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.
I saw Believe a few weeks ago, so it was interesting comparing what I saw, with the show description above. I thought the show was wonderful. I really did. I did not find myself bored at all. The illusions are what the audience sees in Mindfreak. It's the stuff that comes to mind when you think of Criss Angel. It was a great story, great dancing cheorographed by Wade Robson, fantastic costumes, awesome music (can't wait for the soundtrack), and just a fun atmosphere. Everyone is going to have opinions, and that's ok. Criss worked so hard on this show, so hopefully the reviews get better over time. And Criss always takes time out for his fans for pics and autographs. I've met him a few times, and he's always been so sincere, and nice. I look forward to going back to Vegas maybe sometime next year, and seeing it again. =)
Posted by: Brittany | November 02, 2008 at 12:55 AM
Excellent review, Richard. You hit the nail right on the head. I saw the show on the 27th and can't expect the show on the 31st was much different. Just plain awful and predictable. Horrible "tricks." Horrible acting on Criss's part and disappointing that Cirque would put it's name on such a debacle. The press coverage and damage control in the days before the show was laughable. Not much more I can say that Richard didn't cover. Just a pitiful waste of $85 million dollars.
Posted by: adriana | November 02, 2008 at 02:40 AM
I had free tickets to the gala and still felt ripped off. Worst show I've been to since moving to Vegas 12 years ago. All this talk about perfecting and fixing things as they go along is rubbish. The only things that don't need fixing are the props and the costumes. To say the show and the "star" are amateurish is an understatement. I find it ironic (and worth mentiniong) that all the celebs attending the gals were intereviewed before and not after the show. Perhaps Cirque/Luxor should have saved the million dollars they spent on the after party and invested in some "tricks" that will actually make the show worth seeing. Complete failure.
Posted by: chad | November 02, 2008 at 04:20 AM
Dear Jessica,
ROTFLMAO!
I can't wait to read your TRUTHFUL review of the 'show' AFTER you've seen it in December 2008. - all your posts on these blogs notwithstanding.
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: AMUSED OBSERVER | November 02, 2008 at 07:59 AM
I saw this horrific performance the last week of October. I was very saddened by it. The clowns are probably the best thing in it besides the dancers, Kayala and Crimson. The bunny stuff is just gruesome and Criss Angel? LOL~ He's gaining weight, looking like a disheveled mess, but I think I understand his agenda.
I think Mr. Sarantakos wants to be an actor, singer and dancer. He is palling around with Hollywood people like Cameron Diaz, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and now, the gorgeous, Holly Madison, that fooled us into thinking that the "girl next door" slept with Hugh Hefner who is probably overdosing on his Viagra pills as I write this.
I am wondering exactly WHAT is getting more attention these days? Angel and Holly and their so called romance? Or his show?
I see this as a publicity stunt. He walked the black carpet with Holly to distract the people from talking about this atrocity of a show, and then wondering about why he Holly Madison. There is much more to talk about than this show. Afterall, all we care about is who he dates, right? LOL~ Wrong! I could careless. But the irony behind it is why all the attention about his lovelife and not the show? I read more on the net's gossip sites with his crude comments about female genitals and those "ridiculous Playboy prices." Well, Hef is going under. Playboy is filing bankruptcy so Holly got a move on and went for a guy too old for her (yes again!) and just wants a ride in his Lamborghini.
Holly is wasting her time because he is an egotistic jerk and in time, he will ditch her for another, thus proving his so-called, rumored, sexual prowess. But for a guy that claims he's so hot, why did he tell the audience, "I'm Houdini with the little weenie?" I had to cover my child's ears. It was disgusting to say the least.
Another thing that worries me immensely as a parent of a young child that also wants to be a magician, is the following this man has. They (the loyals) see him as a role model and believe me, he is NOT in good standing with anyone in this town. So I think we need to reprogram our youth.
Remember it's election day coming. Let's make the right decision and vote out Criss Angel. I am all in favor of Jeff McBride, whom my son met. He is excellent!
