A BOOMING SUCCESS.

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic

OF ALL the seriously cool gadgets I've seen put to use in circus-y shows, there's not one I'd rather get my mitts on than the air-powered gun that quick-fire unravels and sprays a roll of toilet paper straight up into the air. Or forward, if the shooter is in a combative mood, into an eagerly awaiting crowd. Really, they need these devices for heavy metal concerts.

I expect that only a trained clown professional (on a closed course - don't try this at home!) is cleared to operate such a device. No matter. The kids at the family- and adult-friendly clown show ``Aga-Boom'' went bonkers over the paper shoot at the Falcon Theatre. Then the white stuff really started to fly.

But we get ahead of ourselves. Yes, ``Aga-Boom's'' frenzied finale is pretty much guaranteed to send the younger set to the exits free of any previously harnessed energy they came in with. What comes before the end is pretty deft too, as well as humorous and wonderfully weird.

Not that the younger set would necessarily get it, but there's something vaguely post-apocalyptic about the world established by ``Aga-Boom-ers'' Dmitri Bogatirev, Iryna Ivanytska and Philip Karp-Briggs. Chalk it up to the liberal use of dry ice, the flashing lights (designed by Andrea Housh) and the techno score (by Vassily Bogatiriov). That, and the fact that Ivanytska starts the show by sweeping a bare stage and setting off a meltdown chain reaction by depressing an ominous looking red button labeled ``Do not touch.''

This isn't exactly a wasteland, but rather a strange urban purgatory where yellow crime scene/caution tape and shreddable white paper seem to be the staples of choice. Onto the stage trips Ivanytska, her ragged yellow robe a shred of patches, her hair a punkish shock of white blond. She's the most mischievous of the clowns, and the one who can chime in with a well-placed lamentation.

Once the red button has been pressed, Ivanytska enters into a stare-down with Karp-Briggs, who arrives wearing a helmet fashioned of an Arrowhead water bottle and a Nevada license plate and a space suit made of - what else? - white paper.

Completing the trio is Bogatirev - also ``Aga-Boom's'' creator and director - who is a master spinner/twirler. In not many places will you see a person able to spin a model airplane on a wire from the 90 degree vertical braid atop his head.

Audience volunteers had best be wary since the ``Aga-Boom'' trio will not only recruit audience enlistees - mostly adults - they'll make you look awfully silly. New to the performance since ``Aga-Boom's'' visit to Hollywood's Ivar last year is an extended action film spoof that has the clowns and a game participant trying to film a death scene.

The bit goes on a spell too long, but the payoff is well worth it. When in doubt, the philosophy seems to be, leave the nonprofessional alone on stage to figure things out for him/herself.

Either that or arm the cannons and trash bags, and let the paper fly.

Evan Henerson, [phone]

evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com

AGA-BOOM - Three and one half stars

Where: Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank.

When: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays; to Aug. 24.

Tickets: $15 to $25. Call [phone].

In a nutshell: A trio of former Cirque de Soleil and Ringling Bros. performers take a futuristic but still quite enchanting approach to clowning.

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Photo:

Dimitri Bogatirev, left, Philip Karp-Briggs and Iryna Ivanytska bring their considerable clowning talents to ``Aga-Boom''.