LOVE 2.0 Merges Tech, Heart and Lots More Beatles
“The Beatles: LOVE” remains one of the most spectacular and satisfying shows in town.
When Cirque du Soleil unveiled “The Beatles: LOVE” ten years ago at Mirage, it was a first in many ways. The custom-designed 360-degree theater had an immersive sound system with speakers built into the seats. Intricate stage platforms quickly transformed the set from one sequence into another. Hi-tech projections created the illusion of a unique concert experience that couldn’t be seen anywhere else.
And the biggie of them all…the Montreal-based acrobatic company had built their first-ever show around an existing musical property – the Fab Four. Dozens of works by the Beatles were intricately woven into a musical tapestry that defies explanation. It was lovingly created for LOVE by Sir George Martin (aka “the fifth Beatle”) and his son Giles with the blessings of Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon‘s wife Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, widow of George.
A lot has changed in the past decade, especially in the relationship between Cirque and Las Vegas. Further collaborations resulted in productions featuring Michael Jackson (hit), Elvis Presley (fail) and Criss Angel (where do we start?). With the closure of Zarkana two weeks ago (the second of their shows to fail in the Aria theater), it’s obvious that CDS has over-extended their brand on the Strip. But The Beatles: LOVE started out…and remains…a critically-acclaimed crowd-pleasing hit.
May 5th, 2016 – Massive crowds still line up to see “Beatles: LOVE” at Mirage
For the tenth anniversary of LOVE, Cirque took on the challenge of revising, updating and fine-tuning what many already consider to be the best show in the city. A risky proposition, but with Giles and original artistic director Dominic Champagne at the helm, the updating is nearly flawless…and quite beautiful.
Those unfamiliar with the show…or who haven’t seen it multiple times (this writer clocks in at 14 and counting) will be oblivious to the more subtle tweaks. But the new sound system, updated video elements, and three-dimensional projections stand out as clearly state-of-the-art.
LOVE’s pacing is also much tighter in this new incarnation. What once began from an incredibly slow build to explosive action, then back to a more solemn World War II sequence now drives continuously forward, thanks to the addition of Twist and Shout.
There’s less focus on the Beatles as children (in fact, during the media event that I attended, only three child actors were present, but their downplayed roles hardly made it noticeable). Another absence, seemingly permanent, was the “Eleanor Rigby” character (portrayed by beloved Brazilian actress Silvia Aderne since the beginning).
It seems as though the re-sequenced songs and staging are now meant to represent an emotional interpretation of the Beatles’ cultural impact, more so than just a chronological depiction of their rise. LOVE has always been quite a bit on the dreamy side, with surreal visuals and characters. Now the show is even more trippy, with wildly colorful costumes and props that are vivid and vibrant. Whimsical touches, like characters and sea creatures from Yellow Submarine and Octopus’s Garden, permeate every corner of the massive arena.
Two significant numbers have been re-imagined by replacing marionettes with projections. Lady Madonna has jettisoned the dancing yellow galoshes, and the once-black floor now comes alive with moving multi-colored spots that turn the surface into a living Twister game board.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps has done away with the giant puppets made of letters. In their place, a sole female character now dances with an animated sketch of a man that moves, morphs, and flies from one screen to another throughout the auditorium. The scene and staging are hard to describe, but their beauty brought tears to my eyes.
The biggest sequence – and a fan favorite – is the enormous bedsheet that spreads over the audience during a Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows medley. That set piece remains, but it was unclear from my seating position whether anything going on above the canvas had been updated (that statement might only make sense if you’ve seen LOVE in the past). Check out the YouTube video below for a brief look at the mind-blowing segment.
Speaking of the previous version, it’s worth noting that the four band members were once only shown in silhouette until the final moments. Now their faces are front and center, sometimes using archival footage that syncs with the soundtrack. That effect and a few others might need a little tweaking (the show was briefly interrupted on the night I attended, due to a glitch) in the weeks leading up to the official tenth-anniversary celebration.
That gala, scheduled for July 14th, promises the return of Ringo, McCartney, and the widows of John and George for a formal event. Yours truly has already secured his show ticket, will be flying into Vegas for that evening, and I hope to bring you photos and video clips from the red carpet.
In the meantime, it’s terrific to know that one of my favorite Vegas shows is just as wonderful as ever. Whether you’re a fan of the Liverpool quartet, Cirque du Soleil or just great productions, The Beatles: LOVE remains one of the most spectacular and satisfying shows in town. Don’t miss it.
The Beatles: LOVE performs Thursday through Monday at 7 pm and 9:30 pm at Mirage Hotel Casino. Tickets start at $79 plus taxes/fees and can be purchased by following this link. Mirage is featuring a special offer with the second ticket for $39 on category B/C/D seats for a limited time.
Photos: Sammasseur (performance photos were taken April 2015). Photography is currently prohibited in the auditorium.
A fitness buff and Vegas fan. Sam enjoys shows, bargains, and cheap healthy eats.
4 thoughts on “LOVE 2.0 Merges Tech, Heart and Lots More Beatles”
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Great to see CDS keeping Love fresh! Only saw this once back in ’09 and it was unforgettable. You nailed it stating CDS has overextended themselves on the strip. They’ve been such a cornerstone of the Vegas entertainment scene for so long, by staying focused on their core productions and not trying to spread themselves, they’ll stay relevant a long time.
Wonder how Mystere is doing given it’s into its 23rd year – any updates/changes?
Thanks for writing, Paul. Mystere got a refreshing about four years ago. The previous high-bar finale act (a real snoozer, IMO) was replaced with a trapeze act brought in from their show ZED, which was closed in Japan after the devastating earthquake/tsunami of 2011 caused an understandable drop in tourism…and ticket sales.
A new aerial act was incorporated into Mystere at the same time, along with a repainting of the “sky”, an overhead assembly that repositions throughout the performance.
Mystere continues to be a steady draw, as it is the lowest-priced of the seven remaining Cirque shows on the Strip…and it is still perceived as a great “intro” to Cirque du Soleil, along with its excellent reputation and recognizable name.
Thanks Sam! Good to know about the replacement of the high bar act. I do recall that was the one segment where I looked at my watch.
This is VERY helpful! Never seen the show but have stayed in the Mirage before. I’m pretty intrigued now seeing its updated. I don’t know much of the Beatles music (GASP). I often think of their music as drab but that just because its not my era. I did she MJ and that was amazing. I would go see Love just for all of the color and theatrics.