Posted by: Achilles | November 02, 2008 at 09:04 AM
I can only think of two words when I see all this about Criss Angel, his show and how all this mess came to be where it's at now. And those two words are: Brain dead.
Ever since Criss Angel showed up in Las Vegas, he's been an idiot. He threatened a Las Vegas Review Journal reporter. It was verified it happened and Criss Angel never commented about it, owned up to it, apologized for it nor showed any remorse for his actions; although he kind of hinted he was in the same city (Las Vegas) and planet (Earth) where it happened at. Since then, he has recently sort of kind of apologized to the reporter involved (Norm Clarke) by granting a one-on-one interview with him. But the timing is significant. It coincides with the premiere of his show. And here it is six months since the threat occurred (back in April at the Miss America Pageant) that he sort of kind of apologizes or shows some remorse for it? The real story is probably someone higher up than him that controls the money purse strings slapped him, said to make up with Norm, put this behind you, act like a respectable entertainer in Las Vegas (like you should have done in the first place) and let's move on with this show. Criss Angel must think everyone is brain dead not to see how he is trying to manipulate the spin on that.
Criss Angel seems to always have a different girlfriend. And they change with the wind. And all these girlfriends have one thing in common. They don't talk to the press about if they are Criss Angel's girlfriend or not. Nor does Criss Angel confirm nor deny he is going out with them. He just makes sure he gets a picture with whoever it is and make sure it's in a tabloid. You can't miss him in these pictures. He's the one with the fashionably dressed homeless person clothes, flashing stupid non-sensical gang signs with his fingers and giving that far off glassy eyed serious attitude gaze, reminiscent of second rate metal band artists. It is just left hanging there for anyone to make rumors of these pictures. This tells me (and others) that it's something to do that's convenient to get him cheap publicity in stupid tabloid papers and to get peoples mouths flapping about him in order to keep him in the news. There is even conjecture that he does this to hide his true sexuality. I could care less if he is into an alternative lifestyle or likes to hang out with midgets, circus clowns and/or farm animals. Whatever it is, I don't really care. But you don't have to be brain dead to see how he loves rumors. It's cheap advertisement. In Hollywood, lies are truth and truth are lies and it's all good copy.
Also, recently Criss Angel in his munificent graciousness granted interviews with everyone...except for Doug Elfman, another Las Vegas Review Journal reporter, who it appears he holds a grudge against because he conversed with audiences about how they liked his show during the "soft openings" and published them. Criss Angel skipped over him because an overwhelming 90 percent of the people Doug interviewed said they were bored, horrified at how bad it was, wanting to get their money back and valuable vacation time wasted watching it. But Criss blames Doug for publishing these findings in the paper. Criss Angel is more interested in fighting with the press, rather than trying to improve his show. Criss Angel continues to try to control the press in Las Vegas. He even had the gall to basically lash out at audiences that didn't like his preview show! He only talks to reporters that suit his purposes to shed him in a good light, but he rejects the ones that report about it fairly and un-biased. You have to be brain dead not to see this.
Cirque du Soleil parts of the show, according to audiences, are simply magnificent. The theater stage, the music, and the choreographer are all pretty good...what you would expect of one of their productions. Also according to audiences, they emphatically state that there is a bottomless hole for talent everytime Criss Angel steps out on stage. Criss Angel's posturing, stance, personae and bad boy image can't carry this show. It's not enough. This is Las Vegas. You need talent to be able to hang here. At the premiere on Halloween night, all of the special guests invited were interviewed before the show. Not after it. Why? Because he didn't want to hear the bad press about how the show really was, only the build up stuff. Also, it was recently reported that Criss Angel stated he does not have an "under study" to take over for him if he takes ill. Why? It's evident. You have to be brain dead not to see it: The under study would upstage him. Because Criss Angel has no talent, no stage presence and has no ability to have a rapport with a live audience. An under study would easily fit in and totally carry the show...beyond what Criss Angel is capable of ever doing. Criss Angel can't have that happen.
