Current:Home > reviewsHugs, peace signs and a lot of 'Love': Inside the finale of The Beatles' Cirque show -MacroWatch
Hugs, peace signs and a lot of 'Love': Inside the finale of The Beatles' Cirque show
View
Date:2025-04-16 00:55:23
LAS VEGAS – And in the end, the "Love" was overwhelming.
On Sunday, the groundbreaking marriage between the most well-known amalgamation of art, circus and theater and one of the richest catalogs in music history came to a close after 18 years with tears, hugs and peace signs filling the stage.
"The Beatles Love by Cirque du Soleil" and its 60-person multicultural cast bade farewell at a boisterous, invite-only finale in its soon-to-be-demolished home, The Mirage. The casino and hotel, purchased by Hard Rock International two years ago, closes on July 17 and will reopen in spring 2027 as Hard Rock Las Vegas.
But on this night of goodbyes, the $100-million custom-built 2,013-seat "Love" theater was packed with friends and family of the cast and crew and at least one well-respected name in The Beatles' universe – Giles Martin.
Martin, the son of the late Beatles producer and honorary fifth member George, is the architect behind the most magical aspect of "Love" – its 2008 Grammy-winning soundtrack stocked with unique reconstructions of Beatles songs.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
More:One year of Sphere: dazzling illuminations, audio, livestream 'push boundaries'
Cirque du Soleil CEO Stéphane Lefebvre spoke briefly before the final performance lifted off with the chilling isolated harmonies of The Beatles' singing "Because." He praised Martin's musical acumen and the show for all of the "peace and joy and happiness and love" it has brought the 12 million people Lefebvre said have seen "Love" in nearly two decades.
While it was mostly a standard performance of the 90-minute show, the audience loudly whooped and cheered at the start of each segment, providing a vibe more akin to a concert than a Cirque production.
The cast appeared to perform with extra vigor and emotion – the roller skating leaps during "Help" seemed a little bit higher, the ever-elegant Dr. Robert (Jimmie Cervera) and original Father McKenzie (Eugen Brim, who left the production in 2016 and returned in February) shimmied and shouted with extra oomph – and a few unscripted hugs were witnessed among the hippie kids during the trampoline-heavy "Revolution."
In the only fourth-wall breaker, the Sugar Plum Fairy – aka Lady Madonna's baby daddy – who usually speaks in tribal language before a stomping splash dance in yellow Wellingtons, said to the crowd, "I am feeling a lot of love tonight!" before asking them to clap the rhythm of "Lady Madonna."
When the usual finale of "All You Need Is Love" arrived and red confetti showered from the rafters, the cast took its typical walk around the stage brandishing peace signs and singing along with the optimistic anthem. But this time, tears among them were visible.
Since its 2006 opening, the show, blessed by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and endorsed by Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison as family surrogates for John Lennon and George Harrison, has been attended by all of those within The Beatles organization numerous times.
Starr, who celebrated his 84th birthday Sunday with his annual outdoor party in Los Angeles, watched a performance while in Vegas for his own run of shows at The Venetian in May, while Harrison attended two of the final "Love" shows in late June.
When "Love" debuted, it was the first Cirque show to use recorded music and the initial production centered on a legendary music act. "Viva Elvis" followed in 2010 at Aria Resort & Casino for a disappointing two-year stint, while the successful "Michael Jackson ONE" is still dazzling audiences at Mandalay Bay after a decade.
Even with the curtain closed on "Love," its legacy will endure through its timeless soundtrack.
But it's also the end of something special, as Giles Martin told USA TODAY in a 2022 interview about the show.
"It's the only place in the world you can step into The Beatles' universe," he said. "I always liked the idea that it was The Beatles' room. I love that about Vegas – you’re surrounded by the dinging of slot machines and people wandering around with yards of tequila and then you walk into the hallowed grounds of 'Love.' I get the same thrill every time I walk in that theater."
Millions of others would undoubtedly concur.
veryGood! (3917)
Related
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- See Megan Fox, Machine Gun Kelly, Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess' Blended Family Photos
- What’s the secret to growing strong, healthy nails?
- Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly are expecting their first child together
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Where you retire could affect your tax bill. Here's how.
- Chris Wallace will leave CNN 3 years after defecting from 'Fox News Sunday'
- Celtics' Jaylen Brown calls Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo a 'child' over fake handshake
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Benny Blanco Reveals Selena Gomez's Rented Out Botanical Garden for Lavish Date Night
Ranking
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- Georgia House Republicans stick with leadership team for the next two years
- Trump has promised to ‘save TikTok’. What happens next is less clear
- This is Your Sign To Share this Luxury Gift Guide With Your Partner *Hint* *Hint
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Powerball winning numbers for Nov. 9 drawing: Jackpot rises to $92 million
- Lou Donaldson, jazz saxophonist who blended many influences, dead at 98
- 'Gladiator 2' review: Yes, we are entertained again by outrageous sequel
Recommendation
Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
Apologetic rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine gets 45 days in prison for probation violations
Apologetic rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine gets 45 days in prison for probation violations
MVSU football player killed, driver injured in crash after police chase
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
Gerry Faust, the former head football coach at Notre Dame, has died at 89
Wall Street makes wagers on the likely winners and losers in a second Trump term
Gavin Rossdale Makes Rare Public Appearance With Girlfriend Xhoana Xheneti