Cirque du Soleil, Apple Corps Ltd. and The Mirage have combined
their considerable creative resources to launch the latest show of
the Cirque family on the Las Vegas Strip.
“LOVE” is a tribute to the Beatles and can be seen as a history of
the band for all ages. Director Dominic Champagne likes to call the
show a “rock poem.” It combines high-quality remixes of classic
Beatles music with dance, acrobatics and over-the-top effects.
“LOVE” is housed in the former Siegfried and Roy showroom at the
Mirage, but the space has been completely gutted and rebuilt
especially for the new show. It is an in-the-round production with
a large portion of the action taking place in the air, 50 feet
above crossing walkways that could be called a stage.
The show, according to Sir George Martin, longtime Beatles record
producer, was the product of a collaboration between Cirque founder
Guy Laliberte and the late George Harrison. Martin and his son,
Giles, have remixed music from the Beatles master tapes and
unearthed rare outtakes and conversations. Yoko Ono, Sir Paul
McCartney and Ringo Star all had approval rights over the music and
offered suggestions for the production. So, what would John Lennon
say?
“He’d say, ‘It’s alright, but it could be better,’” Martin said.
“But that’s the way he was. He was never satisfied with anything he
ever did in his life.”
The Fab Four are represented in live silhouettes projected on
scrims at different points throughout the production. The action
was provided by actors who labored to reproduce the walk and action
of the originals. Large video screens show old videos of the group
and a photo montage is part of the finale. The total effect gives
the audience the feeling that the spirit of the men has inhabited
the theater. The in-the-round setting and in-seat sound system
makes even the most remote seats very much a part of the show.
“LOVE” joins quite a list of Cirque shows including “Mystere,”
“O,” “Ka” and “Zumanity” all at MGM properties, plus
Cirque-inspired productions “A New Day” with Celine Dion at Caesars
Palace and “Le Reve” soon to depart from Wynn Las Vegas. The show
has all the Cirque staples, lots of acrobatics and flying, but
features more dance and choreography.
Beatles fans will enjoy this modernized magical ride down memory
lane and Cirque fans will thrill at the spectacle.
“LOVE” will be performed Thursday through Monday at 7:30 and 10:30
p.m. No show on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Tickets are $69, $99, $125
and $150.
800-963-9634, 702-792-7777
www.cirquedusoleil.com, www.thebeatles.com, www.mirage.com