Cirque du Soleil seems to not be doing anything to fix this show. They appear inattentive to the cries and howls of rage and frustration from audience members who attended this farce of Titanic proportions. They have to be brain dead not to hear these voices. But they say that over 5 million dollars has already been paid for tickets. But that only whittles the original investment down a little bit. What about the other 80 million dollars they blew trying to make this show happen that they have to recoup? Which means there are going to be even more cries and howls of rage and frustration from audiences who feel they have been basically ripped off.
And lastly, Criss Angel only has one thing going for him. And that is the fans he likes to label as Loyals, who from all indications I have seen on comments, are just happy to stand there and gaze in blind unquestioning awe struck wonderment at Criss Angel's visage and defend him tooth and nail, basically like they are....um.....what's the word I'm looking for?....OH! YEAH! Brain dead! These Loyals are not going to support him in filling seats at a Las Vegas show in a large casino/hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Mostly because there won't be enough of them at any given time to fill the show room for every show. Criss Angel is completely unable to draw an audience that spans all age groups to his show; only seeming to be focused towards his fans, which really are not alot. This is basically a death knell for a Las Vegas act. When you start getting empty seats, that's pretty much the end of its run.
Too many "brain deads" with this show. You have reporters right now who are very fair in their reviews of this show. Like Richard here. They comment on the good and the bad. But how many more "brain deads" does it take before audiences, who are the ultimate critics of a show, are paid attention to? There is pretty much an overwhelming consensus that this show is horrible. In my honest opinion, it was a sad day when Criss Angel was signed on for a show at a major casino/hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Entertainment quality just went down the tubes when he signed a piece of paper for a show, bringing show room acts down to a new low now. You even have people talking about never, ever staying at the Luxor again because of feeling like they were ripped off by attending Criss Angel's show.
Or maybe audiences should do the best thing that they can do to make sure that Cirque du Soleil, Luxor, MGM and Criss Angel pay attention. Don't go to this show. Don't pay money for it. Ignore it when you vacation in Las Vegas. I guarantee they'll pay attention when they look around and see empty seats in the show room before the start of a show.
To sum it all up, I refuse to beLIEve that audiences are brain dead. They are the only ones to decide whether a show will continue or not.
Posted by: ColinFromLasVegas | November 02, 2008 at 03:54 PM
I had a rather poor experience not only with this show, but with his management, if you could call them that.
Someone who claimed to be David Baram, gave me a rather difficult time with wanting to get an autograph after the show. I don't know who this person was, but he was rude, condescending, and insulting to me and my boyfriend.
We paid top dollar for front row seats. Afterward, we stood for nearly 2 hours in the corridor of the box office with about 20 people, some were loyals and then turned away.
CA waits for the crowd to dissipate before he comes out with his posse. They do this by cellphones. I talked to this imposter that told me he "didn't trust me." Well, I had met CA before, many moons ago and I have pictures to prove it. He was very nice back then, and very sweet to me and my then husband. We expected to see him again and wish him well despite the poor performance. However, that was not to be. Something is wrong here. I am unsure if this is his so-called management or his own arrogance, that he is "too good" to come out afterward like Penn Jillette, or Dirk Arthur, but he would rather "skirt" the crowd.
This man has changed. He has gone from a down to earth sweet guy with a very pretty wife, to an arrogant, egotistical, showman, that dates playboy bunnies, has-been singers and bar flys.
And the irony of it is, I just viewed an interview dated October 31 with Robin Leach, where CA says that he can "tell" if the audience doesn't respond. LOL~ I was sitting in the front seat, left side of the stage and he just never looked at any of us in my section. How could he tell if we had a reaction or not?
He has such poor eye contact with the audience, I find it impossible to know what type of reaction he expects or thinks he sees.
During the manhole cover illusion or maybe "disillusion," he looked at me straight in the eye. I gave him a demure smile and he looked through me like I wasn't there so he can't pull the wool over anyone's eyes when he says he wants "audience reaction" so he is aware of what works and what doesn't.
