Angel talks with preview audiences about the ongoing changes at Believe as Halloween approaches

By Robin Leach (contact)

Friday, Oct. 3, 2008 | 11:46 a.m.

Each night of previews -– I repeat, previews -- for Criss Angel’s new Cirque du Soleil Believe show see new illusions being added and perfected with adjustments to the running times of the woven scenes. The last few days have seen distorted and misunderstood reports about the illusion driven show and Criss has gone on record admitting that the previews are a challenging and necessary difficult part of the production process. He’s also firmly convinced that it will be 100 percent ready for its proper and full Halloween premiere!

To clear up confusion about comments about wires being visible onstage, which were jumped on by critics, it’s important to point out those are for the Cirque aerialists. They are not part of his illusions, and to make them visibly standout even further, I know Criss has ordered they be wrapped in deliberately -- white ribbons to indicate they are supposed to be there for the aerialists.

Two illusions that were not ready for the first two preview nights are now included nightly -- and fans are in awe with them. Two more will be added next week and another two are being held back especially for the world premiere on Oct. 31. Criss points out that he’s not the only one on stage performing magic and that there are now 25 illusions incorporated into the 90-minute show by all the performers, including himself. He’s been meeting with Mindfreak fans and audience members after the shows welcoming feedback and comment –- and one night more than 500 of the audience mobbed him in the Mindfreak boutique -- after giving him standing ovations.

One of my colleagues, Melissa Arseniuk, at our Las Vegas Sun sister newspaper has written a very exact piece on the current status of the show with extraordinarily candid commentary from Criss, including his own backstage perspective. Here’s the link to Melissa's report.