Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Iris’ hit it out of the park. It’s visually stunning, and it satisfies every artistic sense imaginable.
The $100 million show premiered September 25, 2011, at the Kodak Theater, and it’s the only non-traveling Cirque du Soleil show, which means that the performers not only have to love Los Angeles, but they also have to love the theater, because the entire show is built around it.
Speaking of the performers, Andrew and Kevin Atherton (the aerial straps duo) kindly answered questions after the show, which painfully included ridiculous inquiries from other journalists such as, “are you scared you might die up there?” Unfazed and classy, the brothers professed that fear is important for safety, but they “trust each other with their lives,” and they are “living a dream.”
One of most enjoyable parts of the show was the music, composed by the legendary Danny Elfman. Unlike Elfman’s familiar film medium, ‘Iris’ constantly evolved, so he was forced to change the music until all the elements were complete. Had I shut my eyes for the entirety of the show and just listened the music, I would have still been satisfied.
The second act was substantially better than the first, because it had the appropriate amount of light and shade. My favorite performance was the hand balancing, beautifully executed by Olga Pikhienko. It was understated and impressive, and it was one of the only acts where I felt personally connected to the performance.
Las Vegas has some new competition. For tourists visiting Los Angeles in need of some entertainment, this will exceed their expectations. With the combination of acrobats, costumes, and music, there’s no going wrong.