Trip Report: mostly show reviews (very long)
David Alexander
I just got back from a four night stay at Bally's. The primary
purpose of this trip was to see shows. A few weeks ago I called and
scored some great tickets for O and Blue Man Group on consecutive
nights so I decided it was time for another trip. I extended the trip
by a day on either end and started planning my show schedule. Check
the very bottom for some random kudos and gripes too...
<---- Le Follies Bergere ---->
I arrived late in the afternoon on day one and my plan was to book on
down to the Trop to see if I could get a ticket to the Follies. I've
never seen the Follies but saw Jubilee about six months ago and wanted
to make the natural comparison.
I made it to the Trop around 6 or 7PM. Getting a ticket wasn't a
problem. I was offered a seat at the rightmost front row table. The
seating for the Follies uses tables arranged perpendicular to the
stage so when seated you are facing left or right parallel to the
stage. Naturally they pack you in so tight it's difficult for
everyone to pivot their chairs around for a more direct view. I
accepted the front row table because it was all the way to the right
but my seat was facing to the left so I could comfortably face
directly at the stage. I would be sitting in the second chair from
the stage so I figured this would be an excellent seat.
To be honest, the Follies didn't keep me as entertained as I expected.
It has a more cohesive storyline from start to finish than Jubilee
does, but some of the acts just didn't do it for me. Some were very
entertaining, however. The performances were good and energetic. I
think some of the music selections were not compelling enough.
Upon reflection, I think I understand why I was slightly disappointed
with the Follies. The problem was the seating position that I thought
was going to be so good. Where I was sitting, I was able to closely
study the dancing and motions of the individual performers. However,
what I was lacking at times was the overall view of the choreographic
presentation. While I was watching the dancers I was missing the
show. Two days later I was in the same theater watching Rick Thomas
from a higher vantage point and became convinced that my observation
was correct.
I don't regret having seen the Follies, but I am glad I saw it first
or else I would have been sorely disappointed (based on the line-up
for the next three nights as you'll see...) My recommendation would
be to spend a few extra dollars and get a booth, or get a table seat
on the first level up.
<---- O ---->
WOW!
(Oh, you want a little more detail than that?)
I scored big time with O. My seat was dead center in the 2nd row. It
was perfect. I can't say enough about how good this show was. The
water just added a whole new dimension to the typically elegant
abstract impressionism that is the Cirque Du Soleil trademark.
Here's a few notes without any real spoilers.
Yes, I did get wet. Not soaking wet, just splashed upon on several
occasions. Sometimes by soaking wet performers doing flips into the
pool just a few feet away from me, and sometimes by their intentional
splashing of the audience. Plan on getting splashed a little if you
are in the first, oh, four rows or so.
Yes, there were a few "pre-show activities" going on. (you have seen
Mystere haven't you?)
Just before the main show begins there is some performance being done
from the ceiling above the audience and in the walkways. After that
all the performance is done on stage so the audience members in the
front won't need to crane their necks to see what's going on above and
behind them like they do in Mystere. Therefore the best seats are
nearer the stage rather than further back as in Mystere.
The seating is excellent. The rise of the floor is such that the head
of the person in front is only about as high as your knees, so there's
no obstruction at all. The legroom was not cramped at all. It was
easy for the people in the center of the rows to file past those
already seated.
I wasn't sure what to expect with the water. For some reason I had
visions of a large pool above the stage with a glass wall so we could
see into the pool. That's not it at all. The pools sits at stage
level. In my second row seat I could look out across the surface of
the pool but not see into it. I think that is how it's meant to be.
I thought my viewpoint really enhanced the effects, though I'd like to
hear from people who sat high up to know if they could see into the
water much and how they felt it impacted their experience.
The whole show is not done in the water. Some of it is on dry ground,
so to speak, and of course some of it is above stage. There is even
fire involved. When the first fire effect was done I could really
feel the blast of heat and it was probably 60 to 80 feet away.
The only drawback to my close up, down low seat was my perspective on
the over stage activities. I had a good view of the mechanisms being
used to move the hanging props around. Don't get me wrong, it was in
no way distracting but I did occasionally watch the pulleys and tracks
and whatnot as they moved around up there. I image that's where the
higher seats have a little advantage.
Now for the obvious question, which is better...Mystere or O? It's
hard to say. The water element of O makes it different enough that
direct comparison is difficult. In fact, I enjoyed O so much I
decided to scrap my fourth night plans and see if I could get a ticket
to Mystere instead. I'll answer this question later...
<---- Mac King Comedy Magic Show ---->
Next up was one of two afternoon shows I keep meaning to see but
always seem to miss somehow. Mac King plays at 1 and 3PM at Harrah's.
