When I Was Young

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THREE decades after Elvis Presley took his last bow on the Las Vegas Strip, where he once reigned as king, the magicians of Cirque du Soleil have tried to summon back the power of this supreme entertainer in a show titled, Viva Elvis.

They have mixed a dizzying array of dance, acrobatics, live musicians, over-the-top stage sets, and glitzy costumes with gigantic videos of Elvis in his most legendary performances and memorable life events.

In the words of an Elvis song, the result is "Too Much". The 45 candy-coloured, whimsically-designed jumpsuits worn by a dance troupe are fun to watch. And the show has 120 costume changes, including a Follies-like Las Vegas number.

But for all the energy, skill and effort evident on stage, the most riveting segments of Viva Elvis are the videos in which the Presley charisma is as mesmerising as ever. When Elvis is on the huge screen in simple black and white, you can't take your eyes off of him. And the nearby live performers trying gamely to get attention with their colourful dances and acrobatics are seriously upstaged.

Only when Elvis disappears entirely do the acrobats have a chance to shine.

Friday night's premiere before a star-studded audience of 1,800 at the specially-designed Elvis Theatre in the new Aria Hotel got off to a rocky start when, in the middle of the first number, house lights went on, the stage went dark and there was an announcement that an alarm had gone off.

After a five-minute break, the show resumed to sighs of relief. Videos were projected in a gigantic juke box frame as Elvis' voice filled the theatre singing Blue Suede Shoes. Scenes from his concerts, the hysteria of his fans, and his TV appearances set the stage for a retrospective of his life.

Other extravagant numbers included the famous Jailhouse Rock dance - performed on a 40-foot-high cell block by dozens of dancers and acrobats, some dancing upside down.

A segment dealing with Elvis' time in the army featured male dancers in uniform swing-dancing with girls dressed as love letters. Videos of his induction, including a shot of his mother in tears, provided the kind of emotion that makes Elvis' personal story so compelling.

Before the show began, Priscilla Presley, who was an adviser on the production, said in a brief interview she hoped that "this tribute will help to tell a new generation about Elvis. The younger kids will get to know Elvis". AP

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