KA. First, let me say that my repeated comment, "KA maybe the most lavish production in the history of western theater", isn't mine. It's taken from the LA Times review. Rumor has it that KA cost around $200 million to produce. Consider that number when you think about lavish Broadway productions costing approximately $15 million.
KA is the Cirque du Soleil (CDS) production at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It is the first CDS to tell a story, although the story is a minor part of the overall experience. It is the journey of two twins through the elements of Water, Earth, Air and Fire. Of course, good and evil are also themes that are represented.
Unfortunately, with, O, being the "water" show and, Love, being the "Beatles" show, KA hasn't received the attention it truly deserves. (Please know that I am a great fan of both O and Love as well as Mystere and even Zumanity.)
Mark Fisher was contracted to design KA and was given an unheard of budget. He basically gutted the existing theater and rebuilt it to accommodate this show. There really is no stage per se, but what they call the "void". Within the void are several stages that are elevated into place at various moments in the show, but two of these platforms are extraordinary. One is sort of a huge draw that slides in from the back, and the other - perhaps the most massive and exciting playing area in the history of stage design - is an enormous deck that has the capability to rotate 360 degrees, lift up and down almost the full height of the void (basement to rafters), and tilt to almost 90 degrees. Spectacular, but what blows one away when you see it, is that it can do these movements in any combination. The potential - and reality - is visually staggering. Mind-boggling. (The photographs don't even begin to do this production justice.)
In addition, to the sheer spectacle of the theater and it's stages, their is a one-of-a-kind projection system which can track the live movement of the actors and respond accordingly. The designer of this system claims that the programming is so complex and unique that they aren't quite sure how and why it works. They were themselves amazed at the final results. It is explained that there is an enormous computer that using sensors constructs a virtual model of the live performance and then builds the projections based on that virtual model. All in real-time!
What we see is the actually stage reacting to the actors. I fear I've already said too much, but I can tell you that this effect is unlike anything you have ever seen. As the actors touch the deck their impact causes a ripple effect.
And this is just the beginning. Honest. Each seat in the auditorium is outfitted with it's own stereo speakers in the headrest. The sound system and hence design is wild. Sound has the ability to come from virtually anywhere. (This was repeated later in the, Love, theater.)
I was fortunate enough to see the show with someone who is dear to the bass player. This afforded me an extensive backstage tour that took me and my friends to areas that I'm sure a more organized tour wouldn't be able to. I stood on the catwalks behind these stages and saw the huge hydraulic lifts that make all of this happen. The wild part is from the audience, you can't see these machines and so the stage truly appears to be floating. From behind, with the work lights on, they are massive.
Safety is a huge issue, as KA is considered one of the most dangerous productions to perform. As there is no truly connected stage to make an entrance on, you have to be at the exact catwalk at the exact time to meet the moving platforms. The logistics are in themselves beyond anything imaginable. In addition, performers are constantly having to either leap or fall from these platforms. To make this happen and to accommodate the constantly moving stages, there is a sophisticated series of nets and pillowed cushions that have to move in and out of position on tracks that we never see from the audience's perspective.
Do I go on too much... As you can tell, KA made an impression on me. I could go on...
Updated On: 8/6/08 at 08:34 PM
