On with the show!

Cirque Hawaii brings dance and theatrics to Waikiki

Talk with Cirque Hawaii partners Cornell "Tuffy" Nicholas and Barry Schmoyer and you'll hear a lot of positive buzz words about their new show debuting next week at the old IMAX Theatre in Waikiki.

'Cirque Hawaii' » Show times: Public showings begin at 7 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday. Beginning Monday, shows will be at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Call 922-0017 for updated information.* » Place: Former IMAX Theatre, 325 Seaside Ave., Waikiki » Reserved seats: $55; $42 children » Preferred seating: $65; $49.50 children » VIP seating: $75; $57 children » Dinners and director's packages: $99; $74 children (packages available for first show nightly) » Call: 922-0017

It's to be expected. But considering the professional background of the management team, they just might be right. The six-member team's pedigreed show-biz experience includes Cirque du Soleil, Siegfried and Roy, and the Moscow State Circus.

But Nicholas and Schmoyer aren't in Waikiki to talk about proven successes, such as the Moscow circus and its 300-plus shows a year. Their newest project -- Cirque Hawaii -- is a 32-member troupe set to entertain through a sophisticated mix of dance, acrobatics and theatrics, held together by a loose story line.

Think Las Vegas. Think larger-than-life displays. Even think -- gasp -- Cirque du Soleil.

"If it's compared to Cirque du Soleil, that's not a bad thing," Schmoyer said.

But imagine that renowned production in a smaller, more intimate setting. "One difference is there aren't 3,000 seats," Nicholas said.

With less than a week to go until opening night, the former IMAX Theatre is a mix of excitement and tension as producers, performers and writers work out the kinks. Rehearsals have run 10 to 12 hours a day since Thanksgiving,

"Eighty to 90 percent of the cast is in their early 20s," said Las Vegas-based choreographer Vitale Germaine. Many perform competitively. "A lot of acrobats compete in a lot of competitions like Carnivale in Monaco and other competitions for the best in the world."

Cirque Hawaii kicks off Thursday and will run twice a night, seven days a week. For now the story line centers around Josephine (Tuchin), a kindly giant of a character who leads her troupe of acrobats, contortionists and bungee jumpers from island to island, jumping from place to place.

Creative director Mathieu Laplante, a former Cirque du Soleil performer, has been in Waikiki for six months writing the first story line.

"The story line is a constant work in progress," he said, "but the whole story line gets us started. We want it to be a journey. The bungee jumpers are the human pilots. They fly in from island to island. The teeterboard workers, like Josephine, are always working, always energetic. In the silk act, there are men and women in motion, interaction. There's the softness of human emotion. A little bit of sexiness."

There are nine acts in all. "There are elite performers from Mongolia. A world-class clown from Russia. The talent just blows me away," Germaine said.

Yurij Ryzhkov, a Russian-born acrobat, for example, has been performing since age 13. "At first I was lazy. But I've been doing this for 14 years, (beginning with) the Moscow Circus School."

Ryzhkov is a little anxious about the rush to perfect the show but says it's all part of the life. "You have to learn fast. I am a fast learner. There's a lot to do but I love it. I chose it."

Among the performers is Corrina Brillon, a San Francisco-born dancer and choreographer.

"The whole thing is kind of experimental," Brillon said. "We're staying up nights, wake up thinking, 'Add this, this is great.' Everybody is under a lot of pressure. Every performer is working as hard as they can. The show is different."

Andrey Tuchin, who plays the central character of Josephine, is reflective. "I've been doing this ... seven days a week, working in Las Vegas, Paris. It's my job. But I will cross my fingers, we've been working hard.

"I take my energy from the audience. I like my paycheck, but I feel people pay me with (their reactions)."

Though they've been coming into work in the mornings and leaving at midnight, the performers have shorter shifts this week. As soon as the clock hits 10 p.m., they punch out so construction crews can hurry in to remove the last traces of the old IMAX, right down to the dilapidated blue walls and velvet curtains.

The 500 seats in the building have been upholstered, shrouded until Thursday. "We thought it would only take about 20 hours," said Nicholas. "It took a month with 20 people to reupholster it."

Scouting for locations started two years ago. "So many tourists come to Hawaii. It made sense to put a permanent circus-style show here and also get some locals back to Waikiki. It's not just a tourist show. People interact with performers; the atmosphere is close and intimate. You can practically reach out and touch people."

Germaine concurred. "I've been here 10 days, and my immediate reaction, I think that Hawaii needs this. There is natural beauty, restaurants, spectacular beaches and snorkeling, but (it) lacks shows."

Nicholas has big plans for Cirque Hawaii. He promises changes will be incorporated all the time -- new costumes, new acts and new performers, though the current ones have generally signed year-long contracts.

"BIG, CHEESY Las Vegas smiles," Germaine tells his group as they pose for cast photos.

Germaine, who will be working with Cirque Hawaii for four months, switched to choreography after breaking his leg in two places on tour five years ago. "There was a year of intense rehab, a year of trying to figure out what I was going to do. I know what these performers go through -- the physical grind. But we love what we do. The answer five years ago would have been darker, less happier. But in retrospect, it brought me to a good place now."

CLARIFICATION Tuesday, December 13, 2005 » Cirque Hawaii has revised its show times since the printing of Sunday's article on Page E8. Public showings begin this weekend, at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Beginning Monday, shows will be at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Call 922-0017 for updated information. Please see the applicable Corrections Page for more information.