Epic Universe shows: Dragons, beasts and human entertainers take the stage

[Disney4me]

When you create stage shows that star a flying dragon and a menagerie of fantastic beasts, you need to set your creative sights high. That’s what Universal Orlando did when it devised the two theatrical productions at its new Epic Universe theme park, which opened Thursday.

The park’s How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk section is home to “The Untrainable Dragon,” a stage show that features characters from the popular TV and film franchise — which has a new live-action film premiering in June. The 1920s Paris setting of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic area is where to find “Le Cirque Arcanus,” full of the magical critters from the “Fantastic Beasts” movie series.

An artistic goal of the new park is to make visitors feel a part of the legendary environments they are exploring, and the entertainment offerings are key in doing just that, said Anitra Pritchard, senior manager of entertainment operations show direction, casting and creative support.

“I just hope the guests feel a connection in whatever world they’re immersed in,” she told the Orlando Sentinel during the Epic Universe media preview this week.

A strongman act in "Le Cirque Arcanus," a show in the Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic themed land at Universal Epic Universe, involves cube juggling, as seen May 21. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

Some 10,000 audition videos were reviewed to cast the complement of artists needed for the new park, she said: “You’re looking for people who want to be fully devoted and immersed with our guests.”

About 800 artists were ultimately cast, all of whom are “multi-skilled,” she said. They include walk-around characters and musicians, such as a strolling violinist-storyteller, whom visitors might encounter. In the Dark Universe section of the park, which incorporates classic movie monsters, you could come face to face with Frankenstein’s Monster, his Bride, eccentric doctor’s assistant Ygor or the Invisible Man.

Performers in such roles rely on improvisational acting skills to maintain the verisimilitude of guest encounters. And they aren’t shy. A giggling Ygor was observed demanding a guest assist him in putting on some medical gear. And as the heavily bandaged Invisible Man passed by one awestruck visitor, he snapped “What are you looking at?”

The Invisible Man is seen (get it?) in the Dark Universe section of Universal Epic Universe on May 21. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

Such performance-based interactive moments can make memories for guests as strong as, if not stronger, than their experiences on roller coasters and other rides.

About 20 artists perform in the 19-minute “The Untrainable Dragon,” Pritchard said, with many more backstage technicians also contributing.

“It takes a huge crew to support what we do onstage,” she said.

Humans and dragons perform together in "The Untrainable Dragon" stage show at How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, part of Universal Epic Universe, as seen May 20 during a media preview. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)

Based on the “Untrainable” show at Universal’s Beijing park, the show tells the story of an angry dragon who disrupts the dragon-egg hatchery established in the “How to Train Your Dragon” movies’ locale of Berk. The dragon’s recalcitrance makes Hiccup, our young Viking hero, feel like a failure. But helpmate Astrid is there to buck him up. So is his faithful dragon, Toothless, who makes a spectular flying entrance — all 1,157 pounds of him, with a wingspan of nearly 27 feet.

“The message and the story are filled with heart,” Pritchard said, “Dragons and Vikings can live together in perfect harmony.”

Helping tell the story are a pair of drummers, a pair of singers, a troupe of dancers and assorted stunt people. The humans interact with technology, including the flying dragon and giant video-screen effects.

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Universal has experience with this type of combo stage-and-screen show, of course. In “The Bourne Stuntacular” at Universal Studios, for example, live performers similarly perform stunts and otherwise interact with video images on a moving stage.

The “Cirque Arcanus” (pronounced are-can-NEW) show also uses “advanced technology,” as Pritchard called it, to create dramatic effects. But the problem with complicated technology, of course, is it can go wrong

During the media previews, both shows suffered technological problems “The Untrainable Dragon” canceled at least one of its performances, and “Le Cirque Arcanus” ground to a halt partway through one performance after a malfunction involving its moving stage.

“Le Cirque Arcanus” follows the adventure of Gwenlyn, an employee of the circus who stumbles upon a mysterious suitcase — one the dastardly ringmaster has taken from Newt Scamander, the “magizoologist” who serves as the protagonist of the “Forbidden Beast” films. She has to uncover the mystery of the suitcase and stand up for what is right — with an assist from Newt. Actor Eddie Redmayne reprises his film role and appears via video projection.

A villainous ringmaster meets a fantastic beast during a May 21 performance of "Le Cirque Arcanus" at Universal Epic Universe. (Willie Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

But not even Redmayne’s star power can pull the spotlight away from the magical beasts themselves, who are the real attraction.

“It is like no other,” Pritchard said of the show, which runs a little under 25 minutes.

Before the plot really jumps into high gear, the audience watches actual demonstrations of circus arts: A strong man performs cube juggling, and there’s an act with smoke-filled bubble magic.

Pritchard said the actors received training in the specialty skills, and while the park’s performers were cast from around the world, many were found right here.

Performers portray humans and fanatastic beasts in "Le Cirque Arcanus" at Universal Epic Universe, as seen during a May 21 media preview of the stage show. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

“We have such an amazing talent pool in Central Florida,” she said.

Assembling the large entertainment contingent has been a project three years in the making.

“It flew by, it really did,” said Pritchard, adding that the payoff is now watching the guests’ reaction to the entertainment.

“It has been so emotional for all of us, with such a sense of pride,” she said. “It has been such a journey, one that for me I will never forget.”

Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more entertainment news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/entertainment or sign up to receive our weekly emailed Entertainment newsletter.

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