KÀ can easily be called one of the most edge-of-your-seat Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas. Not only do the artists here perform jaw-dropping acts, but technology also plays a role in one of the most multifaceted stages on the Strip.
Unique among Cirque shows for its story line, KÀ begins as twins find themselves separated when a battle destroys their home. Twin Brother is injured and escapes with his jester sidekick. Twin Sister jumps on a boat with her valets and nursemaid to get away. From there, the story follows both as they find love, even more conflict and eventually reunite. In fact, the name KÀ comes from the Egyptian idea that this duality “can either unite or separate, destroy or illuminate,” according to the creators’ notebook.
One of the hidden characters in this show is the technology behind it. The amazing 360-degree stage can turn at angles, stand upright and disappear completely into a scene. During The Climb, Twin Sister, the nursemaid and valets climb a steep cliff with the archers and spearmen hot on their heels. The stage rotates 12 degrees per second as the artists avoid 80 “arrows” that look like they strike the surface. They’re actually pegs that pop out of the stage and come and go to match the artists’ choreography.
Other technological feats make the experience even more exhilarating. For example, in The Deep scene, the nursemaid falls into the ocean and is saved by Twin Sister. As the nursemaid falls deeper and deeper in the water, she breathes air bubbles created through interactive video projections that are triggered by infrared sensors that react to the movements of the artists. Nary a drop of water touches the stage.
In The Blizzard scene, the tribesmen climb 50 feet on the 360-degree vertical stage. A video projection of the face of the frozen cliff reacts to the performers’ movements to create falling rocks and even more drama.
The 80 or so artists bring their own dimension to the show, too. Company manager John Barnett says they’ll often go in search of a certain act to go with a scene. “Often, the creation team has a specific idea for an act that has never been seen before, and will scout artists who fit the performance profile of skills and then develop the act to fit the show,” he says. For example, The Boat scene uses a 1,800-pound structure that rocks and turns based on the movements of the artists onboard. That act was developed specifically for KÀ.
Other times, an established act might be a perfect fit for the show. “At KÀ we have … The Wheel of Death act with Sabu and Francisco Alegria, who brought their existing acts to the show,” Barnett says.
With that act, the performers defy gravity (and a few other things) in a round cage that rotates on a center axle. One runs, jumps and even jumps rope on the outside of one cage while the other controls the speed of this rotating machine from inside another. The result? Edge-of-your-seat entertainment.
MGM Grand, 7 & 9:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat. (dark July 19), $69-$150 plus tax and fee. 702.531.2000
