VegasRy Show Review: Love

When it was announced that a Cirque du Soleil Beatles-themed show was being created at the Mirage, we had mixed feelings. On the one hand, we are big Beatles fans, on the other, how will the music translate into the abstract vision of CDS? I am happy to report that Love combines the best elements of both factions, and makes for an amazing show.

The Siegfried and Roy Theater has been completely transformed, along with the hallway outside, to closely resemble something out of psychedelic 60’s London. Everything is bright and colorful, with Union Jacks all around. Even the ticket takers and ushers speak with British accents. The theater itself is designed in the round, and seems smaller than it probably is, and we doubt there’s a bad seat in the house.

Audibly, the show is fantastic as well. Each seat has speaker in the headrest, to help immerse you in the experience. The soundtrack has been re-mastered, and sounds clearer than even the originals. While some songs are similar to the original recordings we are all familiar with, there are also some new, ‘remixed’, tracks that make this classic music sound new again. For example check out how the mix of ‘Within You Without You’ and ’Tomorrow Never Knows’ equals more than the sum of it’s parts. The soundtrack to the show is available on CD, and is a must-have for any fans of the show.

There is enough of a mix of early and later music to suit fans of both, from ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’, to ‘Come Together’ Some highlights of the show include inline skaters and skate ramps during ‘Help, and bouncing on trampolines (It’s cooler than it sounds) during ‘Revolution’. Also, the un-Claptoned, acoustic, ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ was a standout. By far the worst segment of the show was a spoken-word enactment of ‘BlackBirds’, it occurs halfway through the show, so use this as an opportunity to use the restroom.

As far as the Cirque performers go, this show is a departure from other productions such as O and Mystere. Love focuses less on acrobatics and feats of strength, and more on dancing and set pieces to compliment the music. Love is perhaps the least abstract, Cirque-esque of the CDS shows, which might disappoint hardcore Cirque fans, but would appeal to more casual fans, like us.

One additional note, we would not recommend sitting in the most expensive section, those seats closest to the stage. A great deal of the show has to do with the video screens and banners all around the theater, and if you sit to close you might miss part of the overall experience.

We have seen this show twice now, and would eagerly go again, it’s that entertaining. That said, if you are not a fan of the Beatles, it might not be for you. Although there are classic elements of Cirque du Soleil, acrobatically, Love is not nearly intense as the other Cirque shows; the music really is the show. In this day and age, this is as close as one can get to actually seeing a Beatles concert.

Score:
4 Cheques (Out of 5)

"Love" at The Mirage - View the Trailer

Cirque du Soleil presents "Love"