The rise of the new theme park stage show continues with “Hydro Surge,” and is currently being performed daily at Seaworld Orlando.
The production has a kitchen sink approach with live singers, dancers, gymnasts (air and ground), puppeteers, drummers and various special effects. The large background screen at the Nautilus Theatre in the park has a watery theme in song selections, costumes and images.
Audiences may experience a mix of soothing and uneasy sensations during the “hydrosurge.” Below are five ways my heart wafts during my recent performance.
A crowded house
It’s a big step, but there are a lot of people there. Dancers keep things moving, especially in the transition from one segment to another.
But there are moments when there are plenty of competitive competitions that attract attention. Should I watch dancers, women hanging from ribbons, or gymnastics pass across the stage? Ah, watch, drummer. Sometimes it made me forget that the two live singers were there to thank them. (They are still moving too).
And it does not include backgrounds that switch between underwater scenes, moonscapes, cloudy sky, floating bubbles, and more.
Disney Date: When the test track returns and the boneyard collapses
It’s rolling down
The high flight operation of gymnasts and acrobatics is impressive, but it also stresses me. “Hydro Surge” features an aerial ribbon and hoop stunts. There, I’m sure everyone involved is well trained, but it feels like a dangerous loom. Filming, even worried that performers standing in hoops on the ground might roll into the audience.
But it’s just me. You need to get the thrill and the cold somewhere.
The show includes four stunts I’ve never seen before. They stand on a large semicircular platform that swings left and right, with the flat sections all perpendicular to the stage and swaying on the other side. It’s a nightmare of solid scaffolding. As the song gains momentum, Foursome works with the trick using one of the poles on the corner of the platform. It’s a crazy rocker monkey bar pole dance and is now on stage.
The creators resisted the song “Rock the Boat” because of this segment.
The entire gimmick is then lifted straight up from the ground, with performers launching their heads one at a time (they land on a big cushion, but still Yikes).
It also has a great lightning strike on the screen and is timed right.
It’s nice that everyone knows what they’re doing and where those landing cushions should be.
The crocodile with a bungee covered jaw was rescued and moved to Gatorland
In the flow of things
Aside from the “Rock the Boat” joke, I’m grateful that it’s not too obvious to the show’s music selection and that it has water passing through. There are lyrical references to swimming and being taken to the river. There will be a presentation about Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” It may be forgiven if the title is “only happening when it’s raining.”
The style can be considered rockin’ pop. This vibe reminded me of some of SeaWorld’s Howl-o-scream shows. The SeaWorld website lists it as “the grandeur of electrified silk where the power of the sea meets industrial grit.”
Some of the water connections are elusive, like “I’m at the top of the world” by Imagine Dragons, but they fit the feel of the show.
All of Deck-on-Deck’s Finale includes “Dive” (“Dive, Dive, I Will”) and curtain drops.
Nod to the Nautilus
“Hydro Surge” has been featured at the Nautilus Theatre in the park and is grateful for the air conditioning. The seats are comfortable enough for the length of the show – about 20 minutes. They keep it dark there – nice and gross.
The seating arrangement allows polled dolls to easily move the audience, allowing the people behind to see all the action on stage. (However, the left and right are not the best angles.)
The sound level was just right. There were lyrics that I could understand without holding my breath.
Notable: Nautilus is also home to SeaWorld’s concerts held during the band Brew & BBQ, which began on July 5th.
Iaapa expo thinking bigger at the convention center
We got a beat
The first person to be seen on stage in “Hydro Surge” is the drummer. I think this is the case with “The Trainable Dragon,” a stage show at Epic Universe.
Universal Studios has a standing percussion show called “Beat Builders” and scaffolding performers. Disney’s Animal Kingdom features Harambe’s Tam Tam Drummer every day.
The “Hydro Surge” debut marks the fifth show announced this year at Orlando Parks, following Epic’s “Dragon” and “Le Cirque Arcanus” and two recent editions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
“Hydro Surge” is part of SeaWorld’s summer epic product, running daily until August 3rd, switching to a Sunday schedule from Friday, August 8th. 1.
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