Criss Angel's 'Believe' hard to believe
All I could think about watching Criss Angel's "Believe" was the movie "Showgirls" and Elizabeth Berkley's Nomi Malone, the nomad who goes from stripper to Strip showgirl. Angel's journey from street magician to Strip headliner is a similarly implausible story, but more so, it is his show that really manages to capture the so-bad-it's-good spirit of the movie. There is actually a point in "Believe," amongst the lush black-and-red staging, in which Angel is on all fours crawling forward toward the audience, that seems a tribute to that hideous film. For "Showgirls," you had to wait for the anniversary DVD that came complete with shot glasses to go with the drinking games. "Believe's" gift shop already has shot glasses. It also has votive candles should you actually be loyal enough to pray to Criss Angel.
Here is one example using a trick that is also in the Penn & Teller show and involves a random audience member offering a word or phrase then discovered in a sealed container. P&T use an envelope that audience members examine before the show. Angel uses a box that descends from the ceiling. The point to both tricks is that what is written on the paper has yet to be chosen by an audience volunteer. Of course, Penn & Teller let you know up front that they are cheating, and the trick is funny while serving as a warning about con artists who pose as mind-readers. It really is the staging and the use of audience volunteers and an entire context built around the trick that make the moment so perfect in the Penn & Teller show.
There are also still basic technical problems galore with the magic. To pick one: Angel was split fully in half by a saw that had not actually cut across him yet. But mostly the problems are in the basic conception: To maintain a sense of the magical in a theatrical production absent any magic-related context or presentation is an insurmountable challenge. In "Believe," making doves appear, or escaping from a straitjacket while suspended in the air, or vanishing in puff of smoke and flash simply comes off as stagecraft. How can you be impressed when Angel levitates when you see the cords on the aerialists in the show?
The early moments, by the way, flaws and all, in which Angel is just being himself are actually the highlight of the show. Once Cirque takes over, the show turns into a hopeless muddle of plots, subplots and recurring-yet-pointless and poorly defined characters.
The choreography, for example, is so reminiscent of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video that if it weren't for the total earnestness with which it is presented, I would swear this was an intentional effort at camp. There are many such moments that make Cirque's signature clowns in this show have a lot of competition from the dramatic elements of "Believe." There seemed to be a lot of people around me who were provoked to inadvertent laughter at least once. The responses talking to people afterward fell into two camps: the horrified and the bored. The bored seemed to be folks who, like me, had free review tickets; the horrified seemed to be those who paid. But this was an informal survey based on eavesdropping on conversations on the way out and talking to people at the bar in front of the show after.
The ending, in which Angel returns to the living from a staged accident earlier in the show that sent him to Cirque-land, finds him surrounded by concerned friends. Angel in bed wonders if "Believe" has all been a dream and then, almost line for line, does Judy Garland's scene from end of "The Wizard of Oz," as he notes to all his friends how they too were there with him in his Cirque dream, transformed yet present. Can this be an elaborate parody? When Angel at the end holds up a sign with the word "Believe," the letters of "lie" stand out in red.
I could beat up on "Believe" in greater detail, but there is little point. You get the idea. If you are a Criss Angel fan, there will not be nearly enough of his style of magic. The magic is much closer to standard theater illusions that do not really recall his television show as much as they do, say, Monte Carlo's Lance Burton (who does a far better magic show, being more comfortable and expert at this more traditional magic presentation). Cirque fans will find nothing that would put "Believe" on the list ahead of "Mystere," "O," "Love" or "Ka."
Still, with all the talk of presales in the $5-million range, "Believe" is here to stay for a bit, and Cirque and Angel will have time to continue trying to make improvements. But I am reminded of the terrible opening of "Le Reve" at Wynn (in which the director had pregnant women falling from the sky as one of many disturbing images); Steve Wynn eventually bought out the original director (a Cirque alum) to make a show that would work and sell tickets at his casino. The show has the same name it did on the night it opened, but much of the rest has changed. And, in the long term, it is hard to see any incarnation of this "Believe" lasting a decade as scheduled when their best hope is to play up how bad the thing is on the off-chance that "Believe" manages to find a niche willing to pay Cirque prices to see the theatrical equivalent of "Showgirls." My guess (and this is only a guess) is that by the one-year anniversary of "Believe," this will either be a Cirque or an Angel show. But this awkward mix will have to be rethought eventually. And although this show hardly offers much evidence of Angel's stage talents, the demand for him doing a show right now is far greater than the need for Cirque's sixth show on the Strip.
