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Audiences

"I've had to reinvent myself," he say's.
Marlin, using only his last name to
liken himself to the legendary magi-
cian Merlin, felt he had to come up
Luma: Theatre of Light,
with something very new and different
which Marlin created and brings to
because there was too much competi-
the Ann Arbor Summer Festival June
tion. As he developed his light-show
26, casts luminescence into the main
concept, he divided his act into three
role for some high-tech dancing, spin-
suites, each focusing on a different
ning, orbiting and other special
form of light.
effects. The human performers, five
Natural light
including Marlin,
takes in what's found
work in the dark to
in the environment,
infuse the beams of
including the moon
light with drama
and fireflies.
and personality. •
Artificial light
While the
moves on to man-
absence of facial
made visuals such as
expression takes
fireworks
and com-
out
of
the
Luma
puter screens.
true realm of mime,
Metaphysical light
there are some con-
,captures unseen or
nections between
otherworldly con-
these two art forms
cepts from multiply-
as they offer highly
ing cells to flying
visual performance
ghosts.
styles.
Marlin, who lives
"The world of
in Madison, Wis.,
light is endless,
has established a per-
says Marlin, a for-
formance space to
mer juggler and
regularly showcase
magician who came Luma Theatre of L fight: "The idea is
which also
Luma,
up with the idea for to create a voca ula ry of patterns
features
his wife, Kira
with
new
objects."
his show while
Maerlyn,
an aerialist.
watching lava flow
When his company's performances are
from a volcano in Hawaii. "People
not scheduled, he rents out the theater
should be prepared to leave the theater
to other entertainers.
seeing light in a whole new way.
"I'm not an illusionist seeming to
"The idea is to create a vocabulary
float a woman through air," says
of patterns with new objects. We are
Marlin, whose spirituality blends other
constantly adding new techniques and
religions into his Jewish roots. "I'm an
new technologies — from arcane cir-
allusionist, giving the audience a sense
cus arts to flexible electroluminescent
of floating."
lights that are 50 fea long. I've
worked with prop builders, and I
— Suzanne Chessler
build some of the props myself. Key
chain flashlights, for example, become
a swarm of fireflies."
Luma: Theatre of Light will be
Marlin, who worked as a parry
showcased at 8 p.m. Saturday,
magician before finishing high school
June 26, at the Power Center in
in Texas, joined the circus after gradu-
Ann Arbor. $11-$20. The
ation. His specialty became comedy
Luma Science of Light workshop
juggling, although he continued with
is free to children aged 8-12
magic and worked as an assistant to
and
begins at 1 p.m. that day in
Doug Henning. There were a number
a
still-to-be
announced loca-
of shows that brought him to
tion.
(734)
764-2538.
Michigan since he launched his career

Ed

• Pasta Specialties • Pizza
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ichael Marlin lights up
the lives of people in his
audiences — literally.

)1

in the '70s.

John Tanasyclutk Detroit Free Press
January 8th, 1999

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.

6 / 11
1999

Detroit Jewish News

87