Cirque du Soleil Presents: How to Have Fun in Vegas Without Gambling!
The next time you’re in Las Vegas, Nevada, don’t walk… run to see Cirque du Soleil’s epic performance of Mystere! For more than 18 years, Mystere has performed for thousands of people with high trapeze swings, death-defying jumps, flips, and spins, and incredible displays of balance and strength. This particular show is a true embodiment of what Cirque is about: powerful acrobatics and stunning choreography that unite in a simply stunning presentation.
Mystere is the longest running Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas for many great reasons. It’s arguably the most well rounded show with equal parts gasp-worthy flips, leaps, and swings, while still throwing a dash of comedy between musically-orchestrated routines.
If you are lucky enough to arrive early, your pre-show entertainment includes a whimsical older man wandering the crowd, rearranging audience members and tossing popcorn at innocent bystanders. While it may sound rude, this suit-clad gentleman has a crowd-pleasing persona to elicit cheers instead of boos.
When not making the crowd giggle with more of the bumbling, suit-dressed man and a mysterious and incredibly acrobatic man whom I’ve nicknamed “Red”, Mystere is a delight to behold and even more pleasing to the ears. They perform to live music and spectacular lighting, and the stage performers work a dream beat number into multiple scenes. What Mystere lacks in plot lines, it makes up for in interpretive artistic expression – meaning you derive story from the way each Cirque member interacts with each other and the audience.
And speaking of interacting with the audience – several members are pulled straight from their seats and into the show! They may be planted in the audience on purpose, but their performance seems genuinely true to those plucked from the aisle without having a clue.
Mystere is a show where one of my few criticisms is actually a positive in disguise. There are simply so many elements to try and pay attention to – I sometimes couldn’t figure out what to train my eyes on. So many different performers in different poses on stage make it hard to choose what to look at first.
The adaptable stage – rising and falling by sections to suit the show’s different theatrical moments – was a fun piece of the show as well. The ending, however, left something more to be desired. Though the giant snail creature was impressive, it was difficult to see what purpose it served to the show. They closed by bringing it on stage and simply sliding around until everyone was on stage together to take their bows.
In an otherwise amazing show, the best highlights of the show featured two men bending and balancing together in an awe-inspiring display of physical ability and flexibility, high trapeze swings with flipping wires, and the routine involving teeter-totters that bounce alternate performers high into the air. From the trampoline tumbling to the silk ribbon aerial dancing, Mystere has something for everyone.
For more information on Mystere, as well as the six other fabulous Cirque du Soleil shows offered in Las Vegas, visit: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/destinations/las-vegas/home.aspx
Alisha Bjorklund 