‘Duolingo On Ice’ Is The Wackiest, Most Over-The-Top Prank You’ve Seen All Year
Video screenshot via Duolingo
Duo the Owl isn’t just talented with languages, the power of coercion, and flashing his feathered behind; it seems he’s also an ice-skating prodigy. On Monday, April 1, the Duolingo mascot spun out news of an exciting new project: Duolingo on Ice.
The trailer, over a minute long, has it all: theatrics, a whole backdrop of performers, and new music. It was directed by Golden Globe winner Jason Woliner, with choreography by two-time Emmy awardwinner Kathryn Burns. If you weren’t any wiser, you’d think the musical was a legitimate affair. It’s not; it’s an April Fools’ joke.
Promising four hours and 17 minutes of unadulterated entertainment, this multilingual ice skating spectacular, a clear parody of Disney on Ice and the like, features Duo and his cast of characters all brought together to dance to songs with threatening titles like Spanish or Vanish, French or the Trench, Japanese or Broken Knees, and Dutch or the Crutch—translation, learn your lessons, or else.
There’s even a ticketing site, which seals the deal for it being the most elaborately staged prank of the year.
As seen in the trailer, Duo may occasionally pick someone from the audience to participate. He may or may not choose you as a human sacrifice, but which stage production doesn’t come with its own risks? They don’t say “break a leg” for nothing.
“Elsa been real quiet after this dropped,” one Instagram user comments. To which, the Duolingo account replies, “Legit frozen.”
Image via SeatGeek
Sadly, for those who are now dreaming of seeing a feather-boa-clad Duo gliding across the ice, Duolingo later confirmed the announcement as a purely comedic endeavor. We need to see more, not in a car-crash-you-can’t-look-away-from way, but in a way akin to when Disney+ gave us a glimpse of Rogers: The Musical in the Hawkeye series. And while you can’t flock to see the owl and friends get into the groove on an ice rink, you’ll be comforted to know that some tracks from the “Original Broadway Cast Recording” are available on Spotify.
Image via SeatGeek
A linguistic tour de force that defrosts the soul. This author laughed, cried, and conjugated irregular verbs.
Image via SeatGeek
[via Campaign, PR Week, SeatGeek, images via various sources]
