Is Criss Angel up to Lance Burton's old tricks?
When Criss Angel announced that he was partnering with Cirque for a production show at Luxor, he made big promises about the originality he was going to bring to the Vegas stage that raised expectations for his show to an extraordinary level. Angel's show, "Believe," would be, in Angel's words "an experience that redefines what magic is and what it can be."
That in fact is not what "Believe" turned out to be at all. As Mike Weatherford, the most experienced reviewer of the magic shows in the tourist corridor in Vegas, put it in writing about "Believe":
"The magic makes it painfully obvious that Angel is a showman whose gift was creating his persona, not anything new in his field. The dude's buff and tough enough -- hanging upside down over the audience in a straitjacket -- but the big illusions plod to predictable conclusions; dressed-up versions of the typical Vegas big-stage show."
So, now that the show is in Cirque's famed fixation process, I wondered if maybe we would finally be getting some of that redefining magic that we were promised at first. But I have not heard anything on that score. Instead, I was surprised to hear that Angel recently purchased two illusions from Lance Burton's warehouse, where the longtime headliner of the Monte Carlo stores his old tricks.
After confirming the purchase with Burton's people, I wondered whether the illusions in question would be considered collectors' items (very rare is the magician without a collection of vintage magic gear) or the sort of more contemporary functional illusions meant to still be used onstage by a working illusionist? I was told, by Burton's rep, the two tricks fell clearly into the latter category. So, why would a magician striving to transform magic onstage want to buy another magician's used stage illusions? And, Lance Burton, no insult intended, is hardly a major innovator in illusions. Burton is among the most talented magicians in the country or he would not be a Vegas headliner. He has a charming personality onstage combined with a fierce reputation for close hand magic. And, he uses all his strengths to create a fantastic old school magic show that you can take the kids along to enjoy. It is a fun show but very traditional, and Burton is hardly trying to redefine magic (as Angel announced to be his ambition). So, why would Burton's leftovers be valuable to Criss Angel, the self-proclaimed vanguard of illusionists?
A Cirque spokesperson explained the purchase of Burton's old illusions to me as follows in an e-mail:
"It is a fairly common practice for magicians to purchase illusions from one another for a variety of reasons, and at this time we have no idea if these illusions will be used in CRISS ANGEL Believe, Mindfreak or shelved for future."
Let me note again that "common practice" is exactly what Angel promised not to resort to in his show. The fact that these illusions might be in "Believe" or "Mindfreak" speaks volumes about the lack of fresh ideas running through Angel's camp these days. And, this explanation is a bit unsatisfactory as well. Is there another season of "Mindfreak" coming up that they might be needed for? And, if there is another season, is it plausible to think stage illusions could be made to work on television? Finally, Angel is at the start of a 10-year contract for "Believe," and so what future use could these illusions be shelved for? His dance card is full for a decade. Buying stage illusions when you are trying to fix a stage show almost universally panned by critics and audiences suggests that these illusions might be options for "Believe." If so, that would be an embarrassing omission of failure by Angel, who, again, has always claimed his originality as one of his great virtues. Giving up that claim to use the tried-and-true illusions of Lance Burton may help the show be less an embarrassment, but only by making "Believe" a mediocrity, much more like other magic shows on the Strip only with a lot of dancing and a ridiculous and convoluted plot line. And, guys like Lance Burton have so much more stage experience and stage charisma than Angel, "Believe" will face a different sort of doom in that competition. So, will "Believe" go through fixation only to come out as a more traditional and less ambitious magic show? Will Angel wind up featuring another headliner's old illusions to pad out the spots where "Believe's" creative team have failed to find any of the new approaches once promised?
Cirque has sent me to Angel's camp for further information on Angel's purpose in acquiring Burton's old tricks. I am looking forward to the explanation. But it seems possible that Angel may now be abandoning his biggest illusion -- that "Believe" is an original show unlike any magic show seen before in Vegas. On the bright side, Lance Burton's tricks have always been impressive and so ultimately this might help the quality of "Believe" even if it does little to improve Angel's reputation for promising one thing and delivering another.
Photo: Sarah Gerke
I saw Criss Angel Believe in Feb 2009 and let me say it was a JOKE. My husband & I were so excited to see "the Mindfreak" but only to be disappointed. We purchased balcony seating and we were actually moved to center stage due to no one being there. After seeing the show I can not believe that this is a Cirque production. This show will not last the 10 years alloted. Don't waste your hard earned money on this one.
Go see KA or O instead.
Posted by: vanessa | March 10, 2009 at 12:14 PM
I heard many complaints about his shows. Personally I would rather watch them from my couch....if that.
Posted by: Las vegas USA | March 10, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Criss said from the beginning he wanted to tell a story about his life, and not do just a magic show....unfortunately,it has been panned as fans still wanted mindfreak...I can understand how Criss just wanted to put in a show his other interests and assumed his fans coming to see him would accept and be entertained...This has the same storyline of Crimson & Kayala that was in his supernatural show in New York 10 yrs ago....I'm so sad for how dissapointed he must be...But now with this purchase that you are laughing at Richard,perhaps Criss is simply trying his best to give the audience what they are screaming for and improve his show....WHAT for crying out loud is so wrong with that? This time you took personal shots at him contrary to what YOU previously stated about having no personal agenda against him.....
