Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.
The world of entertainment was a much different planet in Las Vegas when Cirque du Soleil debuted "Mystere" at Treasure Island in December 1993.
"There were lots of revues, and showgirls," Franco Dragone said. "I had heard it was a city of depravation -- Sin City."
Dragone created "Mystere," whose success has changed the Las Vegas landscape forever. He says he came to the city because of its uniqueness.
"What inspired me was that when you come to Vegas, all over the world they know about this," Dragone said. "And I think, I really think, Las Vegas doesn't try to look like other cities -- it is unique."
The most spectacular show at the time of Dragone's arrival may have been "Siegfried & Roy" at the Mirage.
There were a number of other spectacles, including "Starlight Express" (Las Vegas Hilton); "Enter the Night" (Stardust); and "City Lites" (Flamingo).
And sexy showgirls: "Jubilee!" at Bally's; "Splash" at Riviera; "Les Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana.
There were several country music shows in town: "Country Tonite" (Aladdin); "Nashville, USA" (at Boomtown, now Silverton); "Hot Rock 'n' Country" (Plaza).
But there was nothing on the magnitude of "Mystere," which Cirque followed up with "O" at the Bellagio.
Both were brainchildren of Dragone, who left Cirque after the birth of "O" to form his own company, which has created Celine Dion's production at Caesars Palace and "Le Reve," which premiered at Wynn Las Vegas in May.
Between "Mystere" and "Le Reve," the Las Vegas entertainment scene has expanded to include such Broadway-like productions as "Mamma Mia!" at Mandalay Bay and even more Cirque shows ("Zumanity" at New York-New York; "Ka" at MGM Grand).
The offbeat "Blue Man Group," which recently moved from the Luxor to the Venetian, has proven to be a winner.
But not all large-scale productions have succeeded: "We Will Rock You" at Paris Las Vegas closed recently.
But just around the corner are "Hairspray" (coming to the Luxor), "Phantom of the Opera" (Venetian) and "Spamalot" (Wynn).
Almost from the day it opened there were rumors that "Le Reve" was in trouble.
"I, too, have heard some negative talk," Dragone said during a visit to Las Vegas last week. But he denies the show is in danger.
"Our attendance is growing all the time," he said.
Dragone says a few empty seats don't bother him. He noted that the theater has 2,087 seats to fill, twice a day, which is equivalent to filling one show at the 4,000-seat Colosseum, home of Dion's production.
"I am happy with this show," he said.
One of the early complaints about "Le Reve" was that it was too dark.
"When 'Mystere' debuted, some found the show dark, also," Dragone said. "They didn't think it would work in Las Vegas."
That was almost a decade ago, and the production continues to pack the theater.
"Le Reve" has gone through some changes since opening, making it much lighter and more audience-friendly.
"I agree it was dark. I listened to my audiences," he said. "But four or five years ago, when I first created it, the context was different."
But one thing Dragone will never change about this or other shows he creates -- he will not insult the intelligence of his fans.
"I really think people are getting smarter and smarter," Dragone said. "The kind of show I want to do, I ask the audience to work. I don't want to lead them by the nose.
"I want them to use their own imagination -- I want a primal contact with people, contact with their emotions."
He says his goal is to "be honest with the people," "touch their emotions -- and at the same time be spectacular."
"When people come to Vegas, they want to be able to go back home and say 'I saw this show -- only in Las Vegas can you see this show,' " Dragone said.
Now that Dragone has changed entertainment in Las Vegas, he has his eye on New York.
He is creating a musical based on the opera "Carmen."
Dragone says the book has been written, and he has chosen a theater.
"They wanted that I bring them something from Las Vegas, some kind of spectacular thing," Dragone said. "I think because in New York, all the shows look alike. They all take the same approach -- there is a kind of envy in New York for Vegas."
Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at [email protected].
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