Perhaps, in the end, breaking new ground for magic was not what needed to be done. The real answer might have been simpler if obvious: Take what works so well for Angel on television and find a way to translate that to the stage. Yes, that is a difficult challenge, but Vegas is known for giving audiences what they want, no matter how difficult. And this Salvador Dali-inspired, pretentious excursion into artistic abstraction does not lack effort, only quality. Simply put: This not what the audience wants from a magician who has made his career offering visceral thrills. This was a brave experiment, but at some point, the fact that it simply does not work will have to be reckoned with one way or the other.
Hi Richard,
Thanks for your review of the show. To me, I think part of the problem that I am seeing with recent "BeLIEve" reviews is that people are expecting a full-blown magic show, or Mindfreak Pt. 2, and BeLIEve is supposed to be neither of these things. I read a recent article from "M" magazine that described the show as "an experience that represents the magic of emotion."
I think that is really what this show is about -- not the tricks, per se -- but how you feel when you watch them, which is a favorite saying of Criss'. I almost feel that an extra tagline should be added to the name of the show, something like:
Criss Angel BELIEVE
The Magic of Emotion
Because to me, that is what this show is supposed to represent -- the emotional connection that you feel when you watch magic -- and people do not seem to be catching onto this important point.
I will be seeing the show in December, and I look forward to watching it and enjoying the experience of the show from start to finish.
--Jessica
Posted by: Jessica | October 31, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Richard,
Thank you for your review of the show.
It seems to me, based on recent reviews that I have read, that most people are going to BeLIEve expecting a full-out magic show, or Mindfreak Pt. 2, and BeLIEve is not supposed to be either of these things.
I read a recent review of the show where they described the show as "an experience that represents the magic of emotion." I think this is what the show is truly about. It should not about the magic tricks, per se, but more about how you feel when you watch them being performed.
I feel like Cirque needs to add an extra tag line to the show name, to read something like:
Criss Angel BELIEVE
The Magic of Emotion
Because I believe this title represents what the show is supposed to be, and it may be a little clearer for people attending the show to know what to expect.
I will be attending the show in December and I plan to enjoy the experience. I hope that others will, too.
--Jessica
Posted by: Jessica | October 31, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Does boredom count as an emotion?
Posted by: Joe Brown | October 31, 2008 at 02:38 PM
For those CA fans that keep saying...it was never meant to be a magic show....and...dont go in with the expectation of it beind MINDFREAK....I have to tell you....no matter what it was...I was NOT entertained...I had no expectations that I would NOT enjoy the show at all...But...thats what happened...IT WAS HORRIBLE
Posted by: Mike | October 31, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Very nice article, Richard. I can tell you showed incredible restraint in dealing with the composition of the show, its content and the goods and bads of it. Even though I couldn't do it, I do agree with this restraint. Because it all boils down to the ultimate critics of this show. And they are sounding off with loud voices...the paying audience.
Multiple problems with this show.
Seems like you have Criss Angel with lackluster magic on stage, way out of his element because he's not on a TV screen, but on a stage now. He's basically a second string wannabe rock and roller without a talented and proven Las Vegas headliner stage actor bone in his body. It appears he's clearly trying to coast on his personae and is thrust into a position where he is way, way out of his element.
On the other hand, you have Cirque du Soleil throwing their lot behind him. And they seem to have no idea because this is definitely a drastic departure from their tried and true acrobatic entertainment type stuff. They appear to have no knowledge of what this show is trying to do; basically unable to even put their distinctive mark on it.
It apears these two are at odds with each other, each trying to make it their show. And there are inklings and little snippets about that put out in the press. Something's gotta give.
I just hope somebody over there pays attention to the viewing audience. It's almost too late. While these people in the show seem to have their problems to try to figure out, you have people who attended who are so mad, feel ripped off, feel like they wasted their time and money. And the horrible thing is that it seems to be continuing. With no end in sight nor even a hint that something is going to be fixed and get better. I dont know what needs to be done to fix it, but something better be done quickly.
