Zumanity at the New York New York Hotel in Las VegasWritten by Linda Lane
Zumanity – He Said, She Said at New York, New York Hotel in Las VegasRead Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/shows/zumanity/zumanity.html "Zumanity" is a sexual treasury of libidinous fantasies. It is all at once romantic, hot-blooded, naughty, funny, and voyeuristic. Billed as an adult show, latest Cirque du Soleil production at New York-New York in Las Vegas, Nevada, explores human sexuality using mood, dance, acrobatics, and scenes that play out in artistically lustful couplings. From moment one enters theater one's sensual senses are aroused. On walls, deep, rich reds bleed to burgundy with patterns reminiscent of dark watermarks. A large oval window fish-eyes towards lobby, and a beautifully dressed, provocative woman or transvestite, depending on your take, slowly rotates in a comfortable circular chair. The setting is interesting, pleasant to eye, a mental aphrodisiac that will help prepare audience for extraordinary show they are about to witness. Once inside the1,259 seat Zumanity theater atmosphere is charged with sexual electricity. There are love seats for two, cabaret stools, and traditional seating. The ambiance is a mix of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and a European masked ball. Lighting is soft so that one can adjust to scantily clad French maid serving pianist a flute of champagne while an oversexed male in silks and brocade grows more and more amorous with select cast and audience members. A very voluptuous waitress climbs over theatergoers offering them tasty hors d'ouvres. There is action before action, and if you've brought your Zumartini or a glass of champagne, you'll be all more ready to let your hair down.
| | Shanghai Ballet Performs Coppelia Written by Rob LaGrone
Shanghai Ballet Performs Coppelia Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/classic/vegas/shanghai/shanghai.html he Shanghai Ballet fills stage with talent, movement, and fun. The ballet "Coppélia" takes place in a Galician village, and it appeared entire little town had turned out for tonight's celebration. "Coppélia" is a rare ballet with a comic bent, a witty female lead, and, uh, less-than-heroic male characters. Like Nutcracker, it is based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffman, and you'll notice parallels in dreamy, childlike sense of make-believe it portrays. Formed in 1979, Shanghai Ballet has become a world-renowned dance company whose members have won many awards at prestigious international ballet competitions. They are currently on a U.S. tour, showcasing grace and skill of their dancers. Act I reveals that Franz and Swanilda are an uneasy couple. Franz is revealed to be a typical man, blowing a kiss to a pretty girl in an upstairs window right in front of Swanilda, his supposed fiancée. Still, you feel sorry for him when Swanilda begins teasing him cruelly in front of a growing crowd in village square for his unfaithfulness. This act contains as much pantomime as dancing. Acting out a story is always a work of rather abstract art, and it was an amusing challenge to interpret gestures and dance movements: "Ah, burgermeister is asking Swanilda if she and Franz will marry tomorrow as planned. She's being rather non-committal..." There is some very nice solo and ensemble dancing here, including some terrific one-footed twirling jumps by Swanilda. Remember, in hula you watch hands; in ballet you watch feet. And what of Las Vegas-style dancing, you ask? Never mind. The pretty girl who started all this is none other than Coppélia, daughter of eccentric old toymaker Coppélius. In a rather Shakespearean way, Swanilda and her girlfriends become as intensely interested in this silent girl in upper window as Franz is - and nobody knows a thing about her! Act I ends with kids figuring out how to sneak into Coppélius' house to satisfy their overpowering curiosity. Act II is really fun. Swanilda and her nervous young girlfriends sneak into house and are startled by each of old man's life-sized dolls, one at a time. The dancers' expressions of curiosity, alarm, and discovery are utterly charming. When they open curtain to Coppélia's room - have you guessed it already? - ah, so thats why she didn't respond to hellos and waves from outside. Swanilda is delighted (probably at Franz's gullability at falling for a doll), and after old Coppélius returns and chases other girls out, she hides in Coppélia's room and puts on doll's dress, taking her place. Soon Franz climbs in through workshop window seeking Coppélia. Old Coppélius confronts Franz and then offers him a drink spiked secretly with sleeping powder.
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