Hooked, line and aerial acrobat By Jennifer Chen, TODAY | Posted: 25 June 2009 2113 hrs
Photos
of
SINGAPORE: Not all blockbusters this summer star transforming robots, nor are the shows restricted to cineplexes. The cast of Maestro and Muse - a million-dollar production that combines award-winning acrobatic acts with glitzy song-and-dance numbers - are human. It's their stunts that look digitally enhanced.
The show sees a 15-year old boy folding his body in half on a grand piano, a man performing double somersaults and landing without a wobble on his comrades' arms, and a woman swinging from a hoop by the nape of her neck. And those are just some of the acts.
The dazzling 45-minute Maestro and Muse looks like it belongs inside the big top, Cirque du Soleil-style. Perhaps a mark of the performers' skills is that they can fit their thrills and spills into the theatre of a cruise ship, even if it's the biggest in Star Cruises' Asian fleet.
The show headlines SuperStar Virgo's sailings this summer and one would argue that its presence alone makes holidaying on the ship worthwhile.
According to Colin Kerr, Star Cruises' assistant vice-president of entertainment, Maestro and Muse is one step beyond Cirque du Soleil-style performances.
"We staged the Cirque-like Sorpresa! a few years ago," he said. "We want to continue to push the envelope so we can offer guests something different."
A new addition to this production is the stage backdrop, featuring a wall-sized, 4m by 10m, LED screen which provides quick and fancy stage settings without the need for stage hands.
The ship is fully booked in June and weekends in July and August but cabins are still available for Wednesday and Friday departures. Said Kerr of the turnout: "We are still affordable. Once you come on board, you don't need to pay for anything. Your phone doesn't work, so you can shut out the outside world and relax completely."
That might normally be the case, but with the threat of the H1N1 virus, holidaying without a care is easier said than done.
"Luckily, we haven't had an outbreak on the ship," said Lily Lim, Star Cruises' director of marketing communications. As a precaution, passengers are temperature scanned and given a dollop of sanitary hand cleanser before they board the ship.
While Maestro and Muse is playing, however, guests may find an escape from their worries for awhile.
Maestro and Muse is staged on SuperStar Virgo's two and three-night trips to Kuala Lumpur, Redang, Penang, Langkawi and Phuket until Sept 2. Prices start from $355. For details, visit www.starcruises.com - TODAY/sh
Disclaimer The information displayed here belongs to the individual content providers and is intended for general information only.
MediaCorp Pte Ltd will not be held liable for any loss, damage or injury caused by or arising through any inaccuracies or
incomplete information shown on these pages. MediaCorp Pte Ltd will not be liable for any loss or damage, whether direct or indirect, relating to the use of the information. Selling, re-distributing or reproducing the information on these pages without prior permission from MediaCorp Pte Ltd is strictly prohibited.
