Artistry & athleticism

A day after they arrived in the Philippines from the US, the 30-member cast of Spellbound was already up and about at the Expo Center, where they rehearsed for their series of ongoing shows at the Araneta Coliseum. The agile group of young men and women came from as far as the US, Hungary, Argentina and South Africa was tumbling, twisting, cartwheeling, doing all sort of movements with their body you’d think they were some kind of super creatures who don’t need to rest after a long-haul trip.

But make no mistake about it. The group, which has won acclaim for its performances all over the world over the past several years, is up to it.

A young blonde in a pony tail balances herself with only her palms supporting her while her co-performer stretches his arms wide to carry her with palms turned up. Another guy lies on the floor and raises his feet in a cycling motion while twisting his waist left and right.

The amazing thing is, this is just the rehearsal for the magical and musical extravaganza, which is ongoing at the Big Dome until Jan. 15. The rehearsal is not even half of what people get to see night after night.

Heidi Fairbairn, the amiable American-Scottish director of the show, promises a night of big illusions, super human maneuvers and magic that will leave you – yes, spellbound.

"The show’s highlight," she says proudly, "is the performance of the Majestix, a duo whose skills in illusion and magic have taken it around the world."

The organizers are also especially proud of Los Huincas Guachos (Argentine Cowboys). Their powerful routines and fearless control of the weapons of the Boleadoras make them one of the best in the world. Their rousing drum routines, synchronized dances and comedy call for audience participation.

The Los Huincas Guachos are such effective performers, they have been called the Best Specialty Act in Las Vegas. But although the cast and crew are all too familiar with Las Vegas types of acts, Fairbairn points out theirs is no showgirl act at all. It’s so much more.

Human Design, for instance, is a favorite act that has won praise worldwide for its artistry and athleticism. The creative, slow motion, hand-to-hand acrobatics was recently seen in Madrid, Lake Tahoe and the Canary Islands.

Mounting a massive, highly-acclaimed show like Spellbound is no walk in the park. Fairbairn flew over to Manila and talked to Araneta Center executives about the show almost two months before. She surveyed the Big Dome and figured out how the magicians’ acts, the dancers’ movements, the acrobats’ twisting and turning, will best impress the holiday crowd.

Ten years of traipsing across many a Spellbound stage as a dancer have taught her what will draw oohs and aahs, and what will not. It has also given her certain do’s and don’ts when dealing with the cast.

"They must keep a certain weight, the better to do all those stunts on stage. Otherwise, we take them aside for a talk," says the Scottish-American producer-director.

All the performers must not only move well, they must also look well. Spellbound, after all, is visual more than anything else. And the cast must not only hold the audience spellbound with their daredevil moves, they must also do so because of their good looks.

"All the performers must also be familiar with each other’s acts. That way, they can always pitch in when someone cannot mount the stage because of illness or any other reason," adds Fairbairn.

The public still has many days to find out for itself just how big Spellbound has become 18 years after it was first brought to the Philippines – to the Folk Arts Theater (FAT), to be exact. The Big Dome, after all, is bigger than FAT, and the acts have evolved through time.

After its comeback in the Philippines, the show moves on for another set of performances in Atlantic City. But first, it promises to make jaws drop and make mouths gape with a razzle dazzle the Philippine audience has never seen before.

With its hand-to-hand acrobatics, spectacular magic and daredevil acts, Spellbound can live up to that promise.