Lightning in a Jar
LUMA WOWED AUDIENCES WITH NEW INTERPRETATIONS LIGHT AND THEATRE
By Robert W. McDowell

Last Friday night, The Carolina Theatre in downtown Durham was ablaze with bright, multicolored ribbons, rivers, hoops and starbursts of light. Together, these fabulous lights and special effects - including twirling DNA spirals, pulsing neon EKG lines and magnificent indoor fireworks that spouted confetti - comprised LUMA: Theatre of Light. 

The audience happily bounced to the beat of the classical, jazz and other mellow music selections that creator and artistic director Marlin chose to provide a backbeat for three separate suites that, in turn, explored the wonders of Natural Light, Artificial Light and Metaphysical Light. 

Inspired by astronomy, fireworks, lava flows and physics, the highly imaginative juggler and magician known only as Marlin invented a new theatrical art form that can mimic most things and even duplicate cellular multiplication. 

LUMA combines the latest lighting technologies, various physical performance disciplines and the colorful creations of famous kite designer and performer Marc Ricketts to create a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience. Marlin, who has been developing LUMA for 10 years, was joined on stage Friday night by Jessica Fueger, Rising Gnisir, Sarah Grace and Gretchen Miller. These four versatile performers danced with a variety of objects that reflected light colorfully, changed color under black light, etc. They juggled hoops and other objects, and they manipulated a variety of puppets of varying sizes. They also performed on trapeze. 

By combining natural and artificial light, Marlin hopes to discover the metaphysical light within. Ever the emcee of this three-ring circus of light, Marlin also enjoys creating a carnival-like atmosphere to the spur sale of the light sticks and curled segments of iridescent plastic string that can be used to lasso objects and pull them closer to you. 

LUMA's imaginative and highly expressive ways of dancing in the dark, Gretchen Miller's kinetic choreography, Miller and Fueger's work on the trapeze and Kira Maerlyn's elaborate black-on-black costumes were real crowd-pleasers Friday night. Seven-time Tony(r) Award winner Jules Fisher also served as creative consultant to the company. 

LUMA provided a fascinating and never-to-be-forgotten two hours of effervescent comic sketches for children of all ages. My favorite numbers were the dog-eat-dog (or rather fish-eat-fish) world of the electric aquarium, the stick figures making like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and every segment in which "soft" fireworks or kites were employed. Trying to describe most of the magic that Marlin worked here would be like trying to describe what happens when you catch lightning in a jar. Marlin not only controls the lightning, but also unleashes it brilliantly, earning extended applause and inspiring awe from a very appreciative audience.