Cirque Polynesia

For those of you who plan on seeing the new Cirque Polynesia show, be prepared to be taken on an emotional roller coaster. With its harrowing stunts and high-flying moves, the show is equal parts torture and pleasure.

"There are so many ways that could go wrong," a friend whispered as a petite but muscular blonde balanced a chair on a high-wire 40 feet in the air. The same can be said for most of the acts during the 75-minute show.

Booming music and flashy lights punctuated each act, but the real scene stealers were the performers themselves. With the focus of a seasoned entertainer and the strength a world-class athlete, they each executed gravity-defying stunts and pretzel-like flexibility with seeming ease.

That's not to say the show was flawless, but the occasional stumble or slipup only heightened the suspense, proving that the stunt was indeed incredibly difficult, and still absolutely dangerous.

Taking a page out of the popular "Cirque Du Soleil" show, this Hawaii incarnation features a mix of acrobats, contortionists and illusionists that will have the kids asking "How did they do that?" and the parents saying "Don't try that at home."

* Contact Lehia Apana at lehia@mauinews.com.