by Kiko Miyasato
Aria at CityCenter, 7 & 9:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., $99-$175 plus tax and fee. 702.531.2031
At Aria, the King has apparently not left the building. Viva Elvis by Cirque du Soleil captures, reinterprets and emotes the essential qualities and music that made Elvis Presley a superstar. An enthusiastic tribute to the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, the show pulls off just the right amount of passion to satisfy longtime Elvis fans.
In the production, a loose timeline of Elvis’ life frames a more important element—the music. The performers don prison garb for the dark and rousing “Jailhouse Rock” number, and “Return to Sender” gets a refreshing update with a boot camp-style “stepping” routine.
In addition to live musical interpretations and historical footage, the production showcases Cirque’s athleticism and prowess in unconventional circus arts. Cirque’s ability to create fantastic worlds has encapsulated the spirit of Elvis.
