Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
www.cirquedusoleil.com;
$
60,
$
75, and
$
90 at box office,
$
70 discounted;
Wed-Sat 7:30 and 10:20pm, Sun 4:30 and 7:30pm).
I'd say it's also the most child-
friendly, as it's the funniest Cirque show by far, centering on the antics of two
clown “babies” who crawl, cry, and adopt an audience member as a surrogate par-
ent for most of the show (if you don't like audience participation, don't sit in the
front row). Around these two young 'uns swirl dancers and acrobats, performing
feats of strength and agility that would make an Olympic gymnast blanch . . . and
Mary Lou Retton never had to tumble or do triple flips on a trampoline while
wearing a mask and dressed like a creature out of Doctor Seuss. There's no plot to
speak of, but the show is, in its own way, quite moving—a metaphor for the cycle
of life, with its babies and elderly clowns, and all of the mysterious creatures that
blossom in between.
If you read the program notes, you'll find that Franco Dragone, the director,
gave Cirque's next smash hit its one-letter-name because it's a symbol for infinity;
moreover, “O” is the phonetic pronunciation of “eau,” the French word for water.
Go to see
O
555
9
(in the Bellagio;
%
800/963
-
9634 or 702/796
-
9999;
www.cirquedusoleil.com;
$
94-
$
150; Wed-Sun 7:30 and 10:30pm),
and turn your
attention from the stage for a moment and you'll find another reason for this odd-
title: the saucer eyes and open mouths of the audience. This is simply the most
astounding, profound, exhilarating, eye-poppingly beautiful show in Vegas. I
know that's a long chain of superlatives but if I had more space, I'd probably add
a couple more (I had a friend tell me that she just sat and cried through the entire
show, she found it so movingly lovely).
The show is centered around a 1.5-million-gallon pool, which is an engineer-
ing marvel: In seconds flat it transforms from pool to a shallow African watering
hole, to a dry platform filled with dancers and acrobats, to a plateau with danc-
ing fountains, or to a shimmering lake studded with islands and clown-steered
houseboats. Synchronized swimmers plunge into its depths, staying submerged
for what seems like ten-minutes while above-the-water divers twist and knife in,
as brilliantly costumed parades traverse the edges of the water. It's a spectacle like
no other and does the impossible: It tops all of the other brilliant Cirque shows.
Yes, it's expensive, but you'll understand why when you see the show (there's no
worthier splurge in town).
Most controversial among Cirque's offerings,
Zumanity
5
(in New York-New
York;
%
800/963
-
9634 or 702/796
-
9999; www.cirquedusoleil.com;
$
69-
$
129;
Fri-Tues 7:30 and 10:30pm)
is an erotic circus that celebrates sexuality in all its
myriad incarnations: men with women, women with women, men with men,
senior citizens with other seniors or with young folks, little people with Amazon-
sized women, group sex, masturbation, you name it. Which means that when the
two strong men are lifting one another in the classic “watch our veins pop out as
we imitate Atlas” act, it's clear that there's a lot more than just lifting going on
between these two. And when the aerialist hanging from the long silk ribbon is
flinging herself around the stage, it's all about S&M and autoerotic asphyxiation.
Those who are open-minded will find the Cirque magic here, as much of it is
visually arresting, thought-provoking, and sexy. When I was last there, however, a
number of people did walk out, so think honestly about what makes you squeam-
ish before you book.
