A Thunder of Hoof and Heart: Odysseo

State-of-the-art technology. 62 horses. Athletic (read: super toned, attractive) human performers. A flying carousel. IMAX video screens. A practically electrified air that crackles with artistic brilliance. Imagine these elements under a customized DIA-inspired circus tent — the biggest in the world, in fact — and you’re envisioning Odysseo.

Artistic Director Normand Latourelle calls the show “a 6-D experience,” and he isn’t exaggerating. The show doesn’t have a plot, which had me wondering, ‘How will audience attention stay on point for 120 minutes?’ The answer: Non-stop action and plenty of eye candy. The intense visuals fill every line of sight with the magic of human/horse interaction and friendship, and the breathtaking stunts of acrobats and artists has hearts thundering.

The design of the set is a feat of Odysseo’s prowess. Clever lighting and custom materials make for sleight-of-eye trickery that immerses the audience in a lush forest landscape, light filters camouflage the ground, and IMAX screens allow for scenic versatility nothing short of prodigious. You’ll see the plains of Africa, but only after hiking through the mountains of Chile. The elements themselves are a marvel of grandeur, holding court through a ring of fire, a crystal ice cave, and the “big splash” the artistic director considers one of his greatest accomplishments. “It’s a show that creates a landscape that creates a journey, and it integrates with the audience in a hypnotic way,” Normand tells Out Front.

Costume design is intensely crafted and executed spectacularly. The fabric of the acrobats virtually dance with the music; their cuts, colors, and styles match the landscapes consummately. The standouts include middle-eastern gowns in autumn colors that blend seamlessly into their desert setting, and pure, snow-white dresses that twist and twirl on the ice cavern backdrop.

The single drawback is the proximity to train tracks. During the third scene of the preview showing, a train rode by, blasting its horn, and cutting through the music. Regardless, the spectacle refused to succumb to the distraction — the live orchestra, glimpsed from the trees, carried on, and the golden-voiced woman kept her serenade strong.

Of course, no review of Odysseo would be complete without remarking on the horses. These beautifully groomed equines are so exquisitely trained that they seem nonchalant about the huge audience set before them. Though there’s an obvious high level of control exercised by horse and trainer, you never get the sense that the horses don’t want to be there — it’s just the horse and their trainer, going through the ropes, being playful with each other on stage, and having as good a time as the crowd.

But the magic of Odysseo can’t be captured in a review. Pounding hooves and aerial stunts matched to beautiful live music and stunning scenery will transport you across the world and further. “That’s not how you ride a horse,” joked my companion, as a rider hangs upside down performing tricks. My response? “No. That’s how you create a spectacle.”

For showtimes and tickets, please visit cavalia.net.