He is plainly in it for the money, doesn't care who he disappoints, even his blessed loyals. I know some people had paid for tickets, airfare, hotel and the like before his show was delayed and all they got was a phone call from The Luxor asking them if they could come another night or if they wanted to switch the tickets to see Carrot Top. Many people have been upset by having to come to Las Vegas and not see his show, but that made no nevermind to him.
Imagine having a 16 year old girl who won a "meet and greet" with him and free ticket, but has no money for airfare or hotel? What were they thinking? And why does one have to win a "contest" to meet CA? Is he Pope Benedict? Maybe it would be easier to get an audience with the Pontiff himself.
All in all, the show stinks. And his so-called henchmen are just trying to get rid of the fans so he can come out and go up to his room or get some drinks at LAX. He is not what we intended him to be and I will go further with this to the higher ups. They had no right to talk to us that way. Is this how you treat fans that spend top dollar for his show? Spend money in your casino (yes, Luxor and Mr. Felix Rappaport) and then Southwest airlines?
This economy is tough. I planned this trip for many months only to be insulted by someone who impersonated Mr. Baram and told me to leave. Excuses, excuses. CA could sign 20 autographs. That's all the people that were standing in the box office corridor that night.
They have no respect for their fans. And he is so full of himself, he's the great Houdini, that he just doesn't have the interest any longer in the people. He has gifts in his Mindfreak gift shop brought by fans and loyals that he NEVER picks up. He has once attended a photograph session in the Believe gift shop. I talked to the 3 employees that did not think too much of him either. Way to go, Crissy. You have such a long, career in Las Vegas. NOT~
Posted by: vanillasky | November 02, 2008 at 06:34 PM
I can't believe how viciously mean some of these comments are!
I will see the show in December and will let you know my thoughts.
Posted by: Mystic Maverick | November 02, 2008 at 09:02 PM
It's Chris Angel, why was anyone expect something good?
It's hysterical to read in the Las Vegas Sun, has-been Robin Leach standing there opening night being recorded on video kissing the feet of Angel and D rated celebrities. We thought, who is worse? The untalented Angel or Leach gushing over him? Las Vegas was and continues to be built on losers, and last Friday was certainly a night to showcase the word: Loser.
Posted by: Mary William of Henderson, NV | November 03, 2008 at 06:48 AM
That's a very thorough review! I agreed with a lot of the things you said, particularly when you said that the show is here to stay for a while. I actually work with Cirque and you're right, there is time for improvement because the shows that people have been seeing have been the 'previews" which help get a feel for the audience and make adjustments to make the show better. The thing is that a lot of people are going into the show either as a Chris Angel "Mindfreak" fan, or a Cirque show fan, and don't really realize it's the blending of two totally different shows and making a completely new, but really cool show. It just takes an open mind. It's getting better, and with awesome feedback like this, I'm sure it's going to be a really cool show. It's not really Mindfreak, and not really a "Zumanity" type of show, but it's a new perspective using both. Good post!
Posted by: Mystical Manny | November 03, 2008 at 04:36 PM
Richard,
An excellent review for a terrible show. I truly BELIEVE you were too kind.
My wife and I are big Angel fans and had hopes of actually seeing something spectacular at his show. We were sadly mistaken; I was shocked by the lack of illusions and plain lack of presentation. The entire show I kept wondering when something was actually going to turn this train wreck around.
The Cirque folk are not the one's that should be putting on this show, the two worlds of French Circus and Criss Angel just do not mix and shouldn't. Criss should stick to shocking his audiences but in a good way, not like this in utter disappointment.
I hope they listen to their audiences and turn this around and I wish Criss the best but there are a hundred shows in Vegas that are actually worth the money and this is just not one of them.
Mike G.
