[REVIEW] Cirque du Soleil's 'Luzia' a beautifully surreal love letter to Mexico

Circuses today are regarded as medieval entertainment but devices like aerialists shooting up from a water basin or acrobats jumping through hoops on giant treadmills make a case for a show that is not only entertaining but also modern and advanced.

A trapeze artist swings under the rain during a scene of Cirque du Soleil's "Luzia" show at the Seoul Sports Complex's Big Top in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Oct. 24 [YONHAP]

Oohs and ahhs burst out from the audience at Seoul’s Big Top on Friday as a trapeze artist gracefully glided overhead under the pouring rain.

On the ground were two acrobats spinning around in cyr wheels, also amid showers.

Cirque du Soleil’s “Luzia: A Waking Dream of Mexico,” which premiered Oct. 25 at Seoul Sports Complex in Songpa District, southern Seoul, incorporates water — a first for a Cirque du Soleil touring production.

Circuses today are regarded as a medieval form of entertainment, but devices like aerialists shooting up from a water basin or hoop divers jumping through tall rings on giant treadmills make a case for a show that is not only entertaining but also modern and technically advanced.

An aerialist performs a scene from Cirque du Soleil's "Luzia" show, which incorporates water, at the Seoul Sports Complex's Big Top in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Oct. 24 [YONHAP]

The show still incorporates classical circus acts like juggling and contortionists. Indeed, Friday's crowd loved these old favorites, especially contortionist Aleksei Goloborodko, who twisted his body into knots.

There were some slips during the show, however — a juggler dropped his pins, a hoop diver toppled over a stack of rings and acrobats got a little shaky during a hand-to-hand acrobatics segment. But the audience remained in high spirits, cheering on the performers throughout the entire 130-minute performance.

Acrobats perform a hand-to-hand acrobatics scene in Cirque du Soleil's "Luiza" show at the Seoul Sports Complex's Big Top in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Oct. 24 [YONHAP]

Cirque du Soleil has long attracted massive audiences in Korea. It drew more than 1 million spectators for previous performances “Quidam” in 2007 and 2015, “Alegria" in 2008 and 2022, “Varekai” in 2011, “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour” in 2013, “Kooza” in 2018 and “Alegria” in 2022. This year, it is set to perform in Busan for the first time.

“Luzia” follows a man who parachutes into an “imagined Mexico” and journeys through a surreal Mexico in various periods and settings of the country.

The vibrant stage designs, Flamenco-style music and costumes depict the culture, history, mythologies and natural landscapes of Mexico, transporting audiences from an arid Mexican desert and a tropical jungle to a full-fledged fiesta.

The show also effectively uses imagery, like The Running Woman of Luzia, who spreads her large butterfly wings in tribute to the annual migratory journey of the monarch butterfly from Canada to Mexico.

Life-size animal puppets like a Jaguar in a Mexican jungle add to the exotic landscapes and atmosphere of “Luzia.”

The Running Woman of Luzia during a scene of Cirque du Soleil's "Luzia" show in Seoul Sports Complex's Big Top in Songpa District, southern Seoul [MAST ENTERTAINMENT]

Artistic director Gracie Valdez described “Luzia” as a “love letter to Mexico.” It certainly feels like one, too.

In an age where circuses have become less relevant, especially among young adults, the strongest suit of “Luzia” may be the timeless celebratory tone to the show — celebrating Mexico, culture and life.

“Luzia: A Waking Dream of Mexico” runs through Dec. 31 in Seoul and continues in Busan’s Shinsegae Centum City from Jan. 13 to 28.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]