Cirque Ingenieux

One of my fondest memories of Las Vegas is not, if you can believe it, watching $100 disappear in less than 15 minutes at a blackjack table (valuable lesson learned: blackjack's price to fun ratio is too high for me, about 10:1), but rather seeing Cirque du Soleil's extraordinary production Mystére (pricey at $75, yet with a P/F ratio closer to 1:1). Although the currently touring Cirque Ingenieux is not from Cirque du Soleil, it is similar in design and scope, offering a very professional and entertaining 90-plus minutes of circus theatre, as we follow a young girl named Sarah's fantasy dream of joining a circus. Backed by a wonderful score from Golden Globe-winning composer Kitaro, creator/producer Neil Goldberg's colorful extravaganza includes extraordinarily graceful strong men balancing in seemingly impossible positions, limber acrobats, and physiology-defying contortionists, as well as playful sets (such as an oversized sewing room, with huge walking scissors and a kinetic sewing machine). Imaginative, sensuous, at times thrillingly sinister, this affordably priced filmed version of the popular stage production is sure to be a winner. Enthusiastically recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)