Unfortunately nobody told me, or anyone else at my table, that Mac
King was out of the country that week and Dana Daniels was filling in.
In fact it wasn't until Dana made the announcement himself that any of
us knew what was going on.
So...I can't really offer a review of Mac King. Dana Daniels was
entertaining although I'd seen him before and pretty much knew his
act. But what the heck, it's an inexpensive show and what else are
you going to do in the afternoon anyway?
It might be worth mentioning that the showroom was pretty full so it
might be worth getting tickets at least an hour early. I did manage
to get a front table seat even though I bought my ticket only minutes
before the show. The doorman pulled me aside as I entered and handed
me off to an usher who mentioned he was putting me in the show as he
led me to the front row seat. I didn't even have to tip them. I
probably should have, but I was too busy whining about not wanting to
embarrass myself on stage and the usher was gone before I knew it. As
it turned out I was spared from being called up, although there were a
number of audience members who were.
<---- Blue Man Group ---->
Awesome!!
These guys (and the band!) are really entertaining. It's something
different from every other show I've seen. There's some comedy, some
mild acrobatics (of sorts), a lot of music (all live by an excellent
band and the Blue dudes), some killer lighting and laser effects, and
even some audience participation. The comedy bits were hilarious.
The music was excellent!! It helps if the type of
drum-based-soaring-rock-guitar-riffs style music appeals to you
anyway. It really speaks to me. The various drum sets were
interesting. They play a number of instruments made of materials like
PVC plumbing. You can see some of them in the posters hanging around
the Luxor. The Blue Men never speak, but they never need to. Go see
it!!!
It's all comfortable theater style seating. There is an upper and a
lower section. My seat was a couple rows from the top of the lower
section. The view was excellent. I looked around the theater and I
don't think there would be a bad seat in the house.
The Blue Men do head out into the audience a few times. What I
thought was really cool was that they spend time in the upper sections
as well. They made sure the whole audience was involved. There was
some audience participation in the show and one of the lucky
contestants was chosen from near the back of the showroom.
The first six rows are the "poncho section". They give you plastic
wrap to wear just in case there's any splashing. It didn't look like
anyone in our show even came close to getting hit. The next day I
spoke with someone who was down there during the same show and he
confirmed that the splatter wasn't a problem.
<---- Rick Thomas ---->
Rick Thomas does the other afternoon show I wanted to catch. It's a
magic show that runs at 2 and 4PM at the Trop. According to Rick his
show is the all-time most successful afternoon show in Vegas.
Overall I though the show was fair. Some of the tricks were very
good, especially the appearance of the white tigers. I think those
damn masked magician television shows have ruined magic for me. I
keep watching away from the obvious redirections to see what's going
on. I need to just relax and enjoy the show. It's a good show,
though. It's got a budget price and again, what else you gonna do in
the middle of the afternoon?
<---- Mystere ---->
The fourth and final night was somewhat open in my original plans.
After reading Chuck's post about the Shintas the day before I left I
decided I would see them on the fourth night. After being completely
mesmerized by O a couple nights earlier, I decided I had to skip the
Shintas and see Mystere again.
I trudged on down to Treasure Island the morning after O to see if any
seats were possible. Once again I scored a great seat. I got a seat
in the first row of the upper section. Having seen Mystere before I
knew this was a perfect seat location. On several occasions Mystere
moves out into the walkway separating the two seating sections and
also performs high above the audience in the center of the room. For
those times a seat in the upper section give a far superior viewpoint
than the poor souls who have to look skyward from the first few rows.
I would say that the best seats are anything from the upper quarter of
the lower section to the lower half of the upper section. It's not a
huge room so any seat at all should be good although I'd be leery of
the seats to the extreme left and right sides. All the seats are
theater style so general comfort and viewing angles isn't an issue.
What can I say? Mystere is awesome. Cirque Du Soleil has such a
winning combination artistic expression and fascinating imagery that
young and old alike get completely immersed in the show. I have to
admit that the second time around wasn't quite as mesmerizing as the
first because none of it was new, but I still loved it and won't
hesitate to see it again given the chance. If you've seen the Cirque
Du Soleil shows on the Bravo channel but don't think they're quite
interesting enough to justify the price tag, GO SEE IT LIVE!!!!! The
videos simply cannot do it justice.
One thing that every show seems to have is lots of small
side...um..."distractions" going on. There's always characters off to
the side of an attraction doing something or simply watching the show.
There's rarely a single point focus to the action. The videos can't
capture that aspect.
