Jackson magic lives on in 'Immortal'

It doesn't matter if you have "Thriller" on vinyl or the 25th anniversary CD of Michael Jackson's hit album. You'll be thrilled with Cirque du Soleil's take on Jackson, beyond his music with "Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour" that hit Sacramento's Power Balance Pavilion earlier this week.

From "Dralion" to "Allegria" and more, Cirque du Soleil is a well-oiled machine, producing mesmerizing shows that meld music, dance, acrobatics and visuals into a spellbinding production, featuring a crème de la crème of international performers. The Canadian-based company founded in 1984 hails itself as a contemporary circus with a theatrical, character-driven approach, sans the performing animals of a traditional circus.

Directed by multiple Emmy and MTV award nominee Jamie King, "Immortal" takes Jackson's music and adds a fairy dust spin with international flair in a sometimes poignant and sad but riveting show that pays homage to the King of Pop and his music.

Mark Fisher created a set dominated by the image of Jackson's inspirational Giving Tree, with replicas of the gates to his Neverland ranch, where the show unfurls as a silver shimmer-clad muse moves though chapters of his life and music.

It's not in chronological order, though, as "You Wanna Be Starting Something" — from "Thriller," Jackson's 1982 best-selling album of all time — charged up the tribally dressed acrobats for some frenetic dance moves across the ever-changing stage levels.

Then, in a rewind of time, television clips from the mid '60s — when the preteen Jackson and his brothers hit the radio airwaves as the group Jackson 5 — engaged the audience with a medley that included "ABC" and "Stop the Love You Save." The Cirque Fanatics made for some great laughs as they parodied the group in oversized Afros and flower power garb in this 2-1/2-hour show.

Under the hand of music designer Kevin Antunes, the scenes whiz though 32 of Jackson's songs, including "Ben," "Dancing Machine," "Black and White," "Beat It," and "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough." In each, costumes changed from whimsical animals, gangsters, ninjas, robo-soldiers, gold-winged bats and suits that mimicked Jackson's look — except these were lined with LED lights to sharply illuminate in the darkened arena, highlighting every fluid move, including the infamous moonwalk.

Production designer Michael Olivier Goulet wove footage of Jackson's performances and music videos throughout the show. Shots of the child performer, coupled with lyrics, "Have you seen my childhood? I'm searching for my youth I've never known," offered a heart-wrenching commentary on Jackson and insight to his childlike love of animals and all things imaginary and make-believe.

Props and scenic designer Michael Curry, who worked on the "This Is It" concert tour, developed oversized props, super-sizing Jackson's silver sequined glove, penny loafers and white socks into sculptures that could hold one or more dancers.

Acrobats seemingly dance in the air, smoothly tripping through space on wires. (Remember, this is the circus.) They descend from the ceiling in metal circles, their costumes illuminated by LED lights as the background offers a celestial feast of lights in the universe in "Heal the World — Will You be There?"

It's a lot to take in. You look at the dancers on the runway and miss the visuals on the stage. Plus, the musicians and singers on an elevated rise behind the Neverland gates offer their own singular performance of Jackson's internationally acclaimed tunes.

Although sometimes a bit overwhelming, "Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour" captures the performer's essence. You'll leave wanting more, and that's when you'll pull out that vinyl or pop in his CD. Michael Jackson may not be immortal, but his music lives on and on — and evidenced by Tuesday night's audience, his appeal continues to span generations.

Don't stress because you missed the Sacramento shows. "Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour" stops Friday through Sunday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, and Tuesday-Wednesday at the Oracle Arena in Oakland.