Quick Hit Theater Review: Traces -- The Bushnell

Cast members perform. Photo by Michael Meseke

Traces
Directed and Choreographed by Shana Carroll and Gypsy Snider
7 Fingers Productions
at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Hartford

Summary:
Think Cirque de Soleil without the costumes and modified circus acts with an urban theme.  The show, produced by 7 Fingers (and apparently performed for Prince William and Kate as part of Canada Day)  is touring this show and recently opened a production Off-Broadway at Union Square.

Five men and a woman perform various balancing and tumbling feats to a modern international-sounding music track with some modern dance thrown in for style. The story, told through the movement, and with very little spoken words, apparently revolves around a group of friends, wondering what trace of them will be left when they are gone, leave their mark in a rundown warehouse through acrobatics, music and dance ( note: I got that from the press release, not really from the performance itself).

Highlights:
The young performers (Antoine Auger, Francisco Cruz, Devin Henderson, Camille Legris, Sen Lin, Genevieve Morin and Tristan Nielsen) are skilled and bring nice personalities to their stunts, which range from tumbling through Chinese hoops, launching themselves from a teeter board, rolling around on a Cyr wheel and flying on ropes to a truly spectacular number which has them walking in seemingly gravity-defying ability up and down two vertical poles. It's an entertaining 90 minutes.ter board

Lowlights:
The show gets off to a slow start. There's a video bit showing people walking in the lobby that doesn't really work. There are some awkward pauses and the "story" is somewhat disjointed.

More information:
The show runs in the Belding Theater through Oct. 9. Tickets are available online at www.bushnell.org or by calling 860-987-5900.