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#7460 by onionz
19 Aug 2005, 02:43
(I wasn't exactly sure which area this topic would fit into, was down to the Hotel forum or this one, but thought it's not really a Hotel topic. Mods please move if you feel it's necessary :))

Just got back from Vegas, and went to the new Wynn hotel. There's already a thread discussing that elsewhere, but i'll quickly say I was also surprised that it wasn't more astounding, given the hype. Certainly, when playing blackjack, i could have been sitting in any one of a number of casinos, and actually preferred playing at Mandalay Bay because the tables are not so crowded in.

Anyway, Le Reve is a show by Franco Dragone of Cirque De Soleil fame, and also he is the man behind Celine Dion's show, A New Day. We won't hold that against him.

I haven't seen 'O' yet at the Bellagio, which is a shame since many highly rate it. However, from descriptions I have read of that show, this one sounds very similar. The theatre is circular and quite steeply raked around a circular stage which does some interesting things. The biggest surprise is that it's solid one moment, and what must be a very deep pool the next. You know it must be deep when you see the terrific height of some dives into it!

It seemed to me that this show has that classic Vegas feel of not being about very much, but being very nice to look at. It's subtitled "a small collection of imperfect dreams", and you can imagine the wide subject material that might flow from that - essentially nothing is out of bounds. It's certainly visually stunning to watch, and the music and sequences flow well, with interludes from a band of four men who become more central as the show progresses. The diving will have you raising questions in places, like "how can they be under for so long?", and the acrobatics, while mildly less impressive, are worthy enough to merit their inclusion.

There's comedy in there too, mainly from those four I mentioned, and it's not too stupid or silly either. It's actually what I might call "sad comedy" in places, which I think is good to see.

You might want to keep away from the very front seats - they come with towels! And you'll be craning your neck up a lot. We were seated nearly right at the top, and the design of the theatre means nothing is that far away still, and you can enjoy some of the higher-up action more easily.

Keep a close eye on the sides of the stage and the three paths leading away from it because there are often things going on there, and watch out for those four men in the pre-show sequence if you have a bald head! That's all i'm saying!
#73766 by iforres1
19 Aug 2005, 07:48
Hi Onionz,

Thanks for the update on Vegas shows. What else did you get up to;).

Just so that I can do some research of course:D

Iain
#73777 by onionz
19 Aug 2005, 13:40
Iain,

Played an awful lot of blackjack! :D

I also saw "We will rock you" at the Paris, which is the same show showing in London's West End. My conclusion was it's silly and almost embarrassing in places, but still reasonably enjoyable especially if you are a Queen fan. I would still rather listen to Queen's original renditions however...

May I also commend Lake Las Vegas to those wanting to get away from it all. You can play golf, go fishing or cruise on the lake, and there's still a casino there so the blackjack doesn't have to stop.

There are also Ritz Carlton and Hyatt hotels, so evidently this is a serious development, and much building work is going on.

Mandalay Bay is my present casino of choice - you can easily find a blackjack table with "stand on all 17s" if you're playing >$25 and it feels spacious, there's often live music, the drinks are high quality and then there's the cocktail waitresses and their obscene costumes...[8D]

It's also very easy to get there from Luxor where I was staying, through the "Mandalay Place" shopping area.
#73787 by iforres1
19 Aug 2005, 14:36
Cheers for that Onionz

Blackjack.....Mandalay......Obscene costumes......I feel a plan coming on:D

76 days and counting

Iain
#73825 by buns
19 Aug 2005, 21:23
Onionz

Thanks for the show review - particularly useful as The Wynne is still fairly new.

With all the other bits you mentioned i cannot wait for the V-flyer Social;);)

buns
#73883 by ChuckC
20 Aug 2005, 15:34
Onionz,
Glad you enjoyed the show. Haven't seen it but did see "O" and recently "Mystere", another Cirque product; found both truly amazing.

Would have to agree with you about the casino at Mandalay, but I also like the Bellagio and Caesar's, plus jetwet1's "home", Stratosphere.

Was it terribly hot in Vegas?

Chuck-
#73909 by onionz
20 Aug 2005, 20:46
Guys, thanks for the kind words - I must admit to loving Vegas, so it's a good job we are off there in November! :D[y]

Iain - without knowing the exact details of your plan, I think I might be right to guess it's a GOOD plan!

Chuck - yep it was hot! And when I tell people that, they look slightly puzzled, until I explain I spent a lot of time inside at the tables...;)
#73953 by ChuckC
21 Aug 2005, 17:10
Originally posted by onionz
Guys, thanks for the kind words - I must admit to loving Vegas, so it's a good job we are off there in November! :D[y]

Iain - without knowing the exact details of your plan, I think I might be right to guess it's a GOOD plan!

Chuck - yep it was hot! And when I tell people that, they look slightly puzzled, until I explain I spent a lot of time inside at the tables...;)


LOL, onion ... I take it that you made some moola?

Chuck-
#73965 by onionz
21 Aug 2005, 19:11
Originally posted by ChuckC

LOL, onion ... I take it that you made some moola?

Chuck-


Sure did - started badly, but then a day before I left I twice walked away from the table, up a shiny purple Mandalay chip...:)[8D]
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