Cirque du Soleil’s influence on live entertainment is incalculable, and Las Vegas is the only place in the world to see numerous variations on the concept of reinvented circuses any given night. It was the logical place to both debut groundbreaking cinema-style live thriller R.U.N and provide the setting for filmmaker Robert Rodriguez’s scenario, which follows a gang leader, The Hero, as he’s pursued through the Vegas underworld. Reminiscent of Rodriguez’s 2005 film Sin City, it relies more on action, neo-noir set design and narration by the central character than acrobatics.
In other words, it’s a departure from other Cirque shows, yet retains Cirque’s aesthetic standards. Gangs duke it out before a fireworks factory explodes. The Hero is chased in a segment that includes projections, a treadmill and a moving automobile, then tortured before crashing into Lake Mead. Motorcycles zoom down the aisles to the stage where they pull off mid-air flips. Unlike in movies, there are no retakes.
Luxor, 7 & 9:30 p.m. Wed.-Sun., 8 p.m. show only Jan. 26 & 29-30, 9 p.m. show only Jan. 31, starting at $59 plus tax and fee. 855.706.5433