How's that for an amazing three night sequence..."O", Blue Man Group,
and Mystere? See what I mean about being glad I watched the Follies
first?
Ah yes, back to the big question. Right now I'd have to give "O" the
nod as the slightly better show. Perhaps that's just because it was
new and Mystere was not. "O" seemed to have a little better flow and
pace. Mystere is a little more gymnastic based. "O" is a little
heavier on artistic imagery. Both are winners.
<---- Random thoughts, gripes, and kudos ---->
The Bellagio fountains. You know, on the surface this attraction
appears to be something you'll watch three or fours times and then say
been-there-done-that. However, I am always surprised at how much I
enjoy it each time I visit. There are only a small number of effects
that can be done with the fountains and yet each song seems perfectly
choreographed and each effect seems to inspire a completely different
feeling for each song.
The monorail between Bally's and MGM is a clusterfuck in just about
every possible way it can be. I know that doesn't really help anyone
because if you have to take it you have to take it. I just couldn't
help venting after riding it several times this week. It's slow, has
uncomfortably awkward seating, has ridiculous boarding and unloading
procedures that must be tended by operators, shuts down at 1AM, and
you have to walk forever just to get back and forth from the monorail
to the strip.
Kudos to the Mango Hut in the NYNY food court. I love their cheese
steaks. Sometimes my mission for a cheese steak gets short circuited
by visions of pizza or the smells of the deli, but neither leaves me
as satisfied as the original objective. The sandwich deli (next to
the pizza place) does get honorable mention though.
The Luxor IMAX is a nice way to break the day. Unfortunately I was
about one minute late to the 3D T-Rex show I wanted to see. I have
seen a couple other shows there including Fantasia 2000. Is anyone
actually going to the Michael Jordan documentary?
The Race for Atlantis IMAX 3D ride in the Caesar's Forum Shops. I
tried it again. It rocks!!! Easily the best motion simulator/3D ride
in town.
If you want some sweets hit the pastry shop near the elevators in
Paris. Other places have pastry deserts that look good, and are
good(!), but this place is the real deal.
The Bellagio Keno lounge is one of my favorite places to rest the dogs
for a while. Comfy chairs. Free drinks. Need I say more? I also
like the various lounges at Bellagio where they have live music. No,
not the one with the pop band, the jazz lounges with the piano and/or
bass. Very relaxing. Oddly enough, I never gamble at Bellagio but I
do like to relax there on my way through.
The celebration lounge at the Trop is another good place to rest a
while. They have upbeat live music there most of the time and the
bands I've seen have been pretty good.
The movie theaters at The Orleans. Funny thing, I think the last
three movies I saw at the theaters were at The Orleans. It's a very
nice theater and a great way to break up the day without losing a lot
of money...unless you buy the snacks that is [ouch!]. BTW, I saw
"Gone in 60 Seconds" this time. Good fun.
<---- All right people, please please please.... ---->
*** Pay attention to your immediate surroundings and how your actions
are impacting them. ***
Don't walk up to a choke point like a doorway and then stop and look
around aimlessly while other people are trying to get through.
Don't fix your gaze on your favorite slot machine at the other side of
the casino as you walk through while running in to others or making
them duck out of your way.
Don't stop in the middle of a walkway with heavy foot traffic, step
off to the side.
When on a moving sidewalk, stand to the right so that those who wish
to walk can pass safely on the left.
If someone is waiting patiently at, say, a tram entrance or an
elevator or the flight boarding area, don't run up at the last moment
and squeeze in front of them like they aren't there or aren't as
important as you.
Don't just intentionally drop your trash wherever you happen to be.
Don't drop your cigarette butts on Bellagio's nice new carpet and
stomp it out with your boot.
When the sign says don't walk, don't walk. Sometimes when it's wide
open clear then okay I guess, but when you go just because you're
special and you wind up blocking the path for the car that's been
waiting for that left turn arrow...
If the casino representative asks you to keep the kids behind the
line, keep them behind the line. Don't bitch up a storm about how
rude their request is because your kid is well behaved and only
standing a foot inside the line.
Why do manners go out the window when people arrive in Las Vegas?
[sorry, I know this last section is going to stir up some trouble]
Jerry & Wanetah Helgason
seriously consider Blue Man Group next time. I loved your gripes, couldn't
agree more. You should consider a show review site. wjh
Brenda J.
Brenda
On Sat, 08 Jul 2000 08:41:34 GMT, David Alexander <na...@pobox.com>
wrote:
>snip
bhar...@nospam.com
replace "nospam" with "home" to reply
For Vegas and St. Maarten vacation photos, see
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