The big top is back with Cirque du Soleil’s newest show Luzia: A Waking Dream of Mexico.
Two years in the making, the show celebrates Mexico through its signature vocalist and music and imaginative costumes. The surreal journey intertwines Aztec and Mayan mythology, with nature and a nod to Mexico’s modernity, thus producing a dream-like state.
Of course, to create this world, Cirque du Soleil has pushed boundaries once again, incorporating cutting-edge technology to create a mystical world of juggling soccer players, flying scuba divers and hoop-jumping hummingbirds. GeekWire got a behind-the-scenes look at the show, which opened Thursday night at Marymoor Park in Redmond and runs through May 21.
For the first time ever, Cirque has incorporated water into its touring show, and it most definitely takes on a life of its own, in the form of both rain and an actual pool of water submerged beneath the floor of the rotating stage.
And, if you look closely, you can also see images “printed” on the water, too. Amazingly, falling water takes the shape of flowers, birds and fish as it tumbles to the floor.
Add in an oversized treadmill that was acquired from a mining company and reconfigured so its belt actually has spring in it for the artists and larger-than-life puppets (another first), and you have an experience that promises one remarkable spectacle after another. The show starts with two miniature robots — topped with water can helmets — tending a garden of marigolds.
Of course, none of this innovation and technology would really matter if it wasn’t for the troupe of artists keeping the audience enthralled with their remarkable feats of athleticism and graceful movement.
With a cast and crew of 115, Cirque du Soleil is literally a traveling city, setting up shop for two months at a time in each destination. The behind-the-scenes action is an amazing feat all by itself. With over 60 trucks carrying all of its gear, the production and technical crew has just a week to put up the big top and get everything working before Cirque opens its doors to the public to do 10 shows a week. The Seattle area marks the third show for Cirque, which kicked off in San Jose and San Francisco.
Although its premiere performance in Seattle was marred by one of its artists getting hurt, it is a dream of a show that is well worth the effort and time.
