Magic, pure magic. Come Alive! is not a show but an experience.

An early arrival is a must because there is an entire world to explore before the main event begins. The hour before the show offers an array of amusements. Hear your fortune in the seers’ tent, be tempted by the sultry songs of Eve, trade witticisms with ill-tempered clowns, or grab a bite at the Empress Diner; these are just a few of the many things on offer. Your first step into the Empress Museum transports you into the world of The Greatest Showman. You’ll walk through a fascinating gallery of circus history and come out into a bar best classified as a work of art. You can acquire unique cocktails, mocktails, usual drinks, and snacks here or at the Clown Bar around the corner. Fancy a bite? The diner offers your standard circus cuisine with hotdogs, churros, halloumi and a whole range of options for all dietary preferences. And if you need a photo to remember it all, head over to the costume department to be outfitted for your snapshot while you watch the gravity-defying stunters across the way. 

Now that’s just the pre-show. 

Showman Simon Bailey leads us through this circus spectacular as he turns Max (Aaliya Mai) into the Greatest Showman of her generation. The extraordinary cast of singers, dancers, and circus artists perform awe-inspiring acts to the mesmerizing soundtrack of The Greatest Showman. Acrobats, aerial swings, tightropes, stuntmen, fire, there is everything you could possibly want from a circus. Every single circus act conquered feats of athleticism and artistry, and inspired joy. The dancers delighted with their choreography; their collective effect was messy but in a way that really worked visually. 

The only piece of Come Alive! that is less than incredible is the storyline. It is very loose or, at least, difficult to follow.

It begins straightforward enough but when the second act attempts to add depth it becomes confused. Where this may have wrecked a different show, it is of little impact here because Come Alive! is not about the story, but the experience. 

A circus wrapped in a drama wrapped in a musical. It’s marvelous! The opening song, The Greatest Show, made me understand what it is to be overwhelmed by the beauty of something, bringing me to the verge of tears. It was nothing short of incredible. Exceptional overall, there were still a few standout portions of the evening. Dean Murrell made circus sexy in a fiery straps routine that makes me question why anyone would watch Magic Mike when this exists. Jaz Elington’s honey-like voice and Antino Pansa’s mesmerizing tightrope performance in Never Enough were breathtakingly beautiful. And above all, the final song of the night that had the entire arena on their feet and singing along; it takes a truly magical show to inspire that kind of response. 

It is a triumph of modern theater, of athleticism, of artistry. It is inspiring, amusing, and all around outstanding. 

Don’t walk, run to get your tickets. The most memorable work of art I have ever seen, Come Alive! is a once in a lifetime creation.