Get lost in the color of flashing lights, the spin of daiquiris, and the chimes of games. Are you going for the gamble, the clubbing, the drinking, the shows…or maybe for everything? That’s a long couple of days if it’s everything. There’s no sense of time when you’re in Vegas, especially traveling from east coast to west coast. Moving back in time took me for a loop. After working in the morning and staying up for my first night in Vegas, I found myself completely exhausted. Reasonably too, after realizing I had been up for the past 23 hours.
I went to Vegas for the shows, the lights, and the drinks—oh, and to visit my significant other, who was working there the previous week. The first night I arrived, I went to Mystère. I was starting to feel the exhaustion, waiting for the show to start. Sitting in the comfy seat, after sitting in the uncomfortably, tight four-hour flight, did not help. But once the show started, I lost all sense of myself. Mystère, one of the original Cirque Du Soleil shows, is captivatingly hilarious. The crazy, white-haired man that walks around got the crowd riled with laughter. He’s one of the few that has been with the show since the very beginning. I suggest looking for him five minutes before showtime. He “helps” guide people to their seats—and I use the word “help” very loosely here. As the man in red—let’s call him the Ringmaster—walks on stage, the show trapezes forward with jumps and flips that make me question the flexibility of the human body. There’s no story within a Cirque show, but there’s always elements that hold the show together from chaos. In Mystère, the “trouble-makers” of the show and the Ringmaster help transition from one act to the next. My eyes wander, always looking, but never seeing everything. The show reminds me of a line from the movie, Now You See Me, "The closer you look, the less you see." Thankfully, my boyfriend had seen the show before, so he helped point things out when I was looking in a different direction. Honestly, going with someone else is the best because you can gain an extra pair of eyes to look in more directions.
The next night, we went to MGM Grand, and saw Kà. It's hard to choose one show over the other because they each are unique in their own way. But, wow did Kà take me on a flight. The 360-degree experience throws you into a new world. Before going to our seats, we waited by the entrance to listen to the pair of actors that play the string instrument hanging from the ceiling. The instrument is one of a kind. The vibrations of the strings echo through the holes in the wood, making deep and high tones. Once through the doors, it feels like entering a dark forest. The actors are already up on the tops of these “trees” that surround the audience. There’s drumming and “cawing” as the actors shout to one another. The experience reminded me of an Avatar world. The actors speak a different language, but I can still feel the dangers and the emotions that explode through their body language. Out of all the Cirque shows, this one is the closest to a “story.” The brother and sister get separated, as they are being hunted down. They make connections with other people outside, and when the brother and sister finally reconnect, they have a stronger stance to fight for their lives against the ones chasing them.
I never know when to clap in a Cirque show. There are times of clap-anxiety where I question, “Do, I clap now? No; okay, how about now? No-no; no one’s clapping.” Sometimes the actors will chant or create a clap cue, so to speak. I sometimes found myself holding my hands together in front of my face, ready to clap at any moment. When we went to see O, I was absorbed into my imagination and occasionally forgot to clap. The swimmer in me wanted to find the sign-up sheet to join the team. Obviously, it’s not as easy as that, but I watched them jump and flip into the pool and wanted to join in. If only I hadn’t left my swimsuit back at the hotel. I’m guessing the actors have some experience in diving and synchronized swimming. Not that my swimming skills would allow me to dive like that; but man, did I wish for it.
The last show we saw was Michael Jackson ONE. It’s hard to sit still in this show, as the music is so well-known. I found myself wiggling back and forth to the beat. I could tell when it was a crowd’s favorite song, like “Man in the Mirror” or “Thriller,” because the cheering increased significantly. I love Michael Jackson’s music, so even though I’m not the biggest Michael fan, I enjoyed every bit of this tribute to him and to his dream, to “Heal the World” by coming together as “One.” They used four kids, or students, who seem to be sneaking around the theatre, to carry the audience through the “story.” They divided Michael Jackson’s spirit into four objects: a white glove, shoes, sunglasses, and a top hat. The objects were then passed down to the four kids, who represent the next generation, and the generation to come.
Lights, costumes, and amazing sights aren’t just found within the theatres. They are all around the strip. The attire seems to vary from show those cheeks to bikini-covered bottoms. Expect feathers, skin, and some exotic expression. I mean it is 100 degrees during the day and in the 80s at night, so it’s not unexpected. Explore the sights and the other worlds on the Vegas strip. Don’t get trapped inside just one casino. There’s Treasure Island, New York-New York, Paris, Egyptian pyramids, MGM Grand, and The Park. But don’t try to be Danny Ocean at the Bellagio, or all you will see is inside a cell. Watch the fountains dance to the music. Mix the daiquiris together, and wear some comfortable shoes to go for a long stroll into the night. Drive over to Fremont Street, the old Las Vegas Strip, and watch the flashing lights, the half-naked men and women, and listen to the locals play as they dance in the street. Yep, I saw two topless "nuns," and it seems to be normal. Take every opportunity, before it’s too late and you are back at the airport, waiting to jump time, back home.
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