Err, A Parent

Aga-Boom: World-Renowned Family Show, Right Here

By Susan Galardi

If you had to name one thing about the outrageous show, Aga-Boom, that is most engaging and entertaining for children, it would have to be its sense of utter anarchy. Oddly, that's the same attraction for adults, who are equally wowed by this original, funny and intelligent show.

Aga-Boom, "Theater of Physical Comedy and Circus Arts," is cut from the same cloth as the European circus tradition that brought us Cirque Du Soleil, as well as performance art like Blue Man Group, plus physical comedy and mime that have delighted audiences for eons. No surprise then, that the two creators of Aga-Boom (Iryna Ivanytska and her husband, Dimitri Bogatirev) are veterans of Cirque shows.

Last winter, I tried quite unsuccessfully to get tickets to Cirque's holiday show, Wintuk, in the City. The tickets sell out quickly and we all know the hassle of getting in to see a show at the Garden. Luckily for us all, Ivanytska and Bogatirev have gone out on their own to create Aga-Boom, bringing it to the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on October 11. This is a rare opportunity to see an internationally acclaimed family show in an intimate setting - and you can actually find parking!

Bogatirev plays Aga, and Ivanytska is Boom. Their 13-year-old son, Anton Bogatirev, is Mini-Boom. Other characters in this high energy, visually stunning show include The Mask (a Pilobolus type modern dancer/mimist in a black body suit with a white mask, who creates fantastic four-legged creatures, spiders, and birds) and Dash, a white-faced harlequin.

The show begins with the ultimate fantasy for a child or any anarchist: a giant button on stage that reads "Do Not Touch." Boom enters, sweeping the stage with a broom that actually sends billows of dust swirling. In a hilarious sequence, Boom tries to restrain herself and NOT push the button, but is unsuccessful, thus opening the Pandora's box of wild characters, music, and ultimately lots and lots of paper ("boomaga" is Russian for paper.)

Depending on your perspective, the show "builds" (if you're a child or theatre-person), or "deteriorates" (if you're a Virgo or school marm) into a climax of visual and auditory cacophony - enormous reams and streams of paper, giant air-filled plastic garbage bags, confetti, toilet paper - all thrown into the audience. It's one big, visually delicious, otherworldly mess.

Aga-Boom, which has had successful engagements throughout the U.S., as well as in Japan, Mexico, Korea and Dubai, was nominated (along side The Producers, Lily Tomlin and Elaine Stritch) for an Ovation Award in the category of Best Touring show.

Beat the New York holiday rush and see a Cirque-quality show right in Westhampton, at incredibly reasonable, un-New York prices - $20, $35 and $50.

Aga-Boom plays Saturday, October 11, at Noon and 4 p.m. For tickets: www.whbpac.org; 631-288-1500

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