The Movable Buffet: Dispatches from Las Vegas by Richard Abowitz

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Le Reve at Wynn: my reve for its future

02:20 PM PT, Dec 1 2005
Lereve_ig5ng8kf Last night I saw "Le Reve" at Wynn followed by a release party for the soundtrack. I loathed the production the first time I saw it but I liked the music enough to regret that it was a stinky show. Mostly people complained it was dark, but my problem was with its incoherent confusion, almost perfectly described by its official subtitle "A Small Collection of Imperfect Dreams." I say, almost, because "small" might suggest it is brief and "Le Reve" is a long, long 90 minutes.
Anyway, much has changed.

"Le Reve" creator, former Cirque mastermind, Dragone, has thoroughly destroyed every vestige of bummer from the original: no more bone sacks rising from the ground, the nastiness is rubbed out of all the dark characters (a villainous imp is now a kilt-wearing flasher), the sexy dance elements have been ramped up and, most important of all, no more pregnant women being lifted high into the air and dropped into the water tank bellow.

Mostly, this makes the show a lot lighter, more of a surreal circus fantasy than a 90 minute philosophical brood. Not that everything works. The athletically built swimmers are surely sexy ladies, but their body language and build seem antithetical to some of the waifing and come-hithering that the choreography asks of them.  Still, "La Reve's" basic problem remains coherence, and, when it just turns confusing what began as visually stunning, winds up feeling like watching plain old acrobats - the magic of the massive water tanks, the fantastic costumes, and the stunning backdrops ruined. Dragone is in the awkward position of competing on the Strip with his brilliant Cirque creations "O" and "Mystere." Both of those shows proved that surreal works can bring an audience a full emotional and thematic experience on a Las Vegas stage.  "Le Reve" doesn't seem like it will ever succeed in doing that.
So, here is my radical suggestion to fix "Le Reve" before it goes the way of "Storm" (Mandalay Bay's short-lived production that was the last major show to receive such a thrashing from all sides). Right now the show cost $90 a ticket and lasts for 90 minutes. I am mathematically at risk  but I think that makes for $1 a minute. Why not stop trying to compete with Cirque and offer something totally different, something no one in Las Vegas has ever seen - an affordable Cirque-like experience! The Cirque less traveled. My suggestion is to give up on the full length production show and instead do a 45 minute show for a $45 ticket. That would allow all that is good about "Le Reve's" cast, music, sets, costumes and incredible production values to be appreciated without those pluses wearing out their welcome, because the show is dull at an hour and a half.
There has never been anything like the production quality of "Le Reve" in that price range available in this city. My guess is it would start selling "Le Reve" out instead of being known for its less than stellar attendance. If it works you could double the number of shows offered. Of course, my business skills are more suspect than my math skills so don't wait for this to happen. Still, it would be one way to give this show a chance otherwise it will likely continue to be known as the one show in town that isn't really a "Cirque" show. And, that is no future at all.
(photo by Lawrence K. Ho/LAT)
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I think the show is absolutely amazing. I saw the same show you did last night, and it was nothing short of brilliant. I'm sorry you feel the need to compare it with other Cirque shows in Las Vegas, when the show obviously stands on its own as another stroke of genius by Dragone.

Didn't "We Will Rock You" get an even more vigorous critical spanking than "Storm"? Why, I do believe it did!

I saw the same show you did last night and I thought it was wonderful. I've seen the show three times and it ceases to amaze me. Le Reve is the best show on the Strip. Dragone has created another masterpiece that I don't know if anyone can top.

“Le Reve” is an absolute masterpiece and a visual feast. We as show goers need to keep in perspective the brilliance that is unique to “Le Reve” and unlike any "Cirque" show on The Strip. To say that “Le Reve” is like "watching plain old acrobats" is jaded and obviously an inaccurate assessment of the show. Dragone created the other shows by which "Le Reve" is compared. This is a culmination of the entire "Cirque" show experience - the grand finale.

For anyone thinking of seeing “Le Reve” this is the ultimate and the finest Las Vegas has to offer. The music and cast are amazing and worth every cent.

I think Le Reve was just beautiful and that the tagline, "A Series of imperfect dreams" could not be more well suited. Unlike the other Cirque shows in Las Vegas, Le Reve does not give you the feeling that you are missing out because there is too much going on. It has just the right of elements combined to make it a great show. As well, I feel that Dragone took all the best elements of his other Cirque shows and incorporated them into Le Reve. When I left the theatre, I felt like I just came out of the most peaceful and beautiful dream.

The only thing most of these comments prove is that at a dollar a minute people must and will convince themselves they liked what they paid for, and how!

In any case, people generally have the right to like what they like (although said people obviously don't much care to return the courtesy), but . . . Dragone is a "genius"? "Le Reve" is a "masterpiece" -- I'm sorry, "another masterpiece"? And when did Cirque du Soleil become a canon of western civilization such that lightly criticizing a CDS show warrants such vehement backlash?? What does it say about a person and her sense of perspective when she considers the expression of lukewarm feelings about "Le Reve" a mortal insult to her person? A lot more -- and a lot less -- than merely saying "you know, I didn't much care for it," if you ask me.

I have seen Mystere 5 times, "O" twice, Zoomanity, once was enough (what a tacky show), "Ka" once. and then there was "Storm" I loved that show. I even went back 6 months later to see it again and it was gone. As soon as "La Reve" settles in I will probably go see it too.

Mystere remains my overall favorite, followed by Ka, and "O". Zoomanity was the worst thing I have seen. Cirque should take it's name off the production.

My girlfriend and I attended the show recently on date night. We both thought it was a wonderfully entertaining time and the music was fantastic.

