Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère

Red Bird © Cirque du Soleil | Richard Termine

For those unfamiliar, Cirque du Soleil is a Canadian entertainment company that produces contemporary circus performances, founded in 1984 by street performers Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix. Their unique concoctions of music, theater and international circus have been showcased on every continent except Antarctica, garnering them numerous awards and critical acclaim.

Aerial Cube © Cirque du Soleil | Matt Beard

Cirque du Soleil’s longest running show is Mystère, launched in 1993 at Treasure Island, the first of their shows to receive a permanent stage instead of a circus tent.  The show was a risk for the company, eschewing the typical Las Vegas archetypes and aiming to create a heightened artistic experience, a metaphor of life and the universe, based on Greek and Roman mythology. Mystère combines street theater, opera and music from Asia and Eastern Europe to create what resembles Salvador Dali in stage form.

Casino executive were initially wary of the show, fearing its dark material would turn audiences away. While the show incorporates some deep concepts and intense psychedelia, there are also breathtaking acrobatics and amazing set pieces. Comic relief is intertwined through the acts, starting with a comedic usher joking with audience members as the theater is being seated. There is an element of audience participation incorporated into the comedy that keeps the lofty concept of the show grounded.

Hand to Hand © Cirque du Soleil | Richard Termine

Treasure Island built the stage specifically for Mystère, and it shows in the elaborate production. Spinning stages, giant puppets and acrobats mesmerize the viewers, who are sure to catch something new with every show. There is simply so much going, one cannot truly appreciate the level of detail that goes into the show in just one sitting. Mystère has become one of the most popular shows of Cirque du Soleil for good reason. If you’re looking for cheap tickets, check out this website.