Viva Viva Elvis!

Cirque du Soleil's fizzy evocation of the man and his music restores the King to his Vegas throne

Julie Acoin

"Blue Suede Shoes": On the giant stage the King surveys his court of musicians and frenetic dancers

There he is, in vivid black and white, onstage at Las Vegas' new Aria hotel-casino, squalling "Blue Suede Shoes" on a gigantic screen behind a jukebox-shaped set. Below him, eight musicians serve as his amped-up house band while a dozen dancers practically leap out of their tight pants and pedal pushers. At center stage is a huge shoe, which another half-dozen revelers use as a trampoline, performing double somersaults in time to the music. The King looks down, smiling as if in approval of this spectacular union of two crucial elements--one past, one present--of Vegas show biz. Elvis Presley, meet Cirque...

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