The sign says it all - pure Love

It’s hard to believe that Cirque du Soleil’s tribute to The Beatles is about to turn four years old at it’s home in The Mirage. It’s probably because the timelessness of the Fab Four’s music matches so effortlessly with the amazing acrobatics and visual wizardry that makes the Cirque franchise a staple in most Vegas megaresorts.

In short, this production is amazing. If you’re a die-hard Beatles fan, you won’t be disappointed. If your musical knowledge is limited to major hits like “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Imagine,” you’ll find those numbers here. If you’re not really a Beatles fan, see the show anyway, take it in for the sheer spectacle of the show.

In true Cirque style, the production follows a simple, but meaningful journey of four male characters through scenes of The Blitz, their rise to fame, anti-war protests and their spiritual self-discovery. We see them as young children and, at times, simultaneously as young adults. I would advise you not to split too many hairs trying to dissect the existential philosophies underlying the action lest you miss the action itself.

Trust me, the action is hard to miss. Even though the production I witnessed was slightly marred by a technical glitch and delay, I was caught up by aerialists, roller skaters and trampolines. Because the production is staged in a theater in the round, there really wasn’t a bad seat in the house. Personally I was glad that we were about mid-level so I didn’t have to crane my neck to see the higher stunts or duck to miss some of the stage-level pranks.

At $94-150 a seat, this is not a cheap show. However, hook up with a Vegas local who may be able to score a deal (Many Vegas shows are offering discounts for locals to help them through the slower economy.). The more than 2,000 seats fill on most weekends. If you’re looking for a show that you can take kids to, rest assured, everyone keeps their tops on and the sweet romantic moments are very PG 13 (or less). So, you’re not going to have to blindfold your little ones. Given the ticket price, though, I’d save this one for a special treat for kids aged 10 and up. The younger set may like the action, but are likely to get squirmy and completely embarrass you by shouting, “The Jonas Brothers are WAYYY better than The Beatles.” Save yourself the humiliation and hire a sitter back at the hotel.

After the show, you can head over to the Revolution Lounge for a cocktail and to discuss what you’ve seen. Trust me, you’ll be talking about this show for awhile.

[Photo courtesy of kathica.com)