Criss Angel's Believe Cirque du Soleil - World Premiere
Ummm. Interesting?!
I don't know where to begin.
Last night, my stage assistant, Jacky Pagone and I were invited to the World Premiere of Criss Angel's BELIEVE by Cirque du Soleil. Being it was Halloween night, attending the event in costume was welcomed. So, Jacky and I dressed up. I went as a Jedi Knight, and she as Princess Leia in the slave bikini. People LOVED our costumes, we had several people ask to take pictures with us, apparently there are more Star Wars geeks than I imagined. :-)
So, the show started. I had heard horrific, and I mean horrific reviews about the show, so I was expecting the worst. I don't even know what to say. I feel that the show is a mess. Now understand this, I am not a show critic, but just an audience member. I am not trying to disrespect Criss Angel or Cirque du Soleil as artists, but these are my thoughts.
I feel that the show needs to dramatically change if they want to survive. Typical Mindfreak Criss Angel fans will be hugely disappointed going into this venue expecting to see Criss Angel do his magic like he does on TV. It doesn't happen. The magic in the show is terrible. It is basic magic that is not impressive by ANY means. Quite juvenile to be honest.
I also believe that Cirque du Soleil fans will be disappointed in the Criss Angel segments of the show. His personality works so well on Mindfreak as the show is reality based and rough around the edges. I find that his personaality does not fit in the Cirque environment and at points I felt like someone should just go take the microphone away from him.
I know that Criss and Cirque are trying to do an artistic version of Criss' magical nightmare/dream vision, but it doesn't belong. Mindfreak fans want the TV show live on stage. Cirque du Soleil fans generally do not want a rock and roll dude yelling on a microphone and trying his take on comedy and acting on a beautiful stage with beautiful dancers and special effects. I think this is a marriage doomed from the beginning.
I felt that there was some cool elements. Like the tornado wind storm on stage. Amazing effect, Cirque has outdone themselves on that one. I felt that the Cirque performer that did the aerial act from the flower was really cool, but other than that, I felt that I was looking at my watch, waiting for it to be over. The audience was restless, some left early, they easily had no issues with going to the bar to get drinks and also to take washroom breaks. I was a bit shocked that so many people were leaving their seats. The audience barely applauded and they definately did not laugh at the jokes. There were some instances that you could hear crickets when there should have been laughter. That was painful to bear. As a performer, there is nothing worse that having the audience not be on board with you during your show. I have been there. It is a horrible feeling.
I think there are only 2 options here to improve the show. Get rid of Cirque du Soleil and turn it into Mindfreak Live. Or, get rid of Criss Angel and modify the show to be about a magician's journey through life and afterlife will cool magical effects and more Cirque acts that have amazing talents. I don't see them continuing on the path they are on right now. $100 million into this venture? I think that both options I am suggesting will probably not happen. So I am definately interested in seeing where they go from here.
Like Criss said at the end of his show, "Sometimes you just have to believe." Sorry, this time, I don't.
Marc
I don't know where to begin.
Last night, my stage assistant, Jacky Pagone and I were invited to the World Premiere of Criss Angel's BELIEVE by Cirque du Soleil. Being it was Halloween night, attending the event in costume was welcomed. So, Jacky and I dressed up. I went as a Jedi Knight, and she as Princess Leia in the slave bikini. People LOVED our costumes, we had several people ask to take pictures with us, apparently there are more Star Wars geeks than I imagined. :-)
So, the show started. I had heard horrific, and I mean horrific reviews about the show, so I was expecting the worst. I don't even know what to say. I feel that the show is a mess. Now understand this, I am not a show critic, but just an audience member. I am not trying to disrespect Criss Angel or Cirque du Soleil as artists, but these are my thoughts.
I feel that the show needs to dramatically change if they want to survive. Typical Mindfreak Criss Angel fans will be hugely disappointed going into this venue expecting to see Criss Angel do his magic like he does on TV. It doesn't happen. The magic in the show is terrible. It is basic magic that is not impressive by ANY means. Quite juvenile to be honest.
I also believe that Cirque du Soleil fans will be disappointed in the Criss Angel segments of the show. His personality works so well on Mindfreak as the show is reality based and rough around the edges. I find that his personaality does not fit in the Cirque environment and at points I felt like someone should just go take the microphone away from him.
I know that Criss and Cirque are trying to do an artistic version of Criss' magical nightmare/dream vision, but it doesn't belong. Mindfreak fans want the TV show live on stage. Cirque du Soleil fans generally do not want a rock and roll dude yelling on a microphone and trying his take on comedy and acting on a beautiful stage with beautiful dancers and special effects. I think this is a marriage doomed from the beginning.
I felt that there was some cool elements. Like the tornado wind storm on stage. Amazing effect, Cirque has outdone themselves on that one. I felt that the Cirque performer that did the aerial act from the flower was really cool, but other than that, I felt that I was looking at my watch, waiting for it to be over. The audience was restless, some left early, they easily had no issues with going to the bar to get drinks and also to take washroom breaks. I was a bit shocked that so many people were leaving their seats. The audience barely applauded and they definately did not laugh at the jokes. There were some instances that you could hear crickets when there should have been laughter. That was painful to bear. As a performer, there is nothing worse that having the audience not be on board with you during your show. I have been there. It is a horrible feeling.
I think there are only 2 options here to improve the show. Get rid of Cirque du Soleil and turn it into Mindfreak Live. Or, get rid of Criss Angel and modify the show to be about a magician's journey through life and afterlife will cool magical effects and more Cirque acts that have amazing talents. I don't see them continuing on the path they are on right now. $100 million into this venture? I think that both options I am suggesting will probably not happen. So I am definately interested in seeing where they go from here.
Like Criss said at the end of his show, "Sometimes you just have to believe." Sorry, this time, I don't.
Marc
posted by Marc Savard at
4:07 PM
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