Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson IMMORTAL World Tour

For diehard Michael Jackson fans and dedicated Cirque-goers, IMMORTAL might prove polarizing. One would hope that the marriage of two of the most revered entertainers, Michael Jackson and the organization that forever changed the meaning of the word “circus,” would be one for the books. But it didn’t quite achieve the heights promised by Jackson’s doomed THIS IS IT comeback tour, which he was finalizing before his untimely death in 2009.
Love it or hate it, there is no question about how much time, planning, effort, and collaboration with Michael Jackson’s estate went into the making of this incredibly complex production. In typical Cirque fashion, the costumes, set designs, cutting-edge projection technology, fireworks and light show surpassed expectations. And to see Jackson’s signature moves performed by a legion of dancers while Jackson oversees from footage projected above, is delightful, if not a bit morbid.Homeslice fashion designer lands local runway, hopes for global.The acrobatic duo’s aerial ballet to “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was one highlight. Which goes to show that when Cirque just did what they do best, using Jackson’s songs as a soundtrack to show off talent plucked from all over the planet, it was perfection. It was when they attempted literal interpretations of Jackson’s lyrics that things went south.
Feeling more red light district than circus, the adult moments, like the scantily clad pole dancer who performed to “Dangerous,” garnered the biggest cheers. But, like the gigantic baby MJ puppet and the dancer flopping around in a sparkly glove outfit, the childhood-chasing kid-friendly moments proved most disappointing. An irony that would have been lost on the religious fanatics protesting outside the HP Pavilion.The most powerful moment came in the form of “They Don’t Really Care About Us,” a number that was designed for the THIS IS IT concert tour. Artists dressed like robot soldiers marched in unison beneath disturbing footage of international strife and human suffering. Key quotes about love and hope, delivered by Jackson’s disembodied voice, narrated some of several goosebumps-eliciting moments.
Classic footage of Jackson as a child will bring tears to anyone who understands the rarity of a voice like that or isn’t dead inside. But if the show’s aim is to make audiences feel the immortal presence of a beloved performer, it may have missed the mark. With allusions to his mortality undeniably present throughout, there is something bittersweet and heartbreaking about the show’s approach to Jackson’s legacy. If you are the type who enjoyed watching Michael Jackson tributes and specials after his death, this is about a thousand times better than that.