Posted by: Mike from New York | November 03, 2008 at 05:59 PM
OH please colinfromla,,I also know Criss loves to play with his boys and his little people as he is indeed a disturbed freak, but please leave the barnyard animals out of it,they are the only innocent ones........and i DO CARE about the illusion he puts out there,because it is to sell his CRISS ANGEL SEX SYMBOL merchandise and image to naive girls and make himself and his management millions of dollars...i thought he wanted to warn people not to lose their money to charlatains? well,what do you think his whole fake image is doing? my,god,did anyone see him up until a&e got him?? they made him cut his long flowing hair and butch himself up to deliberately sell himself as a MAN,A REAL SEXY MAN.and he gets away with it.if it werent his deliberate deception for money and career,then it wouldnt be my business,but he makes it so....yes,CRISSY,beLIEve indeed!!!!! and take their money.
Posted by: melissa | November 04, 2008 at 03:43 PM
I had never watched Criss Angel's TV show nor followed his magic. This show was boring and Criss Angel's emotions were contrived and corney throughout the show. When he cried at the end I wanted to scream out. Dude needs to give it up like Metallica.
Posted by: Nicole | November 04, 2008 at 04:23 PM
As a devout Chris Angel fan I was more than a little excited about seeing him live in person. I order my tickets months in advance for the Halloween show knowing that he usually did something special for Halloween and proceeded to book my trip to Vegas around this event.
Well he did something special all right, he cancelled his show to the public without even trying to reschedual his fans. And why? So that he could hold his grand opening 'GALA' event. I recieved a voice message telling me basically that I no longer had any tickets for the show, this after I had already booked my flight and hotel. I phoned back to see what could be done to salvage my trip and was told that the show was having technical difficulties and there would be no performance the night of Oct 31st. Fortunately for me I was looking at the Chris Angel web site while on the phone and reading that there was still a show planned that night, I was just no longer invited even though I had already paid. After fighting for a while and requesting to speak to a supervisor I was finally able to reshedual my tickets for the Nov 2nd show, the fist show open to the public and front row seats yet, Chris-is averted right? WRONG.
Now that I have actually seen the show I kindof wish there had been technical difficulties. Those of you who missed the show in the past few months, consider yourself lucky. Even if you lived in the Luxor hotel I wouldn't advise you to walk the distance to enter the theater. The show was terrible from beginning to end, and remember, this coming from someone who planed their trip to Vegas originally on the fact that Chris Angel's show was going to be there. Not one new or ground breaking magic trick, not one moment of 'how did he do that' (from my vantage point I could see exactly how he did that). At many points in the evening I could have reached out and touched Criss Angel from my seat, then again, many times I could also see that the person dressed like Chris wasn't Chris at all but a stand in while the real Chris fumbled around backstace in so many disjointed tricks. The show left me feeling as though Chris had now reached his goal and it was time for him to relax.
Anyway, I left very disappointed and saddened that someone I had held in such high regard had let me and all of his fans down by allowing such a terrible show to even exist. Even his signiture 'Metamorphosis' which he claims 'nobody does it faster' was painfully slow.
Anyway, I left upset but still thinking highly of Chris for his Mindfreak series, that was until I went to his official store. The fan gouging is at a level I have never seen before. $10 for a plain deck of cards with the Chris Angel logo on them. $25 for one of the cheapest hats I have ever seen, I would be ashamed to have my logo on it if I was him. $25 for a simple pendent with his logo on it, and finally an outragous $100 for a t-shirt. For a guy who claims to be 'just like you' he seems to have lost touch with the common man/women.
The final nail in the coffin for Chris on this trip came with his 'Criss Angel Luxor card IN glass door' trick. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0THAUHRC_DU) As would any fan I had to see it for myself. Whatever you do, don't look at the edge of the glass door however as it obviously reveils two panes of glass sandwiched together in place of the single thick pane used in every other Luxor door. I mean seriously, they couldn't have hidden this a bit better than that? What is magical about a playing card sandwiched between two pieces of glass?
Anyway, I have ranted long enough. Cirque is awesome, Chris Angel on Mindfreak is awesome, but the two do not mix in any way shape or form. Save your money from this show and go see 'O' or 'Ka', far better value for the money.
DO NOT MAKE A SPECIAL TRIP TO SEE THIS SHOW, YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED.
