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Erik Kabik/Retna/ErikKabik.com
Priscilla Presley and Viva Elvis cast members at the Cartier VIP reception at MGM CityCenter’s Crystals for Nevada Ballet Theatre’s 27th Annual Black and White Ball on Jan. 29, 2011. Priscilla Presley was honored as NBT’s Woman of the Year.
Monday, Aug. 15, 2011 | 9:51 a.m.
De-emphasizing the story of Elvis Presley in the Cirque du Soleil production “Viva Elvis” at Aria is fine with one of the people who knew him best.
“I am excited that Cirque Du Soleil has decided to modify ‘Viva Elvis” is how Priscilla Presley put it last week. “It will make a good show an even more exciting show.”
Priscilla supplied her opinion through spokeswoman and Rogers & Cowan PR executive Samantha Mast.
Last week, the production announced that it was making significant changes in the show. The news release read, in part, that the company would present “less of a biographical representation of Elvis and more of an acrobatic Cirque du Soleil spectacular production.”
Noting its decision to close its production show “Zed” in Tokyo (citing the natural disasters that have hit Japan as the reason), Cirque is updating “Viva Elvis” with more traditional acrobatic acts that were featured in that show. (Read my colleague Robin Leach’s column about the “Viva Elvis” changes here).
If anything can be taken from Presley’s comment, it’s that the changes to the show are in the hands of Cirque. As a representative of Elvis Presley Enterprises, which has partnered with Cirque to produce “Viva Elvis,” Presley has long been a proponent of the largely biographical approach to the production. In January, on the event of her being honored as Woman of the Year by Nevada Ballet Theatre, Presley said changes to the show were being discussed, but it was apparent those talks were centered on bringing more of Elvis' life story to the show, not less.
"We’re trying to get more Elvis, even though it’s a Cirque celebration of his life, some of the song choices and being tighter, a couple of the acts will be a little bit different," she said at the time. "It’s the same show, but oh my God, it’s got so much life and energy, and Elvis is more in it, and everyone agrees that’s what it needed.
"It’s about Elvis, we all know all of his songs, and we can hear the songs, but we need to know why everyone was so enthralled by him and captivated by him. And that’s all happening, and that’s good." Presley said she specifically preferred more gospel songs in the performance, as Elvis loved gospel music.
In its earliest stages, the show has told the story of Elvis through variations of his classic songs and a narrative by a Col. Tom Parker-styled character. To enact the changes, the show will shut down for an extended period beginning in January, with the revised version expected to roll out by the spring.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow "Kats With the Dish" at twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.
Friend of mine said it was the worst of the Cirq shows. Glad they are revamping it. The Love/Beatles show is one of the best. The Elvis show should use that as a guideline. Less biographical, just use the music and acrobats.
I'm tired of circ, and elvis. Why not something on Jimmy Hendrick preformed by trained seals.
A Cirque show just can't be done with any justice on a Theater stage - it needs the likes of the kind of stage the LOVE show utilizes. I have seen this Elvis show - hated it - have seen LOVE 9 times and will keep seeing it - everytime I sit in a new section it's like seeing a whole new show :)
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Priscilla would like anything that brings her more money.Why would she want a show that is less Elvis.Greedy.more money.She is a lonely morbid woman.It is so sad what she has become nothing less than a gold digger. She needs to not wear black unless she is deceased.Look at the before and after pictures.She is nothing more or less than an X. He did not mention her in his will and she was not to profit from the Presley name.She changed that by visiting Vernon on his death bed.Read Joe Esposito's account of it.
This woman was classy albeit naive, when she was married to Elvis, but now she lacks any taste or class. She is happy for the show that is going to be revamped. Does that mean she was not happy with the original show and didn't express it? or went along with it since it made money? She has absolutely no idea what an "Elvis Show" Should be and she is going along with this acrobatic debacle, which is cheap and demeaning to the image that Elvis had built as a consummate performer and the greatest entertainer that ever lived. He often did 24 takes on recording of a song, since he was a perfectionist. She has lost all credibility as spokesperson for the show.
This is a very sad situation that the beautiful performers of Cirque cannot find a show that benefits their talents also. Some show that is classy, bluesy, jazzy, and with lots of lights and music to show off the performers talents as well as keep the customers satisfied to watch the show and the performers. An hour and one-half of Elvis is a lot of Elvis for an audience to absorb and for those performers who were not in that era to perform also although the choreography training trains the dancers for any show.
Perhaps if the owners of the Cirque will put their thinking caps on they will have a show that is different than just a modified Elvis show that will be the best show the Cirque has done in some time. Something blue, jazzy, and classy.
They removed my previous post asking about Pric. health. I meant no disrespect. It just looks to me as if she has something going on with her face.
I attended the present show last fall with my daughter. She spent the entire evening watching the screen images of Elvis, not the acrobats from Cirque. This show would be better if they would darken the performance area somewhat like Ka, then bring his best music to life. All emotions should play out through the audience.....fun, laughter and even a tear. After all his story is one of huge success as well heart breaking at the end. Millions of people cried that day and that same emotion should prevail at the end of the show. One thing is for sure, they have perfect songs from which to choose.