360 Vegas Reviews: Awakening

Published: July 27, 2023, 11 a.m.

b'On the next "Chicks you don\'t want to break up with:"\\n\\xa0\\nI think there\\u2019s been more talk about this show since it opened than any other Vegas show in memory.\\xa0 Good or bad, people are talking about Awakening.We saw the show in late February 2023, when we were in town for the Half Marathon and 360 Vegas Winter Vacation.Before we get to the review, let\\u2019s talk about how Wynn got here.\\xa0 When the resort opened in 2005, it opened with the production show La Reve. Like Awakening, La Reve had its share of problems.\\xa0 Developed by Franco Dragone from Cirque, who Steve Wynn poached from Cirque.\\xa0 Dragone was instrumental in developing Mystere and \\u201cO\\u201d for Wynn at Treasure Island and Bellagio. The sort-of Steve Wynn biography \\u201cWinner Takes All\\u201d talks about the mixed reactions to La Reve in the beginning, including bewildering acts like pregnant women falling from the ceiling during the show.\\xa0 We almost saw Le Reve in July of 2020, but shows weren\\u2019t cleared to reopen, and our front row seats were refunded to us. Permanent closure of La Reve was announced Aug 14, 2020.\\n\\nComplete with giant mythical forest creatures!\\nWynn announced Awakening\\xa0 in October, 2022.\\xa0 The show was developed by Bernie Yuman, Baz Halpin, and puppeteer Michael Curry.\\xa0 Theater aficionados might recognize Michael Curry\\u2019s puppet work from The Lion King Broadway production. Awakening opened November 7, 2022 but closed briefly for a few weeks for rehearsals/changes in January. The show closed again April 17, \\u201822, and at the time of this writing is scheduled to reopen Friday, June 23.So you want my opinion?\\xa0 I think this is a really good show. It has a unique story and great visuals, which include fantastic costumes, innovative puppets, and a state of the art stage.The story is like nothing I\\u2019ve seen on a Vegas stage. It has its own mythology, and the groundwork for the story set up in the prologue. (I believe the prologue was added after the January hiatus, and the addition of this prologue has cleared up a lot of confusion around the story that surrounded the show\\u2019s brief first run.)\\xa0 Essentially, the story goes: Light and Dark are lovers, and together create Magic. Light leaves, Dark freaks out, and Dark imprisons Magic. Custody battles suck. Heroine \\u201cIO\\u201d sneaks into Black and White ball that Dark is holding in a sort of heist. IO finds Magic, and ends up on a quest to unite Dark and Light, and free Magic.\\xa0 Together with her companions, she travels through multiple \\u201crealms,\\u201d like Water, Earth, Air, and Fire.The Awakening theater is gorgeous. It is a theater in the round, so there are really no bad seats.\\xa0 At the time I saw the show, Wynn charged the most for seats in the back, presumably because you can see it all better?\\xa0 (A look at ticket prices for the June reopening indicates that this is not the case in the future.) There are individual surround sound speakers at each seat, so every seat has great audio.\\xa0 Seats are also quite comfortable.\\n\\nHave you heard the word?\\nThe stage itself is a technological marvel.\\xa0 It is constantly changing levels in sections to create different environments. The stage floor is translucent, and underlit, for additional effects.\\xa0 Michael Curry\\u2019s puppets - the word \\u201cpuppet\\u201d seems way too insignificant for his creations - are incredible. Personal favorites include a giant whale that seems to swim above you, and a rock creature that comes alive on the stage.\\xa0 Of particular note is the creepy blank-face dark creature that serves as Dark\\u2019s chief henchman.\\xa0 The show makes full use of the theater space, so the story feels like it plays out everywhere, not only are you looking side to side, but up and down as well.Audience Fuckery Factor: Zero.\\xa0 No one\'s messing with you, so sit back and just enjoy the show.Not sure if drinks were allowed in the theater. No drink service during show, but there was a bar in the theater lobby.When the show resumes on June 23, showtimes are set for 7 and 9:30 pm. Shows are Tuesdays through Saturdays, dark Sund'