Cirque du Soleil
Since 1999 I've been a devote fan of Cirque du Soleil. However, last night maybe one of the last shows of theirs I see ([Update: I lied, I just needed a break :)]). I took a trip down memory lane and since that first show in 1999 I've seen many others and have watched them in multiple countries. For my own posterity (and I still think I'm missing one) I believe these are the shows I've seen:
| Date | Show | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 1999 | La Nouba | Orlando |
| Sep 4, 2001 | Dralion | Boston |
| May 25, 2002 | Varekai | Montreal |
| Aug 4, 2002 | Quidam | Boston |
| Oct 30, 2003 | Saltimbanco | Zurich |
| Jul 24, 2004 | Alegria | Philadelphia |
| Aug 7, 2004 | Varekai | Boston |
| Dec 4, 2004 | Mystere | Las Vegas |
| Dec 5, 2004 | O | Las Vegas |
| May 8, 2005 | Corteo | Montreal |
| Oct 7, 2006 | Corteo | Boston |
| Jul 1, 2007 | Delirium | Boston |
| Sep 19, 2008 | Kooza | Boston |
| Aug 30, 2009 | Alegria | Boston |
| Jun 27, 2012 | TOTEM | Boston |
| Jul 1, 2012 | TOTEM | Boston |
| Jun 27, 2014 | Amaluna | Boston |
Why after so many years and so many shows am I having a change of heart? Maybe its a passing thing but the price to value ratio has gone out of whack. For what it is, Delirium tickets felt like they cost twice as much as they should have. I did go the VIP route for a couple of shows and with the free swag, program, and food/drinks it felt more like I was getting good value for my money. I didn't have that feeling last night while watching Delirium.
The show itself is visually stunning, makes fabulous use of video technology, and continues in CdS fashion with memorable music. Like the book I'm reading now, CdS has scarcity going for it. I don't know of another brand (although I'm sure one exists) that produces similar shows. As such they can drive the price up and still manage to sell tickets, although there were quite a few empty seats last night.