Cirque du Soleil’s 41st production, centered around extreme sports and free spirits. The protagonist is Waz, a man born with feathers for hair that goes on a transformative journey to break out of his shell.
This show contains examples of:
- All of the Other Reindeer: As a young boy, Waz was laughed at for his unusual hair, which caused him to isolate himself and give up on his dreams.
- All There in the Manual: The roller-skating girl's name is Ela, according to the Cirque website.
- Animal Motifs: Waz has a heavy bird motif; he has feathers for hair and throughout the show is learning to "spread his wings". He also swings around on a trapeze.
- The Announcer: The man in gold who hangs out with the colorful sports people and does some of the singing starts off as the announcer on the Mr. Wow show.
- Audience Participation: At the beginning of the show, the audience is asked to judge each act that appears on the Mr. Wow Show—"Yay or Nay?"
- Color Motif: The crowds on their phones wear grey, while the people that befriend Waz and do most of the extreme sports wear multi-colored clothes. The hosts and competitors of the Mr. Wow show all wear gold to symbolize their celebrity status.
- Freakiness Shame: Waz covers up his blue feather-like hair so he won't be laughed at.
- Game Show Host: Mr. Wow. The clown character is shown to have a fake wig resembling his later on, so he's probably a very popular celebrity.
- Good Parents: Waz's mother, shown in a flashback, was kind and playful, encouraging her son to try doing stunts on his bike. She's also where he got his love of dancing from.
- Happier Times Montage: "The Bee and the Wind," a performance duet between a younger Waz (who performs stunts on a BMX bike) and his mother (a ballet dancer).
- Improbable Hairstyle: Waz has hair made of blue feathers. He tries to hide them at first, but eventually embraces them.
- Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Ela, the roller-skating girl who introduces Waz to the colorful sports people and encourages him to come out of his shell.
- Mundane Made Awesome: The Otaku Double Dutchers, the first performers on the Mr. Wow Show, combine jump-roping with acrobatics, handstands and synchronized dance routines.
- Phoneaholic Teenager: There's a crowd of people in dull grey outfits constantly looking at their phones. They serve to show Waz's isolation.
- Reality TV: The show starts off with a parody of an idol show hosted by Mr. Wow. Waz goes on it and does well, but is ashamed when his hair is revealed to the world.
- Safety in Indifference: At first, Waz would rather give up on his dreams than risk being laughed at.
