During the holidays, the desire to give yourself over to fantasy can become overpowering...so why not just surrender vis-à-vis Cirque Du Soleil’s seasonal celebration: Wintuk, the troupe’s family-friendly, non-denominational holiday thrill ride.

Back for a return visit -- and the 100-foot-wide stage of Madison Square Garden’s WaMu Theatre -- Wintuk’s cast is made up of 50 incredible athletes and performers from around the world.  

Even more impressive, Wintuk marks the first Cirque show to feature the extreme spinning and soaring talents of skateboarders, inline skaters and bikers -- both male and female. Fittingly, as these sports are a big and growing part of America’s athletic culture, the wheel-savvy artists are mostly from the U.S.A.

Storywise, Wintuk is a simple yet riveting tale about a boy’s quest for snow -- and considering the meager snowfall in Manhattan these past few winters, it’s no surprise that the opening no-snow zone is vaguely reminiscent of Central Park. But like all good adventure stories, it’s the journey (ok, and the grand finale!) that counts, and this trek is beautifully scored and filled with a continuous parade of enticing characters, physical feats, and truly awesome special effects.

The mythical, magical and madcap beings the young hero (Jamie) and his companions -- Wimpy, a cowardly sad sack, and a magical Shaman (who travels with a coterie of loyal dog puppets) -- encounter on their fairy-tale excursion include, but are in no way limited to: a life-size rag doll; a group of highly animated street lights; several ominous ice giants; a couple of b-b-b-b-bouncing clowns; and a gorgeous High Priestess adept at some very stunning contortionistic “hoop-la.”  Plus there are precision tumblers, spontaneous spinners, jaunty jugglers and inner-tubers (don’t ask, just watch).

And, of course, the aforementioned wheeled wonders who tear across the stage, up and down ramps, and over and under everything in sight with heart-stopping derring-do.

That’s it -- or at least all I’m willing to share. The rest is up to you and whatever super powers you need to conjure to get your tickets before they fly -- and with this show they literally might -- off the WaMu Theater shelves!

For tickets and information, call 212-307-1000, click here or go to www.cirquedusoleil.com, where you can also see a couple of video previews. Presented at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden (Seventh Ave. btw. 31st & 33rd Sts.). Playing now through January 3, 2010.