Posted by: ColinFromLasVegas | October 31, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Jessica... there's a reason why people expect it to be a "Magic Show" This is from the Press Conference announcing the name of the show:
"With this new project (the sixth Cirque du Soleil show at an MGM Mirage property) the magic of Criss Angel will be the core fused with the distinct Cirque elements of acrobatics, dance, puppetry, music and poetry. The storyline will be presented in a dreamlike setting, but ultimately this is a magic show the world has never seen and will re-define the experience. – Press Conference March 20, 2008"
Cirque EXPECTED it to be a magic show which is why they didn't put any acrobatics in it. It was only after they realized their "Star" couldn't really do anything did they start backing off from that and trying to call it a "Production Show" Even the Luxor is being very careful not to call it a Magic Show now as it's just one more reason for people to be upset with a sub standard product. They kept cutting Criss' so called illusions as they were weak and ineffective. We have to understand that these illusions (or "demonstrations" as he likes to call them) that are currently in the show are the very best that Criss and his creative team of illusion creators and designers could come up with. Compare that with any other magician performing now in town and look at the amount of material they have that works and actually fools you!
If Cirque didn't want a "Magic Show" why on earth would they team up with Criss Angel? ... for his acting abillity? ... stage presence? ... singing and dancing? No... they thought he could deliver on stage what they saw on TV. That was his only commodity. They were wrong and found out too late.
Richard, thank you for a well written and fair review. I agree that I know a lot of people are going to see this show just to say that they saw the worst show ever. Is that right? I guess if it sells tickets... after all it worked for "Gigli" and "Showgirls".
Posted by: Ray | October 31, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Seems like you have Criss Angel with lackluster magic on stage, way out of his element because he's not on a TV screen, but on a stage now.
^Criss is no stranger to the stage, having done a successful off-Broadway show from 2001-2003. The reason critics have been harsh (in my opinion) is because the show is such a departure from the "norm" on a variety of levels. People expect typical magic tricks and Mindfreaky-ness, and that is not what they get, so they are "upset." If people would let go of their preconceived notions of what they think the show is about, and enjoy it for what it is, there would not be an issue.
--Jessica
p.s. Sorry for the double-post above; I was not sure if my comment posted the first time, so I tried to write it again a second time. They essentially say the same thing.
Posted by: Jessica | October 31, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Ray, I never said that the show wouldn't have magic -- I said it would not be a "full-out magic show." That last part of your quote -- "...redefine the experience." That is exactly right. Of course there will be magic, but magic in and of itself is not the central focus of the show, nor should it be. The show is not supposed to be about the tricks themselves, but the emotional connection that you have when you watch them being performed. This is the central idea of the show that the public seems to have dismissed in favor of "finding out" how the supposed "simple" and "mainstream" tricks are being performed and not watching the show just for the enjoyment and wonder of it, like kids do when they see magic.
If you are not understanding that connection, then you are missing the whole point of the show.
--Jessica
Posted by: Jessica | October 31, 2008 at 05:10 PM
I must say, I've been very entertained by your coverage of this show and it's surrounding drama. Keep it up!
Posted by: Bobak | October 31, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Looks like he's made a few improvements since I was there October 12th. God knows, he needs it. Now if he would only keep his mouth shut, stop with the vulgarity and go on with the show.
Nomi Malone? Sorry. He ain't all that.
Posted by: vanillasky | October 31, 2008 at 08:58 PM
Hey Jess...
The "successful off-Broadway show" you mentioned was in the basement of the WWF building. It barely had a stage and seated about 150 people... hardly the entry to headlining in Vegas. It was good for what it was, but nothing that would lead directly to carrying a show for 1500 people. There are so many skills that real pros that have headlined for years have. You might not notice them until they're not there as in this case.
You said "If you are not understanding that connection, then you are missing the whole point of the show."
Having produced Illusion shows in 7 different countries for hundreds of thousands of people, I'm VERY awear that the emotional connection is what makes for great magic.... but at the core... it has to fool and even amaze you! I remember hearing many so called magicians say " I don't care if I fool them as long as I entertain them". These people were seldom talented, polished or qualified to call themselves magicians and that statement was always used to cover up and discount their lack of skill and technique. Anytime you hear someone say you need to ignore the fact that the tricks don't fool you .... that is a sure sign of the inabilites and lack of skill of the magician, and we've all heard it over and over about this show.
I wanted this show to do well for all of magic but it just wasn't meant to be with this "star".
Mr. Angel himself said "I wanted everything new, unique and different. I wasn’t going to do something that has been done before. " yet he's doing common illusions that have been performed better by others.
Then he said "If people are fans of Mindfreak, they are going to be so excited with Believe. They are actually going to see those illusions that people think can only happen with trick photography. For the skeptics that think and it can’t be done live they will believe too because the illusions go beyond what I have done in anything before."
