Last night I had the privilege of seeing Cirque du Soleil's "TORUK, The First Flight". The First Flight, inspired by James Cameron's AVATAR and produced by Cirque du Soleil, is truly a once in a lifetime, live experience! TORUK, set three thousand years before the events depicted in the film, takes place on Pandora (the planet in Avatar inhabited by the Na’vi) during a prehistoric time with volcanic eruptions. The word Toruk refers to the great leonopteryx, the mighty red and orange predator that rules the Pandoran sky and is about to be ridden for the very first time by a Na’vi. The story follows three young characters: Ralu, Entu, and Tsyal, who are on a quest to ride the Toruk while also on their search for five artifacts to save the Tree of Souls. There are a singer and a storyteller that help the audience follow along with the storyline.
I was accompanied by my daughter Toni, who was home on break from college. I thought she may not be able to follow the story line as she had not seen the movie Avatar, but we quickly realized it was not a prerequisite to enjoying this fantastic show. I would recommend this wonderful experience for all children that are old enough to sit still through the entire show because the adult will be completely enthralled! There is one hunting scene involving a wolverine creature that may cause distress for younger viewers, however the production treats it with dignity as they do in the movie AVATAR in expressing the circle of life and respect for all living creatures.
The masterminds behind this amazing creation are writer-directors Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon. Together they formed Lemieux Pilon 4D Art, a creative company that designs unique shows, in which the senses and emotions are heightened through the use of new technologies. Just as the movie Avatar makes you feel immersed in the land of Pandora, TORUK does not disappoint! The extravagant scenes draw you in with their strong visual elements and include such rich, vibrant colors and 4D art, that you feel you are sitting right in the middle of Pandora! The audio and visual effects of the earthquake and water rushing in made me want to pick up my feet. The "molten lava" includes steam and feels as though it is overflowing through the crowds and makes you want to jump on the closest safe stone. The thrill of the Na'vi clan members running through the crowd was also a pleasant surprise. Their elaborate costumes up close express countless hours of hard work. Some of the creatures of Pandora in this production are puppets and kites but are very lifelike and visually draw you in. Of course, in true Cirque style, there are amazing acrobatic scenes throughout that leave you in awe of the performers' agility and coordination and reflect their decades of dedication to their craft.
After the show, I had the extreme pleasure of meeting the Co-Creator/Director Victor Pilon (pictured here with my daughter Toni), who was amongst us in the audience. He was so humble and genuine when asking how we felt about the production, you could truly sense that this was his "baby"! It was so thrilling to speak with him about his creation and to also get an insight of how much hard work goes into every show. I asked him how the show varies at each location and he said "each new venue is like learning how to walk all over again". The passion and dedication of all to this wondrous creation is evident and this live production will be something that stays with you forever!
