Forget sugarplums dancing in your head and look forward to tumbling reindeer, jolly jugglers and a balancing act performed on a flying luggage cart. Cirque Du Soleil’s “‘Twas the Night Before…” is a delightful reimagining of the classic poem, with some (literal) twists and turns. 

Isabella (Elodie Sanna) is a young girl who feels too old for the usual holiday traditions. Her father (William Borges) tries to recapture the magic with her by sharing their annual reading of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and giving her a new bike. She is more interested in posting videos online. 

But when Christmas magic comes to life, the two are sent on separate journeys to rediscover the meaning of the holiday. They encounter silly dancers, acrobats, rambunctious children and other characters that bring Clement Moore’s holiday story to life, as each act is inspired by the famous poem.

Victoria Baudry-McPherson wowed the crowd with her interpretation of “A wink of her eye! A twist of her head!” by contorting herself into remarkable poses on a hotel cart. Aryn Sheander and Ben Huey beautifully performed on dou straps inspired by the beauty of snow. Carmen Ribas Segura and Holler Zavatta skated on a tiny roller rink that left everyone breathless and dizzy.

The acts alternated between the sacred and the secular with a mesmerizing use of the glittery, sparkling stage set and handheld lights that transformed each performance. 

Borges’ routine on the aerial lamp demonstrated the father’s desire to reconnect to the spirit of the holiday, while hoop-diving reindeer encouraged a playful energy in the crowd. Martina Trombetta spun around the stage, suspended by her hair, and four children in snow gear bounced twinkly lights across the stage - and into the audience.

It’s always fun to find a new way to interpret holiday classics and the Cirque performance was top-notch. Having seen Cirque shows in other locations, the Eccles stage was at once intimate and at times too small, but it started the Christmas season off right. 

Presented by Zions Bank and Broadway at the Eccles, “‘Twas the Night Before…” runs at Eccles Theater in Salt Lake through Sunday, Dec. 14. Tickets are available at saltlakecity.broadway.com.