Play with Fire - Like a moth to the flame, we are drawn to danger. Fear spreads like wildfire, yet we cannot turn away. Is it a game, or real life? Do we fan the flames, or douse them? Look on, until all that remains are the glowing embers of what once was...

The rage of fire and the purification of water are blended into one - and then displayed throughout the “O” Theatre in this brilliantly visual act. Incorporating ancient folklore and martial arts, this act invokes rituals from lands around the world including Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia. The fire act was conceptualized and transformed by artists with backgrounds ranging from performing arts companies to street theatre. Incorporated in the act is the amazing fire stunt of Ray Wold - a crowd-pleasing pyromaniac who sparks reminders of the intense balance between fire and water.

Set to "Terre Aride" (which translates into "Arid Ground") from the "O" soundtrack, this act contrasts the watery world we've found ourselves in. The way the theater glows during this act is what allures me to it - not only is the light reflected in the huge circular mirror above the stage, but the entire theater itself seems to turn into flame, as the performance wields itself onstage. When one, two and even three men get into the performance and fight amongst themselves, well... it is simply amazing how they pulse to the rhythms around them. In the end, the water encompasses the fire, snuffing it out; however, we are left with one last poignant image: that of an everyday man sitting in his chair nonchalantly reading the newspaper while set aflame.

The hobo sits on his chair, casually reading a newspaper, seemingly oblivious that his shoe has caught fire. Movement is almost imperceptible as the flames spread from his foot to his legs, and then to his arms. Life has beaten him down so far that he no longer feels the pain. The flames burn orange and blue, and it's funny how he doesn't notice. Now, in the vernacular of firefighters, he is fully involved. He rises from the chair and slowly walks away, tipping his cap. (Temperatures outside Wold's suit climb to 900 degrees when he is ablaze. While the materials protect him from being cooked, the heat is still overwhelming. It takes 1,450 gallons of fuel each year for the fire acts.)