‘Fab Four’ looks forward to Cirque competition

Thursday, April 20, 2006 | 7:43 a.m.

When it opens June 2, the much anticipated Cirque du Soleil production at the Mirage, "The Beatles LOVE," will immediately overshadow "Fab Four Mania" down the Strip at the Aladdin.

Tickets to "LOVE" will range from $69 to $150 (with a 25 percent discount during the preview period, through June 29).

Tickets to "Fab Four Mania" range from $22 (for children) to $59 (VIP).

Cirque opens its show in a new, $100 million theater in the round.

"Fab Four" is performed in the Aladdin's V Theatre, which didn't cost $100 million, but is cozy and not unappealing.

"LOVE" has a cast of about 60. "Fab Four" has a cast of - four.

David Saxe, producer of "Fab Four," said he is not concerned about being left in the dark by the competition.

"It's going to bring the Beatles more into the spotlight," said Saxe, who has produced shows in Las Vegas for 20 years.

He admits when Cirque first announced its new venture, he was concerned.

"I was worried about them stealing our business - we are doing great," Saxe said. "But the more I thought about it, I think it's just going to make fans more aware of the Beatles.

"I'm hoping people will say the Cirque production is great, but now let's go see these guys who are dead-on tribute artists and capture the essence of the Beatles."

Abstract vs. reality? Picasso vs. Norman Rockwell?

"I don't know, creatively, what Cirque is going to do with the Beatles," Saxe said.

When "LOVE" was announced in October 2004, nothing was revealed about the production itself, and Wednesday's announcement of the ticket sales did nothing to enlighten fans, other than a prepared statement that said the show will "bring the magic of Cirque du Soleil together with the spirit and passion behind the most beloved rock group of all time."

Cirque artistic coordinator Kati Renaud says "LOVE" is unique, but that pretty much describes every Cirque production. She said the show is "complex, technically."

"Like most Cirque shows, you can go a little bit crazy with lots of fun stuff, lots of automation," Renaud said. "It's unique and complex in its own way - that's the challenge."

However, "Fab Four Mania" is a known commodity - it's a superb tribute show.

The low-budget production features a quartet of performers who pay painstaking attention to every detail of their performance.

None of the music is on tape. The instruments and voices are real.

The show is divided into three periods of the Beatles' career: The first is 1963 to 1966, when they first appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and exploded onto the American music scene. The second period, the psychedelic phase, covers 1966-67. The third period includes songs from 1967-70.

"We could do a four-hour show with nothing but the Beatles' No. 1 hits," Saxe said.

But the show is 75 minutes, filled with the best of the best.

Saxe is not unmindful of the competition and the fact that it probably will increase his own business, if for no other reason than the curiosity factor.

"We're going to add some production value," he said. "We're going to add some go-go dancers, more eye candy.

"We have a video wall coming in - and a lot of other surprises."

Saxe was surprised by the universal appeal of the Beatles when the show debuted at his theater more than two years ago.

"I was concerned at the beginning that it was only going to appeal to Baby Boomers, a certain market," he said. "But I was pleasantly surprised - even the young kids who come in know the words to the songs."

Even Saxe is impressed with his own show.

"I've produced a lot of shows and I've liked them all, but after a while I get tired of seeing them and they just become a job," he said. "But the Beatles is one of the only shows I love to go down and check on."

Is there room enough in Las Vegas for two shows featuring Beatles music?

"The worst case is that it becomes a Cirque Beatles vs. V Theatre Beatles," Saxe said.

Amazing Johnathan off

Comic magician Amazing Johnathan, who performs at the Sahara, will be out of town from Friday through May 8, performing in Australia.

'Le Reve' salutes mothers

"Le Reve," at Wynn Las Vegas, will honor mothers by offering two-for-one tickets for both performances on Mother's Day, May 14.

Shows are at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $90.

For more information, call 770-9966.