This review aired on KBAQ June 24, 2013

LAS VEGAS “MYSTERE” BEST CIRQUE DU SOLEIL BUT “BROADWAY CELEBRATION” DISAPPOINTS

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL “MYSTERE”
Treasure Island Hotel
Las Vegas, NV

and

“BROADWAY CELEBRATION”
New York New York Hotel
Las Vegas, NV

Last week, I reviewed two of the best shows I saw on a recent Las Vegas trip, the musical “Jersey Boys” and David Cooperfield’s extraordinary magic show.  Today I’ll comment on Cirque du Soleil’s “Mystere” and “Broadway Celebration.”

“Mystere,” at the Treasure Island, is one of the older but one of the best Cirque du Soleil shows.  It has the crisp razzle dazzle and requisite sparkle that brand Cirque du Soleil shows.  The performers are tops.  The effects, scenic pieces, and costumes flow easily, smoothly, and seemingly effortlessly although we know the magic is carefully planned and exhaustively tested.  If you’ve never seen a Cirque du Soleil show, kids will be amazed and adults will be entranced with the swift, sleek professionalism and the fabulous chicanery displayed.  Cirque du Soleil shows are pricey but the quality, at least with “Mystere,” justifies the cost.  For tickets to “Mystere,” contact the Treasure Island Hotel box office at 702-894-7111 or 800-944-7444.

But “Broadway Celebration” at the New York New York lacks the grandeur and elaborate beauty of most Broadway musicals.  Producer David King picks such a select group of Broadway songs that they are mostly from films turned into Broadway musicals.  By doing this, the show misses the beauty of more interesting Broadway fare.  Many of “Broadway Celebration’s” costumes used in production numbers have little to do with the shows the songs come from.  Copyright laws prevent the duplicating of Broadway costumes but the attire should be appropriate for the song.  Most Broadway musicals have elaborate sets and thrilling choreography and the routine “Broadway Celebration” numbers lack Broadway sparkle and style.  No sets are used in “Broadway Celebration.”

“Broadway Celebration” is excellently sung by a spirited cast who also dance well although the choreographic routines are pretty ordinary.  Too many things that we know are part of Broadway musicals are either deleted or skipped so this revue disappoints more than any other show I’ve ever seen in Las Vegas.  There was nothing unexpected or special in “Broadway Celebration.”  Please don’t go to “Broadway Celebration” thinking you will have a real Broadway musical experience.  You won’t.  For tickets to “Broadway Celebration,” contact the New York New York Hotel box office at 702-740-6969 or 800-693-6763.

Las Vegas entertainment has taken a few giant steps downward since I was last on the strip.  Shows are expensive and don’t give the entertainment bang for the buck that they did years ago on my last Vegas trip.  You’d never go to Las Vegas now for the entertainment; the shows are just expensive diversions when gamblers wish to take a break from the games.