit, yet within thrive individual stories, shared beneath the surface.
Under the Surface
To grasp Cirque’s scale requires seeing “O.”. Two thousand costumes, a cavernous theater, a water tank holding a million gallons—the production overwhelms.
This inner realm presents its own challenges. Divers plunge from heights into the pool, monitored by a team ensuring safe retrievals. Designers craft acrobats’ elaborate wardrobes while crews toggle rigging for flyers like Basgall.
Her feats raise heartbeats just watching. Twirling high above, one slip could spell disaster. Basgall and her fellows hone relentlessly, coaches mitigating risks. Repetition breeds familiarity, but the difficulties persist.
Artistic swimmers perform without margin for error. Lifting partners underwater on precise beats leaves no scope for missed gasps. In these acts seem small distinctions, yet on such nuances hang consequences.
Safety divers stand by, wetsuits disguising their vital role. From below, they ensure swimmers emerge as planned while handling props in shadow. Their profession remains perilous yet placidly performed.
Behind the scenes, the mechanics of magic take shape. It pays to glimpse what anchors such fantasy—the fabric, the flesh, the fluids upholding “O”’s elaborate, breathtaking dance each night upon the surface.
Take Two
After over a year apart, that opening night in August 2021 must have felt a lifetime away. As the date drew near, it’s easy to imagine tensions running high. Could they truly pick up where they left off?
All the rehearsals and preparation led to this, with perfection the only option. Minor mistakes weren’t a possibility with such high stakes. From dazzling costumes to split-second underwater timing, not a single detail could be off.
Watching it unfold, the spectacle rivaled memories of pre-pandemic performances. Flawless synchronized diving, graceful acrobatics soaring through the towering stage. Beneath colored lights and dancing fountains, the production transcended its Vegas roots.
What once seemed like fantasy is now reality once more. Sets immersed the audience in a surreal aquatic dreamland. Benoit Jutras’ score sent chills as it stirred classical and world themes.
These artists left it all in the pool, holding nothing back. Raw talent met perseverance to rebuild what was lost. Success was theirs in the end, redemption for all affected by the, at times, seemingly endless intermission.
In “O,” Cirque retook its rightful place at the pinnacle of live entertainment. Their triumph stands as inspiring proof that through challenges, an indomitable spirit can emerge stronger still.
Enchantment Reclaimed
Through Cirque’s trials emerged a stirring tale of resilience. Porter’s film captures the unending commitment Cirque’s stars brought to restoring “O” despite immense barriers. Though the pandemic wrought ruin worldwide, these gifted outliers would not allow even its lengthiest acts to diminish their trade.
Rebuilding what was lost demanded no small feat. Yet for figures like devoted acrobat Amber Basgall, passion proved the richest fuel to surmount personal obstacles and perfect intricate maneuvers once more. Her poised courage through ordeals humbles, as do feats of the whole remarkable company.
Without question, Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net engrosses fans while introducing curiosities about this troupe’s nuanced world to newcomers. Their mystique grows understandable through such intimate access. One leaves only hungering all the more to experience “O” firsthand and appreciate the splendor these athletes gift nightly.
After this illuminating glimpse behind “O”‘s shimmering façade, its majesty awaits. There the magic springs vivified, the cast’s unbounded devotion playing plain. Cirque’s timeless enchantments thus arise reforged—strengthened by ties binding artists and audience since troupe’s start, now only brighter for shadows withstood.
The Review
Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net
Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net offers a compelling look at dedication and resilience as driven performers restore an iconic production against immense odds. Dawn Porter's documentary presents Cirque's world with inviting care, leaving viewers to appreciate anew the unparalleled artistry gift each night.
PROS
- Inspiring portrayal of Cirque's revival after the pandemic difficulties
- Intimate access to both the professional and personal lives of performers
- Effectively conveys the scale, stamina, and teamwork required to stage such productions
CONS
- Some may find pacing slow during technical segments
- Limited exploration of cast members beyond a select few
