This ain’t your mama’s circus.

Cirque Voila, a nouveau-circus troupe, drew a crowd of several hundred at Mershon Auditorium Wednesday night at an event organized by the Ohio Union Activities Board. The acts ranged from Teletubby-looking comedians to jugglers and acrobats who made the audience laugh, gasp and watch in awe.

Brian McNelis, the producer and director of Cirque Voila, aims to create moments where the audience can truly connect with the performers.

With just seven performers and four technicians, Cirque Voila wowed the crowd at Mershon Auditorium with their circus show. The troupe performed a variety of acts, including contortion, an aerial performer who swung from two silk ropes and a non-traditional clown. Photo by Kelly Wright.KELLY WRIGHT/THE LANTERNWith just seven performers and four technicians, Cirque Voila wowed the crowd at Mershon Auditorium with their circus show. The troupe performed a variety of acts, including contortion, an aerial performer who swung from two silk ropes and a non-traditional clown.
“After the technical investment is the live delivery to the audience. When everything comes together – heart, technique and performance – the audience receives it in a state of grace,” he said.

OUAB Special Events Chair Beth Vanko was excited to bring such a unique show to Ohio State at no cost to the students.

“My committee was very interested in doing something entirely new and different than anything else OUAB or OSU has ever done before. We are hoping to reach different demographics of students with new and alternative kinds of programming, as well as give students an opportunity to see this kind of performance, without the cost,” she said.

Cirque Voila was put on by only four technicians and seven performers.

An ex-clown himself, McNelis said that letting the audience into the action is the most best way to perform.

“How can we show the best of who we are without adornments or without being phony? Having people show who they are at their best,” he said.

With the wide array of acts, Cirque Voila had something for nearly everyone.

“I thought the show was awesome. It was really funny, and the acrobatic girl was great,” said Ashley Hardin, a senior majoring in sociology.

Marvin Malone, graduate student, was glad he got to see the show.

“The illusionist was classic. I would definitely see it again,” he said. The performers were also glad that they were able to show OSU a new type of circus. Kimberly Olson-Wheeler, a dancer, acrobat and daughter of an OSU alum, enjoys sharing her interpretation of circus to the audience.

“My part in the show represents a more dramatic side of circus. I enjoy mixing the sport aspect with dance and beauty,” she said.

Vanko agrees that Cirque Voila is markedly different than other circuses.

“This kind of performance allows students to see a different kind of circus,” she said.

McNelis’ goal was to convey every idea through mere expression and movement.

“For me, the physicality of circus without language is so direct. It is universal,” he said.

Melissa Eisenberg can be reached at [email protected].