Posted by: melissa | March 10, 2009 at 03:37 PM
Criss Angel currently bought 2 illusions from the most traditional illusionist on the Las Vegas strip. A few thoughts come to mind.
(a) Criss Angel BeLIEve is in dire need of adding a few traditional illusions in order to WOW the audience as he maybe getting excessively tired of begging them for their applause on a nightly basis.
(b) Criss Angel is need of a few traditional illusions which he will revamp for his upcoming TV show. A possible downsize in Mindfreak Production staff due to both economical setbacks and lack of consultants due to his well-known childlike temper tantrum behavior.
(c) Criss Angel realizes that if he cannot WOW the world with both his stage persona and past Playboy Playmate girl, who just so happens to have carried out the oldest profession by trade, then maybe his hand at traditional magic will successfully pull off the "trick".
(d) all of the above
Posted by: HighlyDisgusted | March 10, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Wow...Cirque actually gave you some info. I'm impressed.
"that "Believe" is an original show unlike any magic show seen before in Vegas". Yup...you said it right for once. It's just not a magic show, or MF, or stand up, or strippers or yuck yuck jokes one after another. There is NOTHING like this on the strip right now. Ticket sales this week back up to #5.
And now, cause you guys know it's coming.....three page rant by yes...yup you guessed it. :)
Posted by: Debbie | March 10, 2009 at 06:38 PM
First of all, let it be known that Criss and Lance are good friends. In the words of Lance Burton after he saw BeLIEve:
"Criss Angel Believe is the most imaginative magic show in Las Vegas history."
With that said, it is highly possible that Lance would have been more than happy to sell a trick or two to Criss for use in his live show. But I think you are jumping the gun by automatically assuming this is the case. We have no idea why Criss purchased the tricks, or what the tricks even are. He could very easily use them for Mindfreak Season 5, which is in early stages of filming, or for something else entirely.
--Jessica
Posted by: Jessica | March 10, 2009 at 09:17 PM
let me just remind u that Believe is not Mindfreak...
a lot of people expect that Believe is going to be like Mindfreak..
no it's not, Criss is a very talented person, he does not only do magic,
he can also act, and Believe is giving him the opportunity to show his
other talents and skills, it was just like a theater show.
Posted by: aquztika | March 11, 2009 at 07:17 AM
Nice article, Richard. I have to make a comment. You know me about this topic. And anyways, Debbie (in the post above) is always on the edge of her seat waiting for a comment from me, so I really, really don't want to disappoint her by not responding. (smile)
I still think Criss Angel is a punk, a weasel, a douche bag with not a single talented bone in his body, a so called magician who built up his reputation first, foremost and continually, snowing everybody and hoping his talent catches up with the same speed and vigor as he prepared this stupid reputation. And all indications show that it won't. How someone with absolutely no ability to carry a show talked himself into an alignment with a multi-million dollar entertainment giant is beyond me. And Las Vegas is stuck with him.
But I find it interesting that time and time again, ever since this idiot appeared in Las Vegas, all of the interactions we see between Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil appear to be they just don't seem to work and think from the same sheet of paper. They just give an appearance that they don't show any unity at all. About anything. Criss says one thing, Cirque du Soleil says another. Then vice versa. Then Criss Angel says something that is patently false, or says something that is a half truth or says something that is contrary what he said before...and it's a continuing thing...he has this incredible history of tripping over his lips. And when something controversial comes out about Criss Angel, sometimes Cirque du Soleil just doesn't seem to know what to do and just is quiet about it or deflects the pointed questions. Same thing with Criss Angel, especially when he does something stupid and/or criminal. That's about the only thing they seem to agree about....when bad press happens, if they can't respond to it, they just resume their silence and/or confuse the issue by pointing in another direction or talking about something else. This reaction is contagious and even has their fanatical fans doing the same thing; concentrate on the good and disregard the bad. It's like both Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil act like they are under siege all the time. And they clearly do nothing to fix the bad publicity. They seem to collapse under the sheer weight of it and play dead in the press relation department. They actually seem reticient to do anything other than to try to advertise and make money. Because they seem to have no answers for the press, nor do they seem interested in interacting with them, in turn, rejecting fans and the curious. Actually, time and time again, I see them both doing things to make it worse. It really looks like it's going to mount to some kind of climax. It's like a marriage or business arrangement from hell. Criss Angel concentrates on paranoia with the press, Cirque du Soleil agrees with Criss Angel's mistaken impression of the world picking on him continually and they perform standard operating procedure along those guidelines. And they concentrate on this rather than constructive criticism about the show and/or resolving things. And Richard points this all out time and time again. As well as other reporters here in Las Vegas. And there's no let up. And then when you point this out to them, they look at you like you're crazy.
