Wednesday 29 October 2014

Cirque du Soleil's "O", Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV

I have been at a client's convention all week in Las Vegas as part of their tradeshow.  Today was the last day and they finished the convention by taking everyone to see Cirque du Soleil's O.


O is a water-themed stage production.  The show has been in permanent residence at the Bellagio in Las Vegas since October 1998. O, whose name is pronounced the same way as eau, the French word for "water", takes place in, around and above a 1.5-million-US-gallon pool of water, featuring water acts such as synchronized swimming as well as aerial and ground acts. The O Theatre, which is designed to look similar to a 14th-century European opera house, has 1,800 seats, thus allowing the performance to be watched by 3,600 people a night since the performance usually plays twice in a given day, also designed to meet the special demands of the show.

The ceiling ... and yes, someone spun down from it
The stage
The theatre is beautiful!

Cirque du Soleil weaves an aquatic tapestry of artistry, surrealism and theatrical romance in the timeless production, "O". Inspired by the concept of infinity and the elegance of water's pure form, "O" pays tribute to the beauty of the theatre - from the simplest street performance to the most lavish of operas - where anything is possible and where the drama of life plays itself out before our very eyes. World-class acrobats, synchronized swimmers, divers and characters perform in, on, and above water to create a breathtaking experience. 

A group of 150 stage technicians assist in the production of the show, the cast of which is 85 performers: international acrobats, synchronized swimmers, and divers. Some of them are former Olympic athletes.

I had seen Kurios a couple weeks ago and was looking forward to seeing this one ... and I wasn't disappointed.  It is similar with lots of acrobatics, balancing, singing, clapping, laughs and more ... but on and in water!  It was amazing how they made the water appear (becoming a deep pool) and then disappear (becoming a stage).  And it was fun the way swimmers would suddenly appear in the water and then disappear again (without climbing out of the pool).

2 comments:

Masshole Mommy said...

That sounds like a great show!!

Knit and Purl Mama said...

Very cool! I've been to Vegas once, in 2006 and I'd love to go back. I didn't get to see a show when I was there and I wanted to. Maybe one day!