Well... we've head all of the comments regarding that. It's easy to go through all of the campaign promises but the proof is on stage for all to see.
It's just a matter of value. If you go to an afternoon show fopr $15.95 and it's a little rough around the edges and the star isn't that polished, you can excuse it... but for $150 it had BETTER at least be professional. This show has a way to go.
Posted by: Ray | November 01, 2008 at 03:57 AM
Jessica,
Lets keep the comments about the show itself to those who have actually seen it. You keep jumping in and commenting on and defending something you have NOT seen.
Richard was pretty kind to the Show. He could have said a lot worse but used restraint. We'll be interested in YOUR opinion once you have ACTUALLY seen it.
Posted by: Will L | November 01, 2008 at 06:26 AM
“Believe”
October 30, 2008
Luxar Casino, Las Vegas
Show time: 7PM actual start 7:16PM
Attendance: Sold Out
Running time: 90 min.
Show Rundown:
1) Opening video clips of “Mind Freak” TV show. Trying to pump up audience.
2) Criss floats down from ceiling like the “angel” he is.
3) Criss gathers gifts from audience (including giant I Love You Criss cloth)(all set up! Can you imagine every night giving yourself gifts from the audience.)(An on stage camera operator shoots Criss’s every movement and the audience sees picture on a giant screen that fills the entire background)(Criss calls the camera operator a bitch. Which is a bit surprising since we don’t understand the show yet.)
4) Criss Vanishes behind giant I Love You Criss cloth and reappears in audience.
5) ESP effect (lock box from ceiling) Wellington product. Criss shouts alot at the audience much like a Rock Star to a wild crowd only there was not a wild crowd.
6) Giant electric cage set piece kills Criss. He is taken off in a stretcher.
7) Fantasy world begins- Rabbit Dance (great dancers!)
8) Human Rabbits eat Criss body parts.
9) Building Criss body back together (Black Art)
10) Big Steam Crain picks up Criss and reveals him (A live singer & guitarist play on either side of stage) (Great imagery)
11) Dancers dress Criss on stage.
12) 3 Doll Dancers dance. (Fantastic costumes!)
13) Dove Act: Fire fingers to 2 doves, A tree set brought on for doves to fly on to, Glove to 1 dove, Red scarf to 2 doves, Dove vanish (toss up) to white silk, White silk fly’s into audience, then across audience and finally back to a bird cage where the white silk turns into a dove in the cage, Dove taken out and Criss splits dove into 2 doves, 3 dove costumed girls float down from ceiling on visible wires, 100 white doves released and they fly to back of audience, Criss floats up into ceiling with giant wings (magically?).
14) Snow scene with lots of white confetti. Floor trap opens and set piece comes up out of trap.
15) Flowers (poppies) drop from ceiling to stage and stick standing up to floor. Kind of like flower darts. (Very nice). Criss sits on set piece and visibly goes down trap. (Why?)
16) Large poppies, a giant rabbit on stilts, great music and all visually beautiful. All very Cir style.
17) Giant red vagina? is lowered midway to stage. It opens up and an aerialist comes out to perform from it. (Lighting amazing.)
18) Roots scene: Roots visually grow on the stage by way of scrim projections. (Awesome scenery!)
19) Interlude performed with wire set piece/chair. (You can’t tell what’s going on. No reaction from audience.)
20) Switch illusion: A girl in a white costume is put behind a white cloth and a girl in a red costume is put behind a red cloth. The white cloth is pulled away and the girl has vanished. The red cloth is pulled away and the girl has turned into a wire form in the shape of the girl. The wire form has a red silk scarf attached to it. (Very confusing and no reaction)
21) Dancing Bunny Head: (Great! Just a costume but really works! Obviously Cir’s.)
22) Head Drop illusion: Criss wears a big cape and has his head slide down the front of his costume. (Audience not too impressed) Cris then is turned into a tiny doll of him self (a lot of cover used). Tiny Criss doll is then put in a chair and covered. When cloth pulled off doll has grown to Criss original size. (Not well staged. Do we care?)
23) Big dance scene: Criss sits in a chair to stage left and watches the dance scene while ad speaking words that make no sense. Criss joins dance at end and dances.
24) There are a lot of jokes. (Do not understand why. A lot of kids are in the audience and I ‘m not sure why Criss needs to discuss the human antinomy in a sexual way)
25) Music similar to the theme music of “6 feet Under” (HBO show) used a lot.
