In the Magdalen Islands off Eastern Canada, flashes of heat lightning along the horizon are called Eloize. The circus-theater troupe Cirque Eloize draws its name from this natural phenomenon of its Quebecois homeland. Cirque Eloize's troupe of theater-trained acrobats comes to Kingsbury Hall next weekend to present "Rain -- Comme une pluie dans tes yeux."

The first word of the title you understand. And yes, it does rain indoors in the show, though not until the audience has completed a poetic journey with the cast. The French phrase that follows refers to the troupe's wish to create "rain in the eyes of the public," said author and director Daniele Finzi Pasca:

"We want to touch people and have this strange, special reaction," Pasca said. "Not to make people cry -- but you are touched, so your eyes are a little bit humid."

If Pasca's description of his acrobatics show doesn't remind you much of the noisy gymnastics competitions Americans revere, it is no surprise. Pasca grew up among artists, photographers and theater people in the Italian section of Switzerland. He is an experienced actor and director and began conceiving circus-theater shows only recently. To Pasca, the members of his troupe are not athletes, but artists.

"Rain's" nostalgic story evolves as circus performers rehearse their show, exchange glances, reveal secrets. Through simple costumes and lighting, the artists are imbued with a sense of the past. They execute routines against a vast sky -- tumbling, teeterboard, juggling, balancing, trapeze and contortion. The sensibility is Italian -- as in the metaphoric films of Fellini -- and also French, like the theatricality of another French-Canadian circus-theater troupe, Cirque du Soleil.

Subtle comedy is woven throughout "Rain." Music, both recorded and live, and moody lighting effects are integrated with the show's carefully balanced proportions of movement and emotion.

"We want to go to the roots of everything," Pasca said. "When I work with circus artists, I try to question them on the deeper reasons that move an artist to train himself to do, maybe, a triple somersault. It cannot be only for fun, or because it is difficult. We find that it is something close to ritual. The first acrobatic movement was only a ritual action to help people understand life."

Descriptions under the performers' names in press materials give an idea of their versatility:

Catherine Girard -- aerial hoop, double fix trapeze, tissue, teeter board, swinging clubs, saxophone.

Jonas Woolverton -- strong acrobats number, teeter board, rolling globe, accordion and Roue Cyr.

Pasca said the Roue Cyr is a large hoop used as an apparatus for movement. The image of a human form within the Roue Cyr is reminiscent of the Leonardo da Vinci's famous drawing of a male body within a circle. Daniel Cyr, of Cirque Eloize's artistic staff, invented the technique for working with the Roue Cyr, Pasca said.

"Rain -- Comme une pluie dans tes yeux" has a title in two languages, but Pasca said the show's blend of theatricality and athletic artistry speaks a universal language -- or several of them.

"If you have a child you know very well, and he is afraid, sometimes you tell him a story, so you use words. Sometimes you prefer to sing something. But sometimes, you prefer silence only, and to hold the child close and move a little -- you and him," said Pasca. "To touch a person, there are many forms. These same forms that give tranquility to a child can work in the theater."

Real troupers

* The French-Canadian circus-theater troupe Cirque Eloize brings "Rain -- Comme une pluie dans tes yeux" to Salt Lake City Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah campus.

* Tickets are $25, $30 and $35. Call 801-581-7100.