Last night’s media performance of The Lion King, unlike most Vegas media events, drew much of the local “A” list. KNPR-FM’s Dave Berns was there, as was man-of-all-media Steve Friess, along with large contingents from Fox 5 and Stephens Media, in particular, along with archrival Greenspun Media. Lil’ old LVA made the scene, too, and as I entered the Mandalay Bay theater I passed a Quisp-like figure that I swear — swear — was Cirque du Soleil “director of creation” Guy Laliberté.
Eh bien, M. Laliberté? Whatever became of the much-ballyhooed “fixations” to Believe (including as many as five new illusions)? And what’s going on with the Elvis-themed/still deeply-under-wraps/as-yet-untitled show that’s going into Aria in seven months? (My better half thinks it’s a slam-dunk but my firm belief is that trapeze artists, giant babies, and bowler-hatted clowns wearing tutus and spouting fey gibberish, do not mesh with “Satisfy Me.”)
As impressive as it is in terms of physical spectacle, The Lion King is actually modest compared to the high-tech accoutrements of which Cirque is fond. Imagine had Laliberté been given his wish to simultaneously mount new shows at M’Bay and Aria, while ‘fixating’ Believe. It’d be a back-breaking folly akin to City Center itself, spiced with copious utterances of “Merde!”
As for The Lion King, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until next Thursday’s CityLife to learn whether I could feel the love last night.
