“Whimsical! Spellbinding! ‘Twas the Night Before’ is an enchanting live production that will touch the heart.”

I had forgotten how exhilarating CIRQUE DU SOLEIL shows are. It has been a long time since I saw one. The last was “Kà” in Las Vegas over fifteen years ago.

Cirque du Soleil continues the tradition of enrapturing audiences with jaw-dropping acrobatics, unison dancing or soaring trapezes high above the audience’s heads. Additionally, there are adorable characters and creatures who run around the stage or engage with the audience. Judging from the media night I attended for ‘Twas the Night Before’ Cirque du Soleil, many around me, young and young at heart, experienced the same emotional reaction at Toronto’s Meridian Hall.

It’s a whimsical opening night production bordering on the spellbinding. This enchanting and extraordinary travelling company doesn’t appear to have lost any of its mojo. They move with fluidity, and I can’t help but watch the seamless transition of the performers as they move from one side of the stage to the next.

The Cirque website states that ‘Twas the Night Before’ is the company’s first holiday show, based on the poem ‘A Visit from Saint Nicolas’ by Clement Clarke Moore.

Unfortunately, there are no programs, which is disappointing because I enjoy reading about the performers, learning about their previous shows, and discovering their future projects. It doesn’t seem right not to acknowledge the performers by name, especially since they were extraordinary on opening night.

I went to the website to get credit information about the production. All I could find was the director's name.

A young girl, Isabella, has become jaded by the spirit of Christmas. Her father likes to read the Clement Moore poem to her each Christmas Eve, but the daughter chooses not to partake in the activity this year. Isabella appears to be in those awkward teenage years of 15-16—moody, sullen, argumentative, and silent. Isabella is brought into the poem's world, where the characters help her return to the holiday spirit.

Cirque's Senior Artistic Director, James Hadley, brings 25 years of experience in circus and live theatre to this production. He understands the importance of filling the stage to maximum potential. The performance area features a split-level design, allowing some performers to slide down to the action on stage. Hadley knows how to maintain the audience's interest, using spectacle, glitz, glamour, vibrant colours, and captivating visuals to drive the story forward. As is typical in most Cirque shows, there is little to no dialogue; however, in ‘Twas, the audience experiences brief moments from Moore’s poem interspersed with a few jaw-dropping circus acts.

One thing became clear about ‘Twas’ after considering the other Cirque shows I’ve seen in Vegas.

The Sin City shows are grand and elaborate. They typically take place on a stage surrounded by the audience. In one performance, there is a large pool above which the artists perform high-wire trapeze acts. It is a daring display that showcases the acrobats' impressive commitment as they enter the zone, all while suspended high above the heads of the audience.

Sometimes, the choral unison dance movements in ‘Twas’ evoke the gestures of the late choreographer Bob Fosse. ‘Duo Straps’ recalled the recent revival and touring production of ‘Pippin,’ which also used a circus motif to tell its story. The ‘Roller Skate Duo’ reminded me of the craze of the roller derby fad in the late 1970s.

There aren’t as many visually mesmerizing acts here in ‘Twas.’ There are a few, but none that made me wonder how the performers were able to do that.

This time, that heightened frenetic synergy has been toned down.

It’s a good choice.

The audience now listens when we hear the lines from the Moore poem. We then watch how the artist moves in response to what we just heard.

An experience has been created. That appropriate choice works for children, young people and families. We listen, we hear and then we watch. All in community.

Smart! Why? This will hopefully bring young people to the theatre.

And that’s a good thing.

Give yourselves a Christmas gift and go see ‘Twas the Night Before’ Cirque du Soleil.

And re-live those childhood Christmas memories from long ago that we all have.

Running time: approximately 90 minutes with no interval/intermission.

Cirque du Soleil’s TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE runs to January 3 at Toronto’s Meridian Hall, 1 Front Street East. For tickets: ticketmaster.ca or visit tolive.com. You can also call the Box Office 416-366-7723.