It’s been nearly two decades since Cirque du Soleil premiered its third Las Vegas production, KÀ. The fantasy epic cemented the company’s legacy as a Strip entertainment institution and paved the way for subsequent shows such as The Beatles LOVE and Michael Jackson ONE with its bar-raising stage production. KÀ has undergone some post-pandemic revision as of late and approaching a watershed moment that will draw focus to the heroes’ journey narrative throughout 2025.
“It’s so exciting that in February we’re going to be celebrating 20 years,” says KÀ senior artistic director Kati Renaud. “When we get to these landmark anniversary years for our shows there’s a part of us that’s like ‘Oh my God. That’s incredible.’ And there’s another part that’s like ‘Yeah, let’s celebrate that, because it’s rare nowadays that shows last that long.’”
If Vegas Cirque shows were elements, Mystère would be earth, as it laid the groundwork for what was to come. The title for “O” originates with the French word for water (“eau”) and Michael Jackson ONE represents air on several levels. KÀ is spirit energy symbolized by fire, the driving force that compels the twin sibling protagonists at the heart of the narrative to overcome obstacles and restore harmony to their empire.
The overall impression of traditional Asian theatrics and martial arts, technological innovations, battle-scene choreography and macro-puppetry distinguishes KÀ from its sister productions, all of which get their turns in the anniversary spotlight.
Renaud has a word for the revision process for the shows. “We invest in them in order for them to have a longer life, and that’s exactly what we did with KÀ when we came back from the pandemic,” she says. “What are we going to do to zhuzh it up? To make an upgrade, to make some enhancements? Which is something we do to our shows.”
For Renaud, that enhancement or upgrade is infused with joie de vivre (or enduring living-in-the-moment) spirit. For KÀ, that meant new music and the first-ever female performer in the pivotal role of The Counselor, revisions that were first presented to director Robert Lepage for his blessing.
The high-tech nature of KÀ’s stage design requires a different approach than that of other Vegas productions. “With KÀ, first and foremost, always, we start technically,” says Arnaud. “Technically, can we do this? Artistically and creatively with the battlefield, I’d love to see if we can do x, y, z. But the first box that needs to be checked is technical.”
Once those boxes are checked, possibilities can be explored. The adrenalizing excitement of the battlefield scenes, with its archers and swordsman, remain in place but have taken on contemporaneous contexts. The gravity-defying action sequences that were part of the original concept may now look like they are drones-eye views of a mixed-martial arts clash. “It kind of plays around with the lens you see it through,” says Renaud.
{ SOURCE: Las Vegas Magazine }