Posted by: (ex) Criss fan | November 04, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Thank you everyone for your time to explain the show, You have saved me a trip, at least for now..until I read he has fixed his show. I was really looking forward to seeing this show, thinking Criss would be inspired to rock the concepts ..I have seen dozens of live magic shows, Doug Henning on Broadway from the front row, David Copperfield, Lance Burton, Steve Warick to name a few. I have luckily visited the Magic Castle a couple times, and my dad was a party magician who taught me to keep my eyes open without teaching me the tricks. He died with the secrets, telling me I could learn them if I wanted, the secrets are out there.. Its not the illusion..its the illusionist..
Its why we were all so enamoured when Mindfreak showed up..It is a great TV program.
I did wonder if he could pull it off in Las Vegas.. I have read all the reviews up to this point because I was searching for a great review, but there is enough explained here to make me save the time until he hopefully figures out how to upgrade his show.
I have noted his growing ego from season to season.. and not too surprising, he may have reached his top. Lets all hope this potentially amazing performer gets his head out of his inflated ego and remembers why he got where he is..being a good magician, illusionist and creative performer.
Thank you again for all of the show comments.
Posted by: Gail | November 06, 2008 at 12:26 AM
I am totally mystified as to why Cirque du Soleil plays deaf, dumb, and blind mixed with a liberal dose of stupid. The feedback is there about this show. Probably a ten to one margin that this show is really, really bad. And this input also reveals that the problem lies with your idiot over inflated no talent no personality star.
I'm not someone that runs a Las Vegas show, but I can see what is going to happen. And it's not going to be pretty. You STILL have people howling with rage and frustration, feeling they have been taken advantage of, money given with nothing in return and totally wasted their vacation time. And there is no let up. They are so disappointed that they don't even want to come back to Las Vegas and stay nor look at the Luxor casino/hotel ever again. And these people are telling other people to avoid this show. The vicious circle is almost complete and all adds up to the fact that Cirque du Soleil has nothing to do but lose in this whole process.
What does it take, Cirque du Soleil? Before you had this excuse that it was "soft openings" and previews and it will get better. Well, here it is past the premiere and people are STILL sounding off. They are revealing what they experienced with this stinker of a show and it is unsolicited and totally voluntary on their part, seeming to try to warn others to stay away. And they aren't making this stuff up. You may be doing changes to the content of the show, but you STILL have a headliner who, everytime he steps on stage, the whole production goes down the tubes with a bored audience, some falling asleep. This is constant from the previews to now.
Word of mouth is still circulating, Cirque du Soleil. You are blowing your whole reputation just for one so called star who is basically an egotistical idiot who does not even belong on a stage on the Las Vegas Strip. And in turn, you are completely destroying the reputation of MGM and the Luxor too. You now have people who are not only going to avoid this show like the plague, but they are avoiding the Luxor too. Some don't even want to drive past it, because they will remember how they were ripped off.
What more does it take? I'm not an authority, but I can see the handwriting on the wall. As the days go on, your show room is going to be more empty, with no one buying tickets, and you're going to have to "comp" free tickets just to be able to fill seats. If you let this continue, I suggest you hire an extra person to dust off all the souvenirs in that Criss Angel gift shop because nobody even wants to look at them nor buy them.
I mean, come on..... A majority of audience members all say this show stinks. Very, very few like it. The premiere happened and reporters who cover these things were basically nicer in their columns about it, but the consensus that it just plain outright sucks is still there. And this totally mirrors the paying audience comments, however, the reporters used more couched and flowery language. I guess you could try to fix it, Cirque du Soleil. But from all indications and reviews, it's going to necessitate using perhaps a few hand grenades to do that.
Meanwhile, because Cirque du Soleil does nothing, the paying audiences are STILL suffering, feeling they wasted their money and their time. Money and time that Criss Angel does not deserve.
UnbeLIEvable how you have dragged down quality entertainment to a new low on the Las Vegas Strip, Cirque du Soleil. You really don't seem to have any options left. Search the contract and look for a loophole, buy this guy out, boot him and send this guy packing somewhere else and start over again with another concept, a new magician or something. I can't make no suggestions, but it really looks like there is no other alternative but to do something else. Because right now, the Luxor would stand to gain by ripping out the show room and putting in slot machines.
