I'm a big fan of Cirque du Soleil shows. I don't always get the ethereal storylines or this concept of having odd people wander on and off the stage for no reason...but I usually walk out feeling I got my bucks' worth just for witnessing a few someones do the impossible, right before my orbs. There were few such moments in Zumanity, which I saw Tuesday evening in Las Vegas, and only a few. The best, which came early on, involved two lovely ladies sliding in and out of a huge glass fishbowl of water, balancing on a rim around it and bending their fine forms into impossible contortions. It was amazing, sexy and, for me, the highlight of what otherwise was a disappointing presentation.
Not that I'm sorry I went with my friends. Cirque, even bad Cirque, is interesting...but I'm inclined to agree with those who suggest that maybe, opening show after show as they are, the company is spreading itself too thin, running out of jaw-dropping acrobats and interesting variations on what are, for the most part, the same acts. Everyone says Love, the Beatles-themed Cirque show, is astounding but some of the others are getting panned...and it wasn't that long ago that nothing Cirque du Soleil did evoked even tepid reviews.
And there's another problem: Zumanity is supposed to be "The sensual side of Cirque du Soleil." That's a nice way of saying "naughty." So the performers don't wear much clothing...but beyond that, the makers don't seem to have a lot of ideas about what makes this an adult show. The ladies slithering in and out of the fishbowl were a good start, and there's one woman who floats over the arena on straps and seems to have a zero-gravity orgasm...but for the most part, the ribald content is supplied by a number of performers who come out and involve audience members in little routines, dragging them up on stage to participate and talking with them about body parts and humping. One thing Cirque du Soleil has never been good at is talking...and some of the audience participation was just embarrassing, if not for the luckless draftees than certainly for those of us who had to sit through their on-stage awkwardness.
Ultimately, I emerged with my jaw largely-undropped. The physical feats were expert but largely repetitious (a lot of swinging around the room on drapes and wires) and there wasn't one where I could barely believe my eyes. That's never happened to me before with a Cirque du Soleil show. I will say the costuming was nice (what there was of it) and the music was fine...or would have been if we hadn't been sitting too close to a speaker. Bottom line: There are 744 other Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas, not counting the three they're opening next week in local Baja Fresh outlets, and I would recommend all of them over Zumanity.
William Saletan has an interesting perspective on the big oil spill.
I must admit I find the whole thing horrifying, particularly because on Monday, the news says "The spill is catastrophic" and then on Tuesday, the news says "The spill may be worse than we said on Monday," and then on Wednesday, they're saying, "The spill may be worse than we said on Tuesday" and so forth.
Lawrence Dietz thinks the best hamburger in town is the one served at Cassell's down on 6th Street. If we leave out the ones Carolyn makes for me, I agree...and so was sorry to hear of the passing of Al Cassell last week. The current version of his little open-for-lunch-only eatery is good but his version, before he sold out and retired, was wonderful and he was obviously the reason. The publicity for the place stressed how compulsive Mr. Cassell was about only using the best meat, making his own mayonnaisse, designing his own unique grill, etc. When you saw him in action, it was easy to believe the hype.
One of the things I like about the place — and this ties in with what I was ranting here about recently regarding restaurants that give you too many ingredients — is that the quality at Cassell's is there before you add toppings...and you add your own. They just give you cooked meat on a bun and it's good enough to eat without adding all the frosting. Mr. Cassell also invented and offered, as a free add-on with your burger, an odd kind of homemade potato salad laced with spicy mustard. I don't like spicy mustard...and when you scoop a scoop of Cassell's potato salad onto your plate, you're gambling as to whether you'll get a lump with a little spice or a lot. But it's usually a good gamble and it's made with real mayo, which they also make on the premises.
In case you can't tell, I like this place...though I must admit I liked it more when Al Cassell was running it.
Those of you who missed the effervescent Shelly Goldstein in her recent, sold-out Magic Castle appearance will be glad to hear the following: Shelly's not only performing again in Southern California, she's teamed with the acclaimed comedy team of Victoria Zielinski and Paul Barrosse for an evening of silly sketches and silly songs out at the Push Lounge in Woodland Hills. Previews begin tonight. Show are Thursday through Sundays, June 10-13; 17-20 and 24-27. You can find out more and reserve to be there on this page. Sounds like a great show.
June 9, 2010
