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)