The latest presentation from Cirque du Soleil, Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour, had its United States debut on Saturday, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, where it will play for three weeks before hitting the road.  So, how is the show?  Well, that’s kind of a loaded question.  The simplest answer is that in a vacuum, it’s a good show.  Of course, nothing exists in a vacuum. 

You’ve got the music of Michael Jackson (depending on your point of view either the funkiest of pop or the pop-iest of funk) combined with the visual spectacle of Cirque du Soleil.  A showbiz no-brainer, right?  Well, you’d think so; but as I watched the premiere on Saturday night, there was something troubling me that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

The costumes, by the molto favuloso Zaldy Goco, are futuristic, fantastic and fanciful.  The aerial numbers and gymnastics – the signature of all Cirque productions – are exactly what one would (and should) expect.  The props and pyrotechnics are simultaneously colorful and dramatic.  Then, as the performers were dancing en synchronized masse, down the catwalk that extends from the main stage into the crowd, it hit me.

In this world of increasingly multi-sensory performances that today’s concert audiences demand, one is hard-pressed to find a headliner who isn’t backed by a couple of aerialists, as well as a few hip-hop dancers and a half-dozen company dancers.  What’s more, Michael wasn’t just a singer, but an all-out entertainer, and a far better dancer than anybody who we’re bound to see on that stage.

Remember, we’re talking about the man who – nearly three decades ago – cast 80 genuine Bloods and Crips in a self-financed music video (“Beat It”), and got them to dance to perfectly synchronized choreography!  And that was before he teamed with John Landis for the 14-minute video for “Thriller” – arguably the most influential pop music video, ever, and the first to be inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.

Also, it's worth noting that as we approach the end of 2011, the Cirque-ification of Las Vegas has reached its terminal velocity.  At this point two or three of the Real Housewives in each city have hired aerialists to fly through the air at their daughters’ sweet-sixteen parties.

So where does this leave us?  Simple – if you like the music of Michael Jackson and/or the wondrous feats of Cirque du Soleil, then go and have a great time.  If you aren’t a fan of the “King of Pop” and/or you’ve grown weary of high-tech productions featuring multinational casts of acrobats with perfect musculature who bounce, twirl and spin through the air, then it’s entirely possible that you boarded a flight to the wrong city, Jack!

And how do I feel?  I think Michael would agree with me when I say the whole thing can best be summed-up by quoting Manu Dibango; the Cameroonian saxophonist whose 1972 House-music classic “Soul Makossa” contained the iconic phrase “Mama-say, mama-sah, ma-ma-co-sah.”   

Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil
Mandalay Bay Events Center
Through December 27th
Click HERE for tickets and info

Get into it!