LOUIS PEARL, THE AMAZING BUBBLE MAN

at Civic Theatre, Auckland
From 11 Jul 2012 to 15 Jul 2012

Opera House, Wellington
From 18 Jul 2012 to 22 Jul 2012

Reviewed by: Kate Ward-Smythe;

THRILLING BUBBLE-FEST COMES TO NZ

Louis Pearl, The Amazing Bubble Man has been thrilling audiences around the world for nearly 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. This July he brings his brand new show to New Zealand, with performances at Auckland's Civic Theatre from 11-15 July and Wellington's Opera House from 18-21 July.

Louis Pearl, The Amazing Bubble Man has performed to more than one million people, including royalty and celebrities, in hundreds of cities across the USA, as well as in Switzerland, France, Japan, Dubai, Australia and New Zealand. He is a favourite at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he has enjoyed five years of sell-out success.

His wondrous all-new 75 minute show combines breath-taking artistry, ingenious sets and lighting, colourful music, plenty of audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep every child and adult mesmerised.

“This show captivated its young audience and the adults loved it as well. **** Highly recommended” - British Theatre Guide 2011

With infectious enthusiasm, The Amazing Bubble Man explains the fascinating dynamics of bubbles, bringing science to life and into the realm of fun. From square bubbles, layers of bubbles inside bubbles, fog-filled bubbles and trampoline bubbles to people inside bubbles, The Amazing Bubble Man conjures shrieks of laughter and gasps of amazement from all ages.

Louis Pearl has teamed with leading international entertainment producer James Cundall of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, and one of the UK's top artistic directors, Tony Mercer of the award-winning Imperial Ice Stars, to create this brand new show, specially staged and choreographed for a 2012/13 worldwide tour.

The creative team behind the show also includes Set Designer Michael Taylor, who was nominated this year for a prestigious Olivier Award for his ground-breaking stage design in the West End triumph The Ladykillers.

Lunchbox Theatrical Productions has been bringing top quality international entertainment to New Zealand for the last eight years, with productions such as Riverdance, We Will Rock You, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Grease, Abbamania, Stomp, Rick Stein, Clive James, Elaine Paige and Pam Ayres. Later this year, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions will be bringing The Bootleg Beatles to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

In addition, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Tony Mercer have brought The Imperial Ice Stars productions of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice, Swan Lake on Ice and Cinderella on Ice to New Zealand, and are currently touring The Nutcracker on Ice.

Producer James Cundall, Chief Executive of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, says “I saw Louis Pearl's Amazing Bubble Show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year and was absolutely mesmerised. I had no idea you could do so many amazing things with bubbles!”

“I went to talk to Louis after his performance about touring internationally – I thought ‘if a producer with 20 years in the entertainment business can be blown away by bubbles then surely people all around the world will be amazed by this incredible show too', and now here we are at the beginning of a new era in the life of Louis Pearl, The Amazing Bubble Man!”

“As far as I know, a bubble show has never been to New Zealand before, and I think audiences will love both the skill and the scale of it,” says Mr Cundall.

“Just brilliant” - The Guardian, UK

Louis Pearl was born in San Francisco and in 1980 started his own toy company, making amongst other things a big bubble-making toy - ‘The Bubble Trumpet'. To help sell the toy he learned a few bubble tricks and soon he was performing at summer camps. Encouraged by the response Louis Pearl developed a stage show, and started touring around California, before taking his show to a wider audience around the USA and overseas.

In 2007 he went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the first time, and admits to being surprised to discover all his shows had sold out and people were being turned away! In the ensuing four years he has become a ‘Fringe Favourite' with all 50 shows selling out each year.

He returns to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year for his 6^th successive season, following his performances in New Zealand and before continuing with his world tour.

Louis Pearl says of his show, “The kid in everybody gets excited. The audience connects with what's happening onstage at a pre-verbal place. There's so much joy."

Louis Pearl, The Amazing Bubble Man is produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Tony Mercer in association with Louis Pearl.

“Makes the audience squeal with delight” - San Francisco Chronicle

The Civic, Auckland, 11 July – 15 July
TUE–FRI: 11AM & 2PM • SAT: 11AM, 2PM • SUN: 11AM, 2PM
FOR BOOKINGS
CALL 0800 BUY TICKETS or buytickets.co.nz
GROUPS: 09 357 3354 or groups.aucklandNZ@ticketek.co.nz