Cirque Du Soleil has been around since 1984, when a bunch of jugglers and stilt walkers in Quebec got together to celebrate the 450 th anniversary of the arrival of Jaques Cartier in Canada . They liked the show so much, they decided to tour around Canada for a while, and then were "discovered" after making a tour into California in the late 1980's. The idea behind the Cirque Du Soleil is to test the bounds of gravity, and try to defy reality through lavish costumes and balance. By 1993, they had come to Clark County , and a show in LV went so well, they decided to stay, and now four shows (with one on the way) have permanent residence as the Las Vegas Cirque Du Soleil troupes are ensconced in Southern Nevada . Each one has a different theme, and different audience.
- Mystere . Treasure Island . This is the first one that came to Las Vegas, and is still my favorite. The audience is led through a beguiling set of acts with some bizarre characters running through the performance which loosely represents a trip through time. www.treasureisland.com for more.
- O . Bellagio. The theme of this one is water (Eau, pronounced "O", in French). The acrobatics are truly astounding, with 74 Cirque Du Soleil artists performing on the aquatic stage. www.bellagio.com has ticket links--this show is the most expensive of the four.
- Ka . MGM Grand. This one is really the only one with a traditional story line per se. Ka is an ancient Egyptian concept of spiritual duplicity. We follow twins through separation, anxiety and reunification, all with the Cirque Du Soleil magic and costumes. It's a little industrial, but fascinating. www.mgmmirage.com for ticket information.
- Zumanity . New York New York . Let's call this Cirque Du Soleil for adults. The performers explore their eroticism and sensuality in an animalistic way. A little out there, and really not for kids. Go to www.nynycasino.com .
As for tickets, cheap reservations aren't really an option, but you can get some room deals that include tickets. The LV Cirque Du Soleil is a little different than what you'll see on tour, but better in many ways. My advice: sit as close as you can afford. Spend the extra money to get right into the action, which is breathtaking.
You can get more information by clicking on www.lasvegas.com or www.vegas.com .