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SPRINGBORO — Part travelogue, part lounge act, part daredevil show, but all exotic, "Polynesian Fire" makes for one of the most unique shows La Comedia Dinner Theatre has ever staged.

Instead of being a musical along the lines of, say, "South Pacific," "Polynesian Fire" is a revue of the south Pacific islands, ranging from Hawaii to New Zealand to Samoa and back again.

The bulk of the show plays like a concert with performers in colorful garb who demonstrate various dances and other cultural traditions. However, "Polynesian Fire" is not a show where you simply sit and watch.

If you love audience participation, try to get a seat close to the stage. If you do, there's a good chance a member of the troupe will pluck you from your seat to play a drum or to dance - but I won't say exactly how you are asked to dance, lest I spoil all the fun.

On the other hand, if you dread audience participation, you're better off in the upper levels, but even there, where I was sitting, the energy of the show is nothing less than infectious, with the players often exhorting the audience to play and clap along. That part of the show reminded me of "Stomp," with the performers often gently chiding the audience for not being enthused enough. By the end of the show, that wasn't a problem.

Some of the musical segments, particularly at the beginning and the end, tend to go on too long and lower the energy, but I noticed that because the high-energy parts are so remarkable.

One of the highlights was a demonstration of the Maori warrior dance, which involved the performers intimidating the audience with gestures, including wagging tongues. This caused some in the audience to laugh nervously, but that's understandable. One does not see tongue-wagging every day - at least not in a theater.

The unquestioned showstopper, though, is the champion fire dancer Chief Mikaele Oloa, whose act is hair-raising and jaw-dropping. Think of a hula dancer crossed with a manic baton twirler crossed with a flame thrower, and that only begins to describe it.

"Polynesian Fire" may not actually make the cold and snow go away, but it does provide welcome relief from the winter blahs, and, if you sit close enough, even a little extra indoor heat.

how to go

WHAT: Polynesian Fire

WHERE: La Comedia Dinner Theatre, 765 W. Central Ave., Springboro

WHEN: Through March 8

COST: $51-$69

MORE INFO: (937) 746-4554 or (800) 677-9505

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