Review: No Danger too Great for Marvel Universe LIVE!

Produced by Feld Entertainment, (who also gave us the Ringling Bros. Circus and Disney on Ice), Marvel Universe LIVE! is the company’s biggest, boldest show yet. With 28 truckloads to take the show around North America and the largest-scale use of projection ever seen in live theatre, there’s a lot for the Feld clan to brag about.

The show follows an all-new story with over two dozen characters from the Marvel lore taking part in the action. In order to keep its power from falling into the wrong hands, the mighty Thor destroys the Cosmic Cube and scatters its pieces across the globe. However, his trickster brother Loki arrives on the scene with a plan to clone the cube for its power and conquer the globe. In order to thwart him, good guys from every corner of the Marvel Universe band together to recover the Cube’s fragments and save the world.

S.H.I.E.L.D. is on the scene! Maria Hill and Nick Fury readying for battle.

A common misconception about live theatre is that it cannot compete with film due to the flashy nature of Hollywood. Marvel Universe LIVE!, however, is all too happy to challenge that belief. When The Avengers, X-MEN, SHIELD and other heroes team up to take on the baddies, the adults in the audience are sure to feel just as dazzled as their children. The arena-style show meets no difficulty in living up to Marvel’s on-screen legacy. This success in due in no small part to the vast ingenuity and diligence of the creative team. Norm Schwab and Cynthia Nordstrom, the Lighting and Costume Designers respectively, help wow the crowds with colorful designs that help bring the heroes and their adventures to life. From the endless light and sound cues to the candy-colored super-garbs, this show is a feast for the eyes and ears.

Here’s a thing Captain America actually does in the show. I’m just going to let this speak for itself. Are you geeking out yet?

While there’s not a single weak link in this stunning cast, Romeo Brown’s portrayal of Nick Fury is particularly eye-catching (no pun intended). While younger fans may be used to the director of SHIELD being a sly non-action fellow, the character we see in this show kicks butt with the rest of them, and overall feels like he stepped right from the pages of a Silver Age comic book. Not to mention doing all the same stunts as his team mates with an eyepatch on the whole time! The baddies are also sure to thrill, with Nathan Spare stealing his scenes as hot-blooded Dr. Killian, the head of AIM and Iron Man nemesis.

Villains galore! The camera guy was allowed to live so that he may spread word of the glory of Loki’s squad.

The stunts, including motorcycle tricks, backflips and pyrotechnics just to name a few actually feel more thrilling seeing executed live. There’s no calling for cuts or second takes, and the actors must work with the behind-the-scenes heroes- the stage hands – to ensure a safe and smooth performance. It’s got bells and whistles, but most importantly it has heart. The camaraderie and wit that made Marvel’s heroes world-famous shine through from start to finish. Each performer is trained like a real-life superhero, pulling off acrobatic battles that must be seen to be believed. Overall the energy and commitment brought by every member of the production makes for an authentic, rewarding experience that film cannot parallel.

Marvel Universe LIVE! is a high-octane daydream for fangirls and fanboys of every age. A must-see for True Believers!

Be sure to check out the show during it’s stay in Toronto, August 13-16. Tickets available through the MUL website!