The Zuman Race

Cirque du Soleil is taking over Las Vegas and I don't think anybody is complaining. There are five Cirque shows on The Strip, each at an MGM-Mirage owned resort in its own custom built theater. New York-New York Hotel and Casino is home to Zumanity: Another Side of Cirque du Soleil. And, when they say another side, they mean 180 degrees from the staging of other Cirque productions.

Zumanity is an adults only show. No one under 18 allowed, and with good reason It's all about sex, sex and more sex. The warmup acts include two comedians waving dildos in audience members faces and one joke that includes biting a banana placed in a provocative position on the comedian's body. It's not over the top, though. You know what you're going to get when you buy the ticket so it's all in fun.

Women- and some men- in the audience get chills when the "Cuban Candy Bar," Alex Castro, struts on stage. He tosses roses in the audience then proceeds to do a sexy strip tease right down to his birthday suit. No full frontal nudity, though. Several well placed model heads keep you from seeing the nuts on this Almond Joy. I heard a few sighs of disappointment at the conclusion of that act as Alex and Crew descended down the round elevator that is built into the stage, one of four. Later in the show, Alex returns in a skimpy bathing suit but does little more than lay on the floor with the other cast members in what becomes the big Eyes Wide Shut style orgy finale. He's a stripper- no more, no less.

Another interesting act is the two aqua nymphs exploring their sexuality in a water bowl routine. This was probably the the most sensuous act in the show. It was interesting watching the two acrobats perform in the confines of the bowl which isn't even body length in diameter.

Common in Cirque du Soleil shows, Zumanity includes acrobats flying on silk drapes, another doing hoop tricks while flying through the air, a contortionist who can do things with his body that had me and many others in the audience groaning, and comedy. The host is a guy in drag. He's pretty good. Very Liza Minnelli like. And, of course, the staple of Cirque shows is live musicians and singers. The music is great, though because of the sexy burlesqueness of Zumanity, die hard Cirque fans might find the soundtrack a bit below what they are used to.

I'm a big Cirque du Soleil fan. Any time one of the traveling shows comes within a few hours drive of Columbia, I'm there. I've seen Varakai and Delirium in Charlotte and Allegria in Atlanta. Corteo is coming to Atlanta this winter and I already have my ticket. Of the resident shows, I've seen La Nouba at Walt Disney World. Zumanity is the first of the Vegas shows I've seen. While I would love to see all of the other four, I probably will only make it to Mystere at Treasure Island. It's still an affordable and accessible ticket. O at Bellagio, Ka at MGM Grand and LOVE at The Mirage are all very expensive tickets and hard to come by. But I'm sure they're all great and if I can, I will see them. And, you should too.

Oh, Good Evening!