26) A giant lizard man is built and comes to life. The lizard runs around the stage after Criss which seems to take forever. (Again do we care?)
27) Switch: Criss Vanishes and Lizard takes head off to reveal Criss as the Lizard. (illusion did work and audience finally reacted.)
28) Criss does a series of video projection screen tricks with the giant back ground screen. He walks into the screen and is seen in the picture. Then walks out of it. (ala David Copperfield)
29) He takes a rubber circle the size of a man hole cover and tosses it on the stage floor. He pulls the cover open and jumps down a hole in the stage. Then reappears in the video screen. Then repeats coming back out on the stage. (Did not really work. He should have done the man hole cover on a table top so when he jumps through you see him vanish visually.)
30) Series of costume changes by walking in to the video screen and coming out of the video in a new costume. (He did this 5 times! Raja leaned over to me and said “Ok I think we get the idea!”)
31) Straight Jacket escape over the heads of the audience. :30 sec clock used and mirror confetti dropping in audience (Did not use any audience member to put him in jacket. No build up. Audience not impressed)
32) Sub Trunk Escape: Done with Fog and Fire (a lot of it) (But it did get a reaction. Criss has been doing this effect for many years.)
33) Wedding scene- (Yes Criss gets married!) Train of girl extends to entire back drop. (Very beautiful) (Cir again) From the ceiling Criss walks down the backdrop (wedding train) with no visible means of support. Wedding train is white with silver eyelash and a diffraction pattern is projected on the backdrop. When Criss gets to the floor he is in complete darkness. About 3 dancers are messing around with him until they can get him detached. Then he runs to the foot lights for his applause.
34) Windstorm scene: (Kind of fun.) (Again very Cir)
35) Levitation: Wedding girl is levitated (It should be a double levi like Lance’s but it was just her tonight. A rain curtain was used for cover)
36) Sawing in Two: A huge “Mad Max” looking prop is brought on to saw Criss in two. It is done visually. (Feet & legs “wobble” around a lot. Here less should be more)
37) Bows: At close Criss vanishes him self on a raised table under a cloth that reads “Believe”
Comments:
Raja and I both felt like the show was very long. We came to the conclusion that we were both bored a lot of the time. The magic really was not impressive. No one seems to “get it” in the Criss Angel team. I think they need to go back and re-read the history books of magic so they will understand why and how an audience should react to magic.
I looked around a lot at the audience during the show and reactions were very subtle..A very quiet audience. It was a family audience too. There were some “Mind Freak” fans but a small portion of them. They were the only ones who stood up. A very few.
The show was very tight and the transitions were good. But when every one got up from their seats at the end you could almost hear a pin drop. I know what it’s like to walk out of a great show that leaves you inspired. The audiences are feeling great and there is a buzz of energy. Here, last night it was almost like leaving a funeral.
When I got into the lobby I started to hear the bad comments. “Worst magic show I have ever seen”, “Why did he do that show?!”, “That was really bad”, “I can’t imagine their having opening night tomorrow”.
I tried to listen for positive comments but I heard not one. In fact the last comment I heard was “ If I wrote the head lines for Tomorrows opening I would say …I Believe this show Stinks!”
Posted by: Jarrett Parker | November 01, 2008 at 11:18 AM
There are simply no words to describe how bad the show really is. The audience when I went was bored and horrified.
Posted by: Tanya | November 01, 2008 at 11:47 AM
You are all so critical. I saw the show. Here's the deal, it's fun and entertaining. The costumes are amazing, the stage is beautiful, Criss is Criss, his magic is classic and fun, it's a fun show with some great dancing and high energy music. I'm sick of the other cirque, the little ballet type music and acrobats. This is fresh and new, you will be entertained.
Posted by: Diane | November 01, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Put me in the horrified camp. I was one of the idiots who paid to see this unwatchable piece of....theater? I figured, it's Criss Angel and Halloween and Cirque. Something has to hit a note or two with those three things together right? WRONG. The most unwatchable, unentertaining, boring, loud and horrible puff piece I have ever seen. I thought I had seen the total bottom bar when I saw La Reve the first month it opened, but Angel and Cirque have gone even lower than that. Considerably lower. I really see no way it can be fixed either. The whole premise is flawed. The combination of Cirque and Angel is a match made in hell. Which is where you will wish you were if you go see this.
