LOVE
At The Mirage
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What do you get when you mix the delicious memories of Beatlemania,
the urban energy of street dance, and the showmanship of 60
international artists, all set to panoramic visuals and sound? You get
LOVE, the latest creation from Cirque du Soleil, but with a bit of a
twist.
Unlike other Cirque du Soleil confections, this one does not rely on
dizzying, breathtaking acrobatics. |
Although a bit of that signature style is incorporated into LOVE, this
is a theatrical, dance-oriented foray into ‘60s pop that showcases the
timeless music of the Beatles through intimate, dynamic dance
performances that are more extreme sports and urban street dancing
than acrobatics. LOVE began as the germ of an idea between the late
George Harrison and Guy LaLiberté of Cirque du Soleil. Unfortunately,
Harrison did not get to realize this dream. But family members, former
Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, families of John Lennon
worked to bring Harrison’s vision to reality, choosing Sir George
Martin, former Beatles producer, as musical director along with his
son Giles Martin and Las Vegas’ beautiful Mirage and the perfect venue
to bring it all together.
LOVE is careful not to fall into the trap of becoming just another
tribute to the hits of this incredibly famous group of English lads.
This psychedelically reminiscent trip trough the 60s and Beatles
history begins with 30 carefully chosen songs, the first of which is
‘Get Back’, used as the soundscape for The Beatles farewell concert
scene and flashbacks to World War II-era Liverpool where the future
Beatles were still children.
"I
Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Drive My Car" are accompanied by
energetic tumbling and acrobatics, while the famous pop tune “Help"
becomes the intensely interwoven background music for four extreme
sports athletes who leap 11 foot ramps while wearing inline skates.
Next, LOVE showcases intricate, delicate aerial ballet movements with
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and "Octopus's Garden." The show
wraps up with the title track "All You Need is Love," evoking intense
nostalgia as photos of The Beatles appear on gigantic screens.
It
seems that the Beatles’ music will be forever stamped upon our hearts
as the soundtrack of an era we just can’t seem to forget. For some,
it’s Frank Sinatra and for others, Elvis. But for thousands of us who
were fortunate enough to experience (and live through) the turbulent,
amazing 60s, it’s the Beatles forever.
The 2,000-plus seat theater features 360-degree seating with the
farthest seat from the stage only 98 feet away, so there’s no chance
of ending up with a bad seat. With 6,341 speakers in the entire
theater and three speakers per seat -- two in the headrest and one in
the seat in front of you, guests are literally enveloped in the sights
and sounds of this enthralling and unique production.
The theater’s complex video system houses 28 projectors as well as two
20-foot-high by 100-foot-wide screens, for a panoramic experience
unlike any other.
Judging from audience’s reactions thus far, they have nothing but love
for the Beatles and Cirque du Soleil’s LOVE.
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