What Happens in Vegas: Cirque du Soleil Performer Dies in Fall at KA

Ugh. Immediate reaction to the news was just an "oof" moment to me. It's something that is at once sad, and completely understandable. Circus performers perform death-defying acts for a living, and sometimes there is a mistake. It doesn't make it less sad, this reality. Nor does it help with the trauma felt by the performer's friends, the people in the crowd who witnessed it, or anyone involved with the show (or family of shows). But it is important to put this into context. As with air shows, and race cars, and many other thrill-providing entertainment exhibitions, occasionally--and thankfully rarely--someone is going to get hurt or die.

I've never seen KA, though I have watched other Cirque du Soleil shows, such as Mystère, Zarkana and Michael Jackson Immortal. All of them contained amazing, thrilling--and clearly death-defying--stunts. Part of the amazement is in the fact that it looks so dangerous. Now we know, if we didn't already, that the threat is very real.

Image from source, Las Vegas Sun

[Excerpt]

Cirque du Soleil artist killed in fall from stage during ‘Ka’ at MGM Grand

Sarah Guyard-Guillot, an artist in "Ka" at MGM Grand and a mother of two children ages 8 and 5, was killed Saturday night after a fall from the show's stage at MGM Grand. The Clark County Coroner's Office said this afternoon that Guyard-Guillot, 31, was pronounced dead at 11:43 p.m. Saturday at University Medical Center.

Read more: LasVegasSun

What Happens in Vegas: Zarkana! (A Mini Review)

I've been away from the blog because--for an extremely rare change--I actually went to a Las Vegas show last night. A good friend scored some tickets to Cirque du Soleil's Zarkana at the Aria. I'd never been to Aria or the City Center complex it sits in, so even though The Other Half is under the weather, I took another good friend, and off we went!

My previous Cirque experiences were Mystère (twice) and Michael Jackson Immortal, and I loved both. They're French (Canadian) and weird, but they're amazing spectacles. Zarkana was better than both, to my estimation. It's similar in content to Mystère, but with less of the weird, and more of the marvel. It still has goofy clowns between acts, sure. But I found the whole thing much more relatable, and I loved the stagecraft. The stage and sets are gorgeous, and the organically shaped video screens wrapping around it really add to the experience.

The show includes a very talented juggler lady, some amazing acts of balance and strength, tightrope walking (with fire), flying acrobats, bouncing acrobats, climbing acrobats, and stunning visuals. Most of the time, I was gazing in wonderment, only occasionally cringing in fear that somebody was going to fall! 

These are the guys I was scared for.
Image from DerekLovesShopping.

So, though I can claim to be no expert on these sorts of things, I can heartily recommend Zarkana, if you're looking for a show when you're in Las Vegas. You have seven Cirque du Soleil shows alone to choose from, so you'll surely have options. But I got to thinking about some of the other shows I've seen, and they kind of pale next to the size and scope of a show like this one.

My score: Highly recommended.

I'm Sorry, I'm Not Able to Answer the Blog Right Now. . .

I'm just getting in, as I write this, from seeing one of Las Vegas' big shows. Or, rather, it's a traveling show that is destined to become a regular show. It was Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson Immortal, and it really was quite something. I actually have been to Neverland, and got to attend with other friends who were there with me, and one who worked there. So, when the troupe rolled out the big Neverland gate, it was pretty cool. As with all Cirque shows, Immortal is elaborate, very, very busy and breathtaking. Also, noisy. If I had one complaint, it would be the thundering bass. I like the shows that go boom, but this one takes it to eleven.

I can only imagine what the permanent show will be like, when the stage doesn't have to be portable. Michael Jackson's fans will love it. Hell, Michael would have loved it. If it comes to your area, I highly recommend it.

But, because I've gotten in at such a late hour, it is doubtful that I'll get much more than this post done. I'll try to find something, but I'm tired. And tomorrow night, I have a party! Whee. And it's a steam train to Christmas and New Year's now.