Cirque du Soleil flies into Tampa with 'Toruk'

James Cameron's 2009 sci-fi epic "Avatar" would not seem to be a natural for adaptation to the stage. But if any company could do it, Cirque du Soleil would be the one.

The latest show from the Canadian company, which revolutionized circus arts by infusing them with a fine arts sensibility, is coming to Tampa to day with its latest show, "Toruk: First Flight." The show premiered late last year in Montreal, and it's been touring North America ever since.

"Toruk" is not actually a stage version of "Avatar," but a prequel. The action takes place on Pandora, the remote moon that was also the setting for "Avatar," but it's 3,000 years before the action of the film.

Critics so far have raved about the show's visuals but haven't been as enthusiastic about its story. That was true of the movie too, so it shouldn't turn people off. And besides, most previous Cirque du Soleil shows have plots that are indecipherable and inconsequential, and audiences have never minded. It's all about the spectacle, not the narrative.

Details: March 17-20, Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Show times: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1:30 and 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $40-$140. Information: 813-301-2500, amaliearena.com.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Cirque du Soleil flies into Tampa with 'Toruk' ."