Mystere - Las Vegas
Review by Loc
It’s taken a little bit of time to recover from Vegas, but we’re now ready to recap one of the shining moments of the trip. On a stormy Saturday night, where rain actually fell in th desert, we trekked down the strip to Treasure Island to take in some Cirque du Soleil action. It’s kinda strange to think about how much of an institution that the Cirque group has become in Las Vegas, so many shows littering the strip to delight broke gamblers at every corner: Ka, O, Zumanity, and Love. So, how does the original Vegas Cirque show stack up? Quick: amazing entertainment.
With its mix of athleticism, comedy, music, and visual spectacle, Mystere delivers a non-stop 95 minute masterpiece. Taken separately, no single aspect is overwhelming; however, taken as a whole, the presentation of otherworldly arts is a magical presentation. It’s simple to disregard the pole climbing acrobats, the weirdly costumed performers, even the mystifying music sung in an imaginary language. However, the entire production is greater than the sum of its parts.
Beginning with an impromptu comedy section, a performer comes out to wreak havoc on unsuspecting patrons. As they follow the slightly odd-looking escort throughout the venue, the already-seated audience members get to laugh as they’re “in” on the joke. And thus begins the limited audience participation of Mystere. Throughout the show, performers call on audience members to become part of the show, drawing the audience deeper into grand spectacle.
The acrobatic performances are very good as well. Variations on classic circus acts are presented in visually amazing ways. Sure, watching a guy spin a 6x6 cube around as he’s hanging from a trapeze is cool, but watching him do it on a bungee-trapeze and with a rainbow of lights gleaming off the metallic cube is so much more. Other acts like the angled trampolines and fast track tumbling are amazing as well.
Not everything is beyond comprehension. Take the strongman display, where too extremely muscular men balance one another in a variety of acrobatic poses without ever releasing each other from their grip. Yes, it’s an amazing feat of strength. No, it’s not so cool that their rotating along a half-sphere isn’t cheesetastic. Other acts like the traditional trapeze or the pole leaping is very impressive, but all too common in today’s world.
Ah, but Mystere is more than gymnasts and comedy. The dedicated theater lends itself to a whole new level of presentation. The stage continually changes, lengthwise sections descending deep into the ground to present something totally different. At one point, a stilted performer emerges from the ground as music blares and the stage rises. Everything about the show creates a feast for the eyes and ears, a veritable sensory overload that’s thrilling to the end.
Overall, we were treated to a great show with great seats. Being at the edge of the first section of seats meant we were close enough to feel the intimate setting of the show, but far enough to take in the whole presentation. The performers were great, the music was excellent, the comedy was very well-timed and placed, and the theater was amazing. Out of the 95 minute running time, Mystere astounds with 76 full minutes of pure delight. If you’re gonna drop $100 per ticket, this might be worth your hard earned cash.
