Which Cirque show to see?
April 23, 2007 | 11:17
am
More often than I am asked what show to see in Vegas, I am asked what
Cirque show to see. People who want to see Phantom or Penn & Teller don't
need me to tell them. Those shows are known quantities. People just need to read
the show names from time-to-time in Vegas to be reminded they are here. Same
with Celine and Elton. But while Cirque has gone to great lengths to market all
of their shows as different, the truth remains Cirque has certain qualities that
assert themselves in all of their productions. Surrealism, acrobats, and an
unmistakable overall sensibility. People ask, if they can only see one Cirque
show which one should it be? So, here are my choices and reasons for which
Cirque show to see. 1. Mystere. This was the first Cirque show to open in Vegas. But age has
not changed the fact that this 1993 work presents much of the experience of
touring Ciruqe shows expanded into what at the time was a colossal new
freestanding endeavor. A lot of Cirque's best ideas found a home here. Mystere
retains, more than a decade later, the thematic coherence and wonderful
surprising quirkiness that makes it not just the classic Cirque show but still
at least the equal to its newer brethren. The coolest thing about Mystere is
that tickets are easier to get your hands on than for many of the newer
Cirque shows.
2. O. It isn't entirely fair to call O: Mystere on water. But it isn't
exactly wrong either. The water tanks of O don't necessarily improve on the
stage of Mystere; they hold a different set of challenges and opportunities for
the skilled performers. In fact, the show shares many of the merits of Mystere
and, if you like diving, attempts to be more impressive by adding many aquatic
tricks. O is a fabulous show that remains as wonderful
as its predecessor, Mystere. Many think it better and I won't argue. In fact,
the only reason that Mystere gets the nod on this list is that first loves are
always special.
3. Love. If you are a Beatles fan jump this up to number 1. If you are not,
Love is the hottest in ticket in town for good reason: it is a fantastic show
with some of the best music ever made playing out of speakers placed in each
seat for a sonic experience like no other. In short, you could do worse than to
see Love. But you can also do better. This is a collaboration. You really are
giving up a lot of what makes Cirque special in order to tell the story of the
four lads from Liverpool in their own sounds and based on much of their
song's imagery and Beatles myth. All of this is what makes Love such a joy to
fans of both Cirque and the Beatles. But, if you have never seen a Cirque show
and/or merely like the Beatles, you might want to think twice before expending
the energy it takes to get good seats.
4. KA. Bargain seats seem easier to find for KA than any of the other
Cirque shows. If you find a two-for-one deal or a good discount, you will have a
bargain Cirque experience that won't disappoint. In fact, this may be the most
expensive and extravagant show Cirque mounts in Vegas. I can only imagine how
awed by Ka I would have been if I had not seen so many other Cirque shows
first. In some ways the stage(s) overshadows the performers at KA. But that
isn't the performers fault. The moving plates that make up KA's stage must be
among the most extraordinary stages in the world. And, while this was billed as
the first Cirque show to tell a story the truth is that the narrative only
underscores that Ka lacks that sense of united thematic purpose that Mystere and
O achieve seemingly organically and effortlessly.
5. It isn't really fair to put Zumanity at the bottom of this list. After
all, it is an extremely good show by any measure. It wasn't so when it opened.
But Cirque took the time and energy to work out the kinks in its kinky show, and
over the years Zumanity has evolved into the second best erotic show in
Vegas. What makes Zumanity different from every other Cirque show is it
has intentionally limited appeal. Zumanity is for a broad minded adult audience.
As one expects from Cirqiue, Zumanity is much more creative than any of the
chorus line topless shows at other resorts. It isn't even a fair comparison. But,
on a certain level, Cirque's all embracing message gets garbled in this erotic
frame. Zumanity always feels like the Cirque show that seems more customized to
fill a niche than a true expression of Cirque's broadening aesthetic.
Maybe that is why I feel the need for one footnote on Zumanity: I have
to give a shout-out to Fashionistas (Empire Ballroom), because that show adds
narrative flair and goes even further than Zumanity in bringing to stage
a sophisticated and envelope pushing sensuality. Also, the dancers of
Fashionistas prove better at erotic expression than the athletes of Cirque. You
would never say that even the weakest regular Cirque show, Ka, was equaled by
any imitator like Le Reve. Yet, for erotic shows, Zumanity is definitely
bettered in Fashionistas.
(Photos by Sarah Gerke)
(Photos by Sarah Gerke)
