Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour

Many people are too young to know, or have forgotten, how brilliant a performer Michael Jackson was in the 70's and 80's.  There was a time when he was the best in the world.  His singing, stage performance, and artistic creativity were brilliant.  Jackson collaborated with the some of the greatest musicians and guitarists to enhance his music.  I, like most people, never saw him perform live.

Over the years, much has tarnished Jackson's legacy.  There are also places where the greatness of Michael Jackson are highlighted and preserved.  I had the opportunity to experience one of those last night.

I went to Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour at Mandalay Bay Event Center.  The show opened recently, in Montreal, and will be in various cities before taking up residency at Mandalay Bay in 2013.  I purchased tickets a month ago because I was really excited to see the show.  Since, I have emails for discounted tickets.  My expectations for the show were very high.

Spoiler Alert:  This post contains information and opinions about the performance, as well as a video courtesy of Cirque du Soleil.  I try not to reveal too much.



The Mandalay Bay Events Center was not filled to capacity, maybe 80%.  The show was scheduled to begin at 7:00pm, but it did not start until closer to 7:30 or 7:40.  Every Cirque performance I have attended has started late, so I'm not really bothered.  Just saying...

Here is the Wiki page if you want the set list and other details (Link).

The performance started off slowly.  It's almost as if they put all the marginal material and filler near the beginning in hopes that the audience would forget about it by the end.  I can definitely see them reworking parts of the show, including the first few songs, to incorporate more energy while still laying the groundwork for what is to follow.

The central and unifying character to the performance is a mime, who is versatile and dynamic.  He does a great job.  There are many "Michael Jackson" characters, usually performing in tandem in dance routines.

"Wanna Be Startin' Something" was the highlight of the first few performances.  The acrobatics throughout the show were terrific.  The show picks up steam with "Smooth Criminal", and just gets better from there.  A segment focusing on the music of the Jackson 5 is very good.

The video production is amazing.  There were video effects I had not seen in a performance before.  At times I felt like it was over-utilized, when there should have been more live performers.

I'll get my biggest criticism out of the way now.  Michael Jackson has a great catalog of songs, but perhaps the greatest is "Billie Jean".  It is without a doubt my favorite.  I expected "Billie Jean" to be the show-stopper, the best part of the performance.  It was almost an afterthought, included in the Megamix near the end.  They could have done so much more.

For example, most who see the Cirque du Soleil performance never saw Jackson perform live.  There is a real opportunity for the show to capture that experience; for one main "Michael Jackson", who could perform to the music, while all the elements of Cirque du Soleil revolve around him.  This tactic would bring the audience closer to knowing what a Michael Jackson concert was like.  It would fit well during songs like "Billie Jean", "Scream" and "Black or White".  That element is missing.

The band, especially guitarists and back-up singers, is very good.

There are some fun parts to the show that demonstrate the humor and creativity of Cirque du Soleil.  One of these is the performance of "Beat it" (think the sand crab in Ka).

My favorite part of the show is an aerial act, performed to the song "Human Nature".

The show ends in probably the only way possible, with "Man in the Mirror", as the performers are acknowledged by the audience.

I hope not to have focused too much on criticism.  There is so much that is good about this performance and I can be too critical at times. The music, acrobatics, dance, costumes, and video effects are excellent.  Cirque du Soleil had so much material to work with, and did very well.  I also believe a Cirque du Soleil show is a dynamic creation, so it can be modified and improved over time.

Overall, Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour is a phenomenal show.  I would see it ten more times and recommend it to anybody who has the opportunity to attend, not just fans of Michael Jackson's music.

The image and video are sourced and permitted to be shared by the Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour web site.