The energy exhibited during a performance of Cirque du Soleil’s Mad Apple is a bit overwhelming at times—much like the city the show salutes through a series of vignettes, some comical, some acrobatic, some a bit profane. Through it all, the Cirque troupe lovingly replicates the bustling vibe of the City That Never Sleeps.
Everything about this show screams motion—bodies are constantly moving and flying across the stage; there’s a bar set up in front of the stage prior to showtime, with both bartenders displaying their flair skills for the crowd. Heck, even the live band, including a trumpeter, saxophonist, keyboard player and drummer, can’t sit still, twisting and turning in their perches above the proceedings, and even joining the zaniness on stage from time to time!
As your ears are treated to live versions of songs like “New York State of Mind,” “Summertime” and “Rhapsody in Blue,” your eyes are treated to some of the best Cirque acts the Strip has to offer:
• A juggler who exudes confidence (and more than a bit of sexiness) as he throws juggling pins high into the air, catching them from all angles;
• A diabolo artist who keeps adding yo-yos without skipping a single beat;
• Basketball dunkers who seem to almost be on the verge of vaulting into audience members seated at the sides of the stage (Of course they never do, and in the process show off impeccable timing);
• A woman who hangs from a harness by her long hair and performs a full routine that way, spinning, cavorting and displaying a gracefulness most of us would not possess were our follicles in danger;
• Two performers who make the entire audience hold its breath while they flip each other through the air using only the power of their legs;
• A strongman who’s harnessed into place on a large contraption and grabs a woman by the arms, flipping and flinging her into the air using only his arm strength;
• A hand balancer who’s as graceful as he is lithe and sinewy;
• Aerialists who spin around the stage and over some of the audience, as well as floor acrobats who jump through hoops that get progressively higher and higher.
There’s also plenty of humor, most of it supplied by comedian Harrison Greenbaum, an America’s Got Talent alumnus who even performs a bit of magic in between the hilarious jokes and audience banter. Another comedic highlight involves the show’s “stage manager” displaying his talents when it comes to shadow puppets. (Spoiler alert and a surprise to absolutely no one: It’s for adults only!)
Speaking of hand gestures, yes, there are plenty of “Bronx salutes” in this show—would you expect anything less?
{ SOURCE: Ken Miller, Las Vegas Weekly