From all indications I see, I really get the sneaking suspicion that Cirque du Soleil screwed up the wording of the contract and there is no way out of their ten year commitment to Criss Angel. They act like they are locked into it, willing to sink or swim with him, with no regard for the potential that they are taking the likely chance of throwing away more and more money in the future to carry this show so it can plod along with abysmal results. If this is indeed the case, it looks like this dysfunctional relationship will continue on and on and on and on. Until they get a battalion of lawyers to sort it all out and fix it.
The sad thing is that the tourists coming to Las Vegas will continue to suffer from it. And tourists will continue to waste money on an inferior show because of the false advertisement with a focus on Criss Angel producing things in his act that just don't happen.
Attention seems to be paid on where the show ranks in secondary ticket sales...with no mention that Criss Angel BeLIEve tickets have been reduced below 50 percent of their original costs when it opened, as well as a sheer volume of two-for-one deals and "comp"ed tickets in order to fill the show room. The statistics are there, but there is no "read-the-fine-print-at-the-bottom" disclaimer.
Attention seems to be paid on a handful of awards from IMS, an organization with not much standing amongst magicians and is more of a press and publicity type organization. No attention is paid to a reputable magicians conference held recently where distinguished awards were handed out to certified magicians/illusionists and resulting recognition for their commendable and outstanding entertainment abilities. Some of these magicians were from Las Vegas. And at this award show in Los Angeles, Criss Angel received no accolades at all, nor was he in attendance. He decided to inflate his ego by sticking with IMS, an organization with no standing. Because it suits his needs to snow the public into attending and paying money for his failing show in Las Vegas.
Criss Angel is being revealed more and more now to be an entertainer in Las Vegas that shouldn't be here no should he even be paid attention to.
Posted by: ColinFromLasVegas | March 11, 2009 at 08:40 AM
Did the idea ever come to anybody's mind that artists learn from each other and share ideas? Actors, musicians, writers, magicians and illusionists etc. Everybody shares ideas. What's wrong with that? That's how people learn. Richard, what did Criss Angel ever do to you? Are you still pissed because he wouldn't give you an interview? If I was Criss I wouldn't give you the time of day either. You have had nothing but rotton things to say about Criss.
Keep in mind that there are people that really love his show "Believe" and "Mindfreak" and you aren't going to change that by writing bad reviews. I like Criss Angel, and there are many others that will agree with me that he is a very talented and smart man. As far as your buffet? You claim it's movable, well, maybe it's time to move it someplace else and pick on somebody else because Criss Angel has millions of fans and you or anybody else that dislikes him isn't going to change that.
Jenn
Posted by: jweepingcrow | March 11, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Richard what is your view on the romance of Criss and Holly. You seem to know alot about the Angel some think it was all PR and some think they were really in love.
Curious of your view of them as a couple?
Colin your view is also welcome.
Posted by: Curious minds what to know | March 11, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Holly Madison is going back to Hef after she wraps up DWTS.
It was all a scam to get people to watch Girls Next Door this past season before the girls departure completely. Plus Playboy empire has been hit hard with the economy times.
All this press helped keep them in the game.
Posted by: In The Know | March 12, 2009 at 09:07 AM
Colin u ROCK!!!! Too many people are clouded that CA can do no wrong and he's the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be and frankly IF we were talking about the same person back in season 1/2 of mindfreak I'd agree with that. BUT he's changed and people are starting to see it. Yes I'm a loyal and proud of it so to see what he has become is just disgusting. I do wish him the best and hope his show is salvagable.
Posted by: Vegas loyal | March 13, 2009 at 04:04 PM
When the dust from his bones settle, people will not remember his name. They will remember, as they always have, Houdini. Harry Houdini, that is. Just as they will remember Siegfried and Roy and David Copperfield. They are the true magicians.
Posted by: vanillasky | March 14, 2009 at 05:16 PM
Do you think Criss Angel is going to be phase out? How sad for him.
Posted by: Rosa | March 15, 2009 at 05:36 AM
The Criss Angel BeLIEve show is dying a slow and painful death along the Las Vegas strip and not one of his famous celebrity friends have yet to come out and show moral support. What's up with that? I'm referring to his celebrity friends who have appeared on his top rated tv show and have verbally praise and shown great admiration for him such as his bff Sully Erna of Godsmack, Carrot Top, Gene Simmons, Michael Godard, Flava Flav and Jonathan Davis of Korn. Now I have to wonder how genuine these celebrity friendships truly are or if they too are just hired celebrities to help rank in tv viewers each and every week. Its a known fact around here on the strip that the reason his "so-called ex girlfriend" Holly Madison left his world is because Cirque couldn't afford to keep her on the payroll of the Criss Angel BeLIEve show. Holly made a wiser career move by accepting the shot on Dancing with The Stars.
Posted by: A local loyal fan | March 24, 2009 at 01:56 PM
Great work Steve Flynn. Make your client appear like a pedafile.
Criss Angel needs to fire your butt and hire a real PR person.
Posted by: Steve Flynn | March 27, 2009 at 09:12 AM