ArtsEmerson Presents Reversible Featuring The 7 Fingers
The 7 Fingers are a branch off of Cirque du Soleil. Photo courtesy of ArtsEmerson
What did you grandparents share with you? Your quirky nose, an antique bed frame, perhaps an insane love of lasagna (thanks nonna)? Did they share stories with you about what they lived through at your age?
From September 6 through 24, the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre becomes a way-back machine as eight performers travel through space to dig through their families’ histories in search of stories and skeletons that create reflections of how they live their lives today.
ArtsEmerson’s newest season begins with the U.S. premiere of Reversible performed by Montreal’s The 7 Fingers. You’ll remember The 7 Fingers from last summer, when they shared their stories, acrobatic talents and banana bread during their show Cuisine & Confessions. Now, the company returns with a mix of circus, theatre, music, dance, and acrobatics that has been noted as “a good excuse to talk about your grandparents or your great-grandparents to your children.”
This time instead of baking to nourish your belly as they did in Cuisine, the performers nourish your soul. They did deep into past generations that forged the world we live in today. Perhaps these stories of a simpler time just might hold the key to a better tomorrow. Instead of Netflix there was poetry, instead of Snap there was imagination. Is that a bad thing?
The show is completely electrifying, as only The 7 Fingers can do. It has illusion, dance, music and acrobatics, all blended with a bit of bittersweet comedy and heart-felt longing for lost loved ones. This contemporary circus is full of graceful movements, adrenalin-rushing acrobatic feats, and story-telling through body and word.
Who exactly are The 7 Fingers? A branch off of Cirque du Soleil that began in Montreal 15 years ago, The 7 Fingers holds the nickname of “rebel circus” in certain circles. This cast of talented bendy and bouncy performers has toured more than 300 cities in more than 40 countries, with more than 500 shows a year. Known for their thoughtful works that tackle the human condition, the 7 Fingers create performances that speak out and about our world and the time we’re living in. With a distinct style that pushes them through the air with grace and agility, they have already visited Boston with their shows Traces, Sequence 8, along with global performances on The Royal Variety Performance and at both the Turin and Vancouver Olympics. Several talented artists are responsible for Reversible – the music directors are Colin Gagné with Raphaël Cruz, Ines Talbi, Sébastien Soldevila, and Dominiq Hamel; the associate director will be Isabelle Chassé; and Gypsy Snider will direct.
So how does the past guide our the future? While this performance reminds us that “everything is reversible, including the past,” one thing isn’t. And that’s not seeing the show.
Tickets range from $20 to $80 and may be purchased by calling or online. The Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre is located at 219 Tremont Street in Boston. For show times, please visit ArtsEmerson.org.