I loved this show enough to fly across country to see it for another viewing. Yes, the changes are noticeable, but minor. Even though I loved it the first time, it was even better on second viewing. It's a shame that people can be so jaded to ho-hum a spectacular production that's put together and performed with love and respect for the audience. The stars of the show seem so pleased to hear applause when they return to the stage at the end of the performance. They work so hard and deserve every ounce of praise. To ridicule this show or call it boring is a reflection on the critic, not LA REVE. Come down from your pedestal and enjoy like the rest of us. The standing ovation I witnessed this past weekend from a packed audience was reality, not imagination. And the CD was selling like crazy - well worth buying.

i look forward to seeing this show. even more, i look forward to reading this critic's account of Ka. I spent 150 dollars on Ka the other night and truly thought it too be one of the most miserable nights of my life. Ka is an uninspired, boring, awful show completely devoid of emotion and beauty. it is CDS at it's lowest point. the proof: of the 2500 people in the audience, only four stood up. this is the first CDS show i have ever seen, and i've seen them all several time, that has NOT gotten a standing ovation. in fact they got nothing more than a limp sitting ovation. i wanted to boo. it is a money making boring spectacle, a travesty to CDS's former greatness. why ever did they stop working with Dragone!?

Saw La Reve to a sold out house on Christmas Eve.

An amazing theater and an amazing easy to understand rumination on what makes a man ... the homoerotic dream/thoughts of the dreamer were handled with taste and humor (and with delight I report they horrified a couple parents with late teen children - they were obvious "Red State" audience members who must have thought they were in Branson.

The theater alone is worth seeing. La Reve is THE new Vegas classic. See it now ... the 50 hot wet near naked gymnasts really do give it their all to put on an performance you will never forget.

I've seen the show on different occasions with different members of my family and have loved every single show. Le Reve is a "collection of imperfect dreams" and if you have seen the show more than once, there are unique changes to the show so the dream is never exactly the same. I beleive trying to make sense of the show will only blind you of the beauty and the fantastic feats these performers muster for each and every dream that is brought forth for the audience to experience. They are simply beyond acrobatic or athleticism and yes they have earned every standing ovasion.

Saw the show last Sunday night,, unreal,, go see it,, period

I've seen "O" twice and was sorely disapointed that while spectacular, it had lost all of the intimacy and charm of a Cirque show. I also recently saw the new traveling Cirque show Corteo and found the humor lame, the music boring and the acrobatics unsophisticated. That is why this weekend it was with trepidation that I bought tickets to Mystere and Le Reve. I was blown away by both. La Reve combines the best of Mystere and "O". Restoring the intimacy lacking in "O" and capturing the humor of Mystere, water of "O", the acrobatics of both and adding an awesome theatre, spectacular water effects and the mysterious story and backgrounds that you need not understand to enjoy. Plus these guys are HOT. I have never seen so many perfectly muscular men, in so little, perfoming the most amazing acrobatic stunts and feats of strength. The girls were okay too if you like that sort of thing. Now in case you think that I liked it only because I paid for it, you're wrong. About 20 minutes before the end the stage broke down and the performance had to be cancelled and money refunded. I hope to come back soon and see it again and see what I missed because this show is a class act!

Reading these reviews is mind blowing!!! I guess to each their own. One reviewer hated KA, and I found it to be an engineering marvel. It amazing what 200 Million will buy you in a theater these days!

I saw Le Reve the first night it was open. I thought that the show was good, but not great. However I've talked to many people who have told me, that a number of pretty major changes have taken place since the opening about 9 months ago. I intend to see the show again, in June during my next visit to Wynn, and look forward to see how the show has progressed.

I first saw "La Reve" this past summer; the same week I also saw "O". To me, there was no comparison because the feature which adds most to the experience at the Wynn is the incredible intimacy of the theatre. The proximity to the performers added so much to my experience as an audience member. At "O" I had a seat half-way back from the stage and that was also obstructed by a hand railing! The distance from the stage diminished the impact of the entire show---it was akin to watching television. To me, there is no comparison between the two---surreal is surreal, but the intimacy tipped the balance for me.

i saw Le Reve i thought it was the most spectacular show!!! ive seen O and mystere many many times...but i cant believe Le Reve is was like a dream it was so good. i never wanted it to end it was incredible and it was just so entertaining. Dragone is a genius and 90 dollars is an incredible price for something that amazing.

Le Reve is quite simply a --masterpiece--. I've seen it four times. Hats off to Dragone, the cast and musicians for this marvelous production.

One final note - I would pay $2.00 a minute to see this show if that was the price.

Le Reve is stunning, magical, incredible...yes, a creative masterpiece! The staging is unbelievable and technically amazing. The dedication to pefect athletic movement and timing is a true testament to each performer. It completely activates all of ones senses. The scenes are moving, mind boggling impressions of a dream world. The music, lighting and staging combined are not to be believed! I could see it again and again and still be enthralled by and in awe of it each time. It is much more intimate than the Cirque du Soliel creations. If you only see one show in Vegas this is the one, hands down! Being treated to this show was the best Christmas gift I have ever received.

I saw this show last night. It was incredibly... BORING. Awful show. it is devoid of the amazing acrobatics that we are accustomed to with the various Cirque shows. (I realize this is not a Cirque show.) This show is basically a dance recital with some diving. There are exactly 2 dives that are spectacular - from a very high height. The stage and lighting and props are really nice. It had moments of greatness. But very few moments. For the most part I was extremely bored. The best part was after the curtain call, when we could all finally leave. This was an excrutiating blunder for Dragone and Wynn.

if I win 1000$ in gambling...I ll watch 10 times this show!

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