Criss Angel’s “Believe” – Pros and Cons
Criss Angel’s Believe Playing at the Luxor
Review courtesy of www.bestofvegas.com a good source for everything Vegas
Comments at the end courtesy of Fred Riecke, Gamblersdata
Prepare to expect the unexpected! Cirque du Soleil welcomes you to a world filled with magic and the unknown. As the sixth Cirque show to hit the Las Vegas Strip, you will be wowed and amazed by this haunting exploration into the inventive mind of magician Criss Angel. As a creator, producer, and performer, Criss Angel brings a new unique twist to the world of Cirque du Soleil and shows the world exactly why he has redefined the term “artist” for the 21st century. Having won the 22nd Louie Award for “Outstanding Achievement in the Art of Magic,” you will see his amazing theatrical illusions first hand, set to the background of a Cirque du Soleil performance!In Criss Angel Believe, magic is redefined; much as Cirque redefined the circus. With magic at its core, Cirque du Soleil will never be the same! Combining the innovative illusions and mind-boggling tricks of Criss Angel with the artistry, acrobatics, dancing, puppetry, and music of Cirque du Soleil; this is the hottest new show to see on the Strip!The show gets its name from the legend of Houdini. Harry Houdini wanted people to be able to speak with him from the grave, after his passing…but there is a catch. In order to speak to Houdini from the grave, worthy individuals had to have the password, which was BELIEVE. Going along with this theme, Criss Angel Believe drifts between the land of the living and the dreamlike world of the supernatural. Criss Angel plays a mysterious Victorian Noble on an imaginative journey into the unknown world of magic. The characters he meets along the way, the dancers, and the numerous styles used turn this show into a high-energy masterpiece. Using the aspects of grace and sensuality, this magical journey will hypnotize your senses; to the point that you will not believe your eyes!Stop dreaming and start believing!
Review by Fred Riecke
You can believe this – the show is a bore! That’s right. This show that gets superlative reviews and packed crowds is a waste of time. Don’t confuse this show with the mildly entertaining Mind Freak television shows. Everything Angel does here has been done before and done better. Angel actually turns the show over to a supposedly comedic troupe of side kicks that with the exception of one, are about what you’d see at a high school talent show – maybe not as good. These players are in and out of the show throughout and don’t add much. Angel does a lot of talking and not too much magic. There are costumed creatures moving around on stage and some shapely women in very tight suits wriggling around on the floor. But who wants to see that? If I want to see women with shapely bodies I’ll go to a …uh…Gentleman’s Club. All magic shows in Vegas must ultimately be measured against Siegfried and Roy. Believe falls well short – the same way you can’t compare a Smart car to a Maserati. The tickets are expensive and Believe totally lacks the shock value that a great magic show should demonstrate. I’m not alone in this harsh opinion. The people with me were as disappointed as me, well, not really because I paid for the tickets. But no one was energized the least bit. Talking to other friends I couldn’t find one person who felt the show was top notch. So don’t spend your money seeing this fiasco. You’ll get more enjoyment losing at Blackjack or losing a big hand with a full house. Trust me – you have better things to do with your time. Taking a nap generates just as much fun. If you’re stuck at the Luxor go see Carrot Top. Or perhaps you can see the Bodies exhibition there which would probably be just as exciting if not moreso.
