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Love (Cirque du Soleil)

Love is a 2006 theatrical production by Cirque du Soleil which combines the re-produced and re-imagined music of The Beatles with an interpretive, circus-based artistic and athletic stage performance. The show plays at a specially built theatre at the Mirage in Las Vegas.

Love

Resident show

June 30, 2006

July 7, 2024

Dominic Champagne

Gilles Ste-Croix

Chantal Tremblay

Jean Rabasse

Philippe Guillotel

Yves Aucoin

Jonathan Deans

Dave St-Pierre
Hansel Cereza
Daniel Cola

Nathalie Gagné

Francis Laporte

Michael Curry
Patricia Ruel

Guy St-Amour

Delirium (2006)

Koozå (2007)

A joint venture between Cirque and The Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd, it is the first theatrical production that Apple Corps Ltd. has partnered in. Love is written and directed by Dominic Champagne. Music directors are George Martin, producer of nearly all of The Beatles' records, and his son, record producer Giles Martin. A soundtrack album of the show was released in November 2006.


On April 10, 2024, Cirque du Soleil announced that the show is coming to an end with a final performance on July 7.

Storyline[edit]

The loose story of the production traces The Beatles' biography in broad strokes from the Blitz, through the band's founding and climb into superstardom, their psychedelic and spiritual works and their break-up in 1970. The finale is a joyous celebration of The Beatles' "reunion" that the show itself represents.


Love traces this path without relying on literal or historical representations of individual people. Its landscape is inhabited by fictional characters plucked from The Beatles' lyrics. Sgt. Pepper, a central figure, encounters such characters as Lucy in the Sky, Eleanor Rigby, Lady Madonna and Mr. Kite. In an exception to this stylistic choice, the "Here Comes the Sun" scene features a character resembling Krishna. Similarly, several scenes include mop-topped, dark-haired figures in black suits who resemble The Beatles. The international cast totals 65 performers. Each song or medley is the name of a scene.

: The host of Love.

Doctor Robert

: An English woman.

Eleanor Rigby

: A preacher from older times.

Father McKenzie

: A strange man on Roller skates.

Fool

Groupies: The unrelenting fans of The Beatles

: As a symbol of pride for the nation, she is often seen in a large oval frame.

Her Majesty

: Evokes John Lennon's mother, Julia Lennon.

Julia

and Helter Skelter:.

Mr. Kite

Kids of Liverpool

: Unites the cultures and sounds of the East and West.

Krishna

: A character who represents motherhood.

Lady Madonna

and the Firemen: A duo of lovers.

Lucy

: Represents the aristocratic traditional values.

Mr. Piggy

: Represent the zeitgeist of Love. The Nowhere men are four characters: Pink Nowhere man, Dr Robert, the Fool, and Eggman.

Nowhere Men

: The caregiving stagehands of Love.

Nurses

Sailors

: A Ringmaster-like character.

Sgt. Pepper

: A charming disc jockey.

Sugar Plum Fairy

Teddy Boys

: A Breakdancer.

Eggman

Love has a plethora of characters which are inspired by the music of The Beatles.[8]

Come Together

- Bungee

Get Back

Solo Bar

Trapeze

- Rope contortion

Here Comes the Sun

Aerial (Kris Carrison)

Russian swing

- Korean rope

Sgt. Pepper

- Trampoline

Back in the U.S.S.R.

Latex rope

- Skater

Help!

Spanish web

Free running

Love features elaborate choreography and various acrobatic and aerial performances.[9]

Costumes[edit]

Philippe Guilottel, Love's costume designer, wanted to infuse the same spirit of The Beatles into the costumes for Love. Many include juxtaposed elements, such as traditional and Victorian fashions being combined with colorful, imaginative designs. Many of the costumes are highly sophisticated and voluminous, almost as if taken from a cartoon. For example, Savile Row tailoring traditions were utilized for the Sgt. Pepper Parade, turning the outfits inside out.[10]

"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"

"Blackbird"

"Octopus' Garden"

"Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite"

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

"Get Back/Glass Onion"

A documentary on the making of Love titled All Together Now was released on October 20, 2008.[12]


The following scenes from Love are included in Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away:

Official website

It's big-top Beatles, by George

Something in the Way You Remix, NPR Interview with Giles Martin