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Mike CrisolagoMike Crisolago
I am a 29-year old Toronto-based journalist and writer who has a passion for theatre, literature, history and baseball...

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As Cirque du Soleil performers climbed, swung, hung and leapt from two giant metal spheres near the Harbourfront’s Music Garden, yellow-clad security guards patrolled the area. It seems the problem with art meant to engage the public is that sometimes the public gets a little too familiar.

On the final weekend of this year’s Luminato Festival, Cirque du Soleil performed free shows every 30 minutes at two venues along the Harbourfront. But low stages caused even lower visibility for the crowds gathered to watch the shows, prompting some to climb the large metal spheres that enclosed the performances.

“They ask if it’s dangerous and it’s like, ‘C’mon, think about it for a second,’” one frustrated security guard said.

At an event where the safety concerns are usually reserved for performers executing high-risk stunts and unbelievable acrobatics, some spectators took too much liberty by climbing the structures for a better view or even sitting on the edge of the stage during a performance.

“The worst is when they say they’re a lawyer or work for an insurance company,” the same guard said.

Security even patrolled Cirque venues not in use. While monitoring an empty stage area, the guard pointed to a woman in the crowd and commented on how earlier in the day he had to tell her not to tug on a bundle of chicken wire hanging from one of the spheres.

The Cirque venue incidents highlighted an unfortunate consequence of art in public spaces. While the vast majority of people enjoyed the experience appropriately, some take the opportunity for interaction with the art too far, becoming a danger possibly to themselves, the performers and other spectators.

By late Sunday afternoon, security was walking the stages before shows to keep people from climbing on them or touching and even taking the props. During one show, a child ran onto the stage to the surprise of the Cirque performers. But, like true entertainers, they picked him up, playfully whacked him with a pillow and worked him into the show.