Posted by: Count Snarkula | November 01, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Let me put it this way:
As someone stupid enough to risk seeing this show already, and HATING ALMOST EVERY SECOND OF MY EXPERIENCE WHILE THERE, I assure you that if the Luxor or Cirque offered me a fully paid, all inclusive week at the Luxor with free tickets to see the 'improved' BeLIEve' crap-shoot-for-a-show, I would rather die than want to relive that awful experience!
But then again, some imbeciles will disagree and pay to swoon at his big nose. There is no accounting for taste! Go ahead! A wise man once said: “A fool and his money will always be parted!”
-Ciao bellas
Posted by: ex Cirque Fan | November 01, 2008 at 04:08 PM
Thanks to the person who took the time to explain the show. I couldn't remember all of it because I was too busy getting silly and laughing at him.
He was pathetic. I felt sorry for him, but then his arrogrance and egotism paid him back. As some of the magicians say (and I am not one) he is a "no talent hack." Now, I understand what they meant. And btw, word has it, he has a posse and they are not letting anyone pose for pics or get autographs afterward. I guess he is too good for that now. What a shame. He used to be very accessible to his loyals and tourists in general.
Posted by: Yen woo ping | November 01, 2008 at 04:32 PM
I was there last night and Richard's insghtful Times review was spot-on when referring to the mismatch of Cirque's theatricality and Angel's magic.
For all their genius, Cirque doesn't understand how to present "magic" and it's unique set of requirements. Cirque's idea that it isn't a "magic show" is an error in marketing and an insult to most everyone who expects it to be.
I can only hope the reviews wise them up and they rethink the production to avoid a lasting "Criss-tastrophe."
Posted by: B | November 01, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Huge fans of Criss Angel, my husband and I saw the show it is terrible.
Posted by: Lisa | November 01, 2008 at 06:02 PM
I agree with the above negative comments. I think what's really happened here is this: Criss created his TV show which consists of legitimate average magic tricks combined with a lot of camera tricks for the tricks which no one can do, such as levitating between buildings. There was a 9+ minute video that highlighted how these scenes are done by CGI & so forth, but it's gone now. Anyway, more and more people got suspicious about this, so I think he backed away from the CGI, and now is left trying to fill his own artificially enlarged shoes on stage. I mean, think about it, if you could legitimately do all the tricks he's supposedly done on TV, wouldn't you do them on stage, rather than presenting that God-awful mushroom/PCF induced nightmare??
Posted by: Lyle | November 01, 2008 at 06:13 PM
Sorry Criss - you bombed big time. I saw your 10/25 show with my wife, spending $300 on tickets with the expectation of seeing an incredible performance. After all, I told my wife, how can you go wrong with Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil? Well, I was wrong, I admit it, and you should too - before you lose your fan base. I especially felt embarrassed for your Aunt Shirly and your Mother who were in the audience, watching people walk out in the middle of the show.
The “finale” of the show started with Criss explaining what the whole show was about because no one got it. He sounded like Judy Garland at the end of the Wizard of Oz telling everyone around her about her dream: “And you were in it too” Criss yelled out to us, then saying “Holy $*it, now that’s a mind freak”. We could not believe he actually said that. If this show was an improvement from the previous couple of weeks then I’m glad I didn’t see earlier performances. And from the review and comments above, opening night wasn't much of an improvement from the 10/25 show we suffered through.
Posted by: Rick | November 01, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Maybe they can quickly rehab the space for the Star Trek Experience...
Posted by: Bobak | November 01, 2008 at 10:56 PM
I don't like Criss Angel or Cirque so the combo would not work for me. However, I LOVE Showgirls. Everytime that movie comes on TV (I've only seen it edited on TV) I can't take my eyes off it. It truly is so bad it is good, dare I say it . . . GREAT!!! Is BeLIEve really that bad/good? That would be quite a complement! I won't risk my money on Criss, but I do need to add Showgirls to my Netflix queque.
Posted by: casinocon | November 01, 2008 at 11:10 PM
I really don't understand why they chose Mr. Angel for a production of this nature. He really hasn't much of a track record with a venue of this type as he's been doing TV magic almost exclusively for the last few years.
They really should have looked at someone with real world theatrical magic experience who would be better suited for a production of this nature.
The name Jeff McBride springs to mind as being someone the Cirque should look to either to fix this show or replace its so called star all together
Posted by: Christopher Penne | November 01, 2008 at 11:19 PM