Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Echo’ provides thrills, strange animals, one big Cube

High-flying acrobats, insane puppetry and performers clad in weird animal masks – so many animal masks, from rams to koalas to parrots – you know that Cirque du Soleil is back in town.

For its production of “Echo,” on tour since 2023, the Canadian entertainment troupe has settled on San Francisco’s Oracle Park for its wonderment headquarters. How to describe the plot of this surreal show? Well, the heroes seem to be a woman named Future and Dog, her human-canine hybrid companion. They’re wandering through a world populated by beasts of nature and extraordinary physical savants, and everyone seems to be in thrall of The Cube – a literal and mysterious box hunkered at stage center that will, in time, reveal a stupendous secret.

Does that make sense? Does anything in the modern world? What is certain is the 125 minute-long “Echo” provides the thrills people have come to expect from Cirque du Soleil, from tight-rope walking to body-juggling gymnasts to a balancing act that’ll give you new respect for the humble cardboard box.

The show is produced to the fine detail, designed to awe and — given the risky antics of its performers — one you hope provides good health-care benefits.

Details: Runs until Jan. 18 at Under the Big Top, Oracle Park, Parking Lot A, San Francisco; tickets start at $58, for info visit cirquedusoleil.com