Don't take it out on the audience by providing them a proven low standard show. It's starting to become a crime because you are letting it continue. Do something, Cirque du Soleil. Do something.
Posted by: ColinFromLasVegas | November 06, 2008 at 01:25 PM
This is so sad, it was great when Criss Invited me to see his show in New York, but I didn't have the funds to see him at the time. It was really great the day Criss called and told me that he had a huge break with A&E, and now it is so sad to read all this stuff about him. I do know first hand how hard success can be to deal with, especially if your philosophy is not grounded in reality. I just hope Criss can find a really good honest counselor, that is what I needed and I am sure it is what could help him out. The thinking you are so great is a huge trap as you stop listening and when your not listening, you can't be helped.
Posted by: James | November 06, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I will be quick and to the point. We saw this disaster on Sept. 27 and it was absolutely awful. Do not waste your money or your time. Boring is the best description.
Posted by: Bill | November 07, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Well now let us consider the damage control. Holly Madison is in "love" with CA. So now the talk about Believe is quiet. Shhhh.....No one is talking about the smelly show, just the playboy bunny who got a bruising love bite from the Houdini with the little...I won't finish that. Too vulgar. Is this the way to go now? CA has to keep his name in the papers by dating a playboy bunny? This is quite a joke. You don't read this about anyone else. What is he famous for? His magic or Holly Madison from Hugh Hefner's mansion?
Posted by: achilles | November 07, 2008 at 07:54 PM
If only Criss's illsuions in BeLIEve were as good as his real life dating illusions it would be a hit.
Posted by: me | November 08, 2008 at 11:04 AM
This past weekend, while in Las Vegas, I went to the Criss Angel Believe show. I was terribly disappointed in the show and was waiting through the whole show thinking something was going to happen. It was more like a cruise ship production show that a Las Vegas show. The whole show was more of a musical dance routine than an illusionist. I would never recommend the believe show to anyone. I feel like for the money that was paid for the tickets, it was a huge let down. I hope he improves the show or ticket sales will fall drastically. There was noone in our group of 8 was impressed with the show.
Posted by: Blayne Brokens | November 09, 2008 at 08:13 PM
This was the WORST show I have ever seen!!! Do not waste your money (or your time) on this show! Everyone around us was literally falling asleep. I can't believe I wasted 2 hours of my weekend there. Whoever gave this guy a 10 year contract for this show was an idiot.
Posted by: kristikate | November 10, 2008 at 12:14 PM
My wife and I made our minds up to see Believe when it was announced on "So you think you can dance" that Wade Robson had helped with choreography. I guess that we assumed this was a sure hit. I now regret not looking up reviews before leaving last week.
The comments above are spot on:
• "CHEESY "tricks" " - speaks for itself.
• "Akward cussing" - this wasn't even excessive, but when it happened - pathetic.
• "Gives himself gifts on stage" - I really had suspicion to see what happened at other day's showings. And when I read above that they had the giant white "love you criss" clothe as well, I can't help but shake my head and laugh at how pathetic this whole show was.
I would say that at least I got to see a few minutes of interesting dance, though I'm pretty sure you can see the good parts in preview videos, being that it's the only entertaining part of the "show".
Luxor / Cirque / Criss Angel : This is the first time in my life that I felt scammed to pay for entertainment
Posted by: Wade Robson Fan | November 11, 2008 at 08:37 AM
I saw this show. I almost feel that sticking my privates in a blender would be less painful.
Posted by: Painful | November 11, 2008 at 02:56 PM
I saw this show last week and I used to love Criss. But he wasn't very nice to us when he came out of the show. He wouldn't stop and I just bought a new camera and yelled out "Criss!" and got no answer. What happened to my Angel? Is he a fallen Angel?
Posted by: Loyal Samantha | November 11, 2008 at 05:26 PM