I just returned from a fabulous trip to Las Vegas where I attended the Viva Elvis Cirque du Soleil show at the Elvis Theater at the new Aria hotel located in City Center.
First of all let me start by saying that I was a little over 10 when Elvis died so I am a little too young to have really grown up listening to his music. I found Viva Elvis to be very educational on 'Elvis' life and legacy as well as entertaining. The show displays Elvis' life from the time he is a small child right through his singing career to the time he is drafted in the army, when he gets out of the army, his marriage to Priscilla, and his movie career.
The show, which at times is narrated by Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker, combines Elvis's music along with Cirque style dancing complete with amazing acrobatics and impossible looking feats performed by very talented entertainers. There are some very touching moments like when Elvis is drafted into the army and his parents and all of his fans are there when he leaves on the bus and when he marries Priscilla and the song playing is I Can't Help But Falling In Love With You.
The music is sometimes recordings of Elvis, and at other times a very talented female member of the cast does the singing. Some of the songs are You Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog, One for the Money, Two for the Show, and of course Viva Las Vegas!
My favorite parts were watching video of the wedding of Elvis and Priscilla. The screen is beautiful pink fabric that drapes down from a girl on top of a giant wedding cake. I also enjoyed watching scenes from all of the movies that Elvis starred in. The scenes portrayed Elvis always kissing the leading lady of the film.
This was my first Cirque du Soleil show so I really was not sure what to expect. Overall I thought the show was amazing and very well done. It was much more than I expected and I really enjoyed it. If you are an Elvis fan, or even if you are not, I think you will thoroughly enjoy the show!
