Starting October 16, you can come to the Shedd Aquarium to see its new multi-species marine mammal presentation, called Fantasea. Penguins, red-tailed hawks, belugas and dolphins highlight this spectacle-filled aquatic show, which displays the natural behaviors of some magnificent creatures.

WCG was able to catch a recent dress rehearsal of Fantasea, which is 22 minutes long, features human “guides” in costume calling forth the animals and utilizes a drop-down screen as long and wide as the Shedd’s famous window overlooking Lake Michigan. The show begins with an appearance by a sea lion and ends with the antics of the Pacific white-sided dolphins. In between you’ll get to see the flight of a hawk, dances by belugas and a parade of penguins (well, sort of--the four penguins mostly had to be carried around).

Taking a cue from the Cirque du Soleil style, the show provides atmosphere with elaborate animal-themed costumes and lighting as well as acrobatics in the form of performers flying on a harness, diving into the water and riding a small boat that travels high in the air. One "volunteer," a young girl plucked out of the audience, gets to ride that boat and becomes an integral part of the production.

Accompanied by starry, Arctic, waterfall and sunset visuals displayed on the drop-down screen, the Shedd provides what is definitely the best such show in the Chicago area. Of course a lot of this has to do with the winsomeness of the animals themselves. The penguins--three Magellanic and one Rockhopper—waddle close-up to an amused audience; the sea lion gets up right on the rocks in front of the pool to pull a rope. It’s hard not to be taken by the majesty of the belugas, including dance moves by a juvenile that hasn’t even grown into its white color yet (baby belugas are born gray). But belugas are just too big to be as much fun as the spinning, leaping, walking-on-water dolphins, who provide the grand finale.

As with all animal-based presentations, you’ll have to expect some unpredictability, but there didn't seem to be any real hitches in this production, even three weeks before it’s expected to debut. Fantasea is supposed to weave what’s described as “a spellbinding story of discovery,” but although some narrative elements were discernable, the storyline rather escaped many audience members and the kids probably didn't care. Everyone was too busy looking at the animals.

The main fault of this show is that there's almost no educational element. Although a few videos in the beginning introduce audience members to the different animals, there's no additional information offered--a real shame, especially since the show features two mammals (the belugas and the Pacific white-sided dolphins) that people may not know a lot about. The young actress who plays the volunteer seems to be getting behind-the-scenes information from trainers during the show, but that doesn't help the rest of us since there's no microphone to catch their words. And presumably, she's heard it all before. It's too bad real child volunteers didn't get to experience the animals the way she does.

Overall, though, the show was enjoyable, and hopefully will inspire you to find more information about the animals on your own. The newly renovated, state-of-the-art Oceanarium, with its views of Lake Michigan and naturalistic setting, is a wonderful place to see a show. WCG is pretty sure Fantasea is going to be a highlight of any trip to the Shedd—and it’s a great way to make a connection with the creatures that share the planet with us.

Fantasea begins Friday, October 16, with daily performances. In celebration of the show’s launch, you can get free general admission during Community Discount/Free Week from Oct. 16-22. And watch for premiere party week activities and giveaways as well. A Shedd Pass, which includes the Oceanarium and Fantasea, costs $24.95 for adults and $17.95 for kids aged 3-11. For additional information on the Shedd and its permanent exhibits, visit www.sheddaquarium.org.

-Helen A. Lee