The Amaluna Show that International Cirque du Soleil Kitchen Fuels

(Gerry Furth-Sides, photos unless noted are courtesy of Cirque du Soleil) Since 1984, the Montreal, Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil has produced countless annual traveling shows. Each troupe has their own theme and collection of performers with acts almost surreal in their daring and accomplishment.  “Amaluna,” which originally premiered in 2012, is in its first LA appearance at the San Pedro LA Waterfront through May 26. It is one of the best Cirque du Soleil productions to date showcasing top international stars unabashedly parading feat after impossible feat throughout the show.

Amaluna starts with a wallop and does not let up until the finale.  The theatrics and acts of physicality border on the unreal with soaring feats of acrobatic daring.  Asian twins in gold attire on unicycles start the show, spinning and twirling in unison until they become a shiny blur onstage.

William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” provides the inspiration for the narrative, which takes us to an island of female warriors, or goddesses, who suddenly encounter men who have been shipwrecked during a storm. One of these, Romeo, instantly becomes enamored with young Miranda, whose pet lizard, Cali, doesn’t like it one bit.

Iridescent peacock feathers and impossibly long, gently swaying bamboo sticks growing from the stage to the ceiling immediately pull us onto a tropical island. The  25-foot-in-diameter rotating platform, with peek-a-boo hidden holes and a 5,000-pound plus round water container allow athletes to visually perform the impossible.  Youthful, blonde Miranda becomes a sinuous contortionist along the side and inside of the water tank. Romeo performs feats on Chinese poles that defy gravity. He holds himself perpendicular to the pole and becomes completely still at times.

Mesmerizing Cali, charming on his own as a story character, turns out to also be the most sensational juggler, almost off-handedly tossing numerous balls in front and behind, over his shoulders and between his legs, all the while dancing on the water tank edge as the audience goes wild.

We were startled by the muscular but poised performers in the Cirque du Soleil kitchen early in the afternoon.  And we marveled at the beauty of this aerial act flying through the air in the show.  Watch the video below for yourself.

And this all follows showstopper, Lara Jacobs of Switzerland, who assembles a massive mobile for the gasping audience, balancing each piece of what looks like enormous long-ended wooden flatware from toes to hand to masterpiece until it looked like the immense living skeleton of a giant bird.

The heart-pounding teeter-totter act that starts the second half has the audience shaking its collective head at how high the jumps become, how many mid-air rotations they perform until coming down on the small surfaces, and how high the jumpers bound to the ceiling of the Big Top.

The Banquine act at the close of “Amaluna” highlights the raw strength of the Russian males who shoulder a pyramid of their gymnastic peers and put their hands together to create a landing pad for others who are launched into their general vicinity. And, just think, they provided the family recipes for the dinner the night before this show.

The exaggerated, slapstick comedy provided by Miranda’s busty nanny, Mainha, and Romeo’s rosy-cheeked manservant, Papulya, seamlessly filled the time between acts.  The couple wended their way though the Big Top crowd and onto the stage from show start to finish, at times involving unsuspecting but delighted members of the audience.

Tony winner, writer-director, Diane Paulus was joined by frequent collaborators, set designer Scott Pask, and choreographer Karole Armitage to create the story and transport us into it.   Lighting designer Matthieu Larivée and Eleni Uranis’ makeup design makes the show come alive on both intimate and soaring universal levels, up close and on the stage.

Guy Dubuc and Marc Lessard composed the music performed by an all-female band featuring guitars, bass, cello and percussion on stage. Vocalists Amanda Zidow (as Queen Prospera, the magical sorceress) and Jenifer Aubry ably convey the mystic qualities of the story. Walking in the brisk air along the waterfront before the show, we came across one of the musicians walking to the tent, who called out that she hoped “we’d enjoy the show.” We did – and would have loved to thank her for her splendid performance!

For more information about “Amaluna,” please visit cirquedusoleil.com/amaluna and apply promo code 15CONCIERGE for 15% off tickets