With a massive pool, a morphing stage and world-class performers, O at the Bellagio has become one of the most sought-after shows, not only in Vegas, but in the world. With an immensely creative set and costumes, O takes you to another place and time — almost a place in the past with the 18^th century guards, but also looking to the future with amazing amphibian ‘zebras’ performing synchronized swimming and odd creatures with fantastical acrobatic skills. With beautiful chamber/new age music, O harks to the classic opera with a twist of oddity, creating a whole new genre of music that is unique to Cirque du Soleil.

The show includes synchronized swimmers beautifully dressed in colorful costumes, a series of ‘pirate’ gymnasts bravely performing on a skeletal ship, and three Mongolian contortionists elegantly contorting in on a ‘lily pad’ in a pond, all set to a soothing and calm orchestra. Water is central in this show, as well as the other elements, like fire (a live burning man on stage for what looked like a really long time to burn!) to earth and air being interpreted through contortionists on a lilypad and gymnastics on aerial hoops. I was so happy to see such an imaginative collaboration come through to everyday people who may not have the imagination or time (since some of us escape our hectic lives and the crumbling world to Vegas on vacation-free time) to think of such a fantasy world.

O does this perfectly. The incredible costumes paint the stage like a treasured work of art, and the music sets the tone of art. Directed by the incredibly talented Franco Dragone, O is set on a stage of a 1.5 million gallon pool, along with a moving stage in three pieces. Dragone says, “O is an homage to the theater, the place where we try to entertain all of humanity, for it is in the theater where humanity tries to understand itself.” A visual and audio feast for your body and soul, O is truly an original, a show like no other on Earth.

In true Cirque Du Soleil fashion, the incredible team of Guy Laliberte, the founder; Franco Dragone, the writer and director; Gilles Ste-Croix, director of creation; Michel Crete, the set designer; Dominique Lemieux, the costume designer; and Benoit Jutras, the composer and musical director, plus many more… have created an innovative, classy, elegant, sophisticated, and gorgeous form of entertainment for the Las Vegas Strip. Vegas is lucky to have them…