Cirque du Soleil’s Mystere at Treasure Island

At its heart, Cirque du Soleil is about the circus and capturing the awe-inspiring moments that make us believe anything is possible. No show in Las Vegas captures that fun, magical feeling quite like Mystere, a classic Cirque du Soleil show that has been running at Treasure Island since 1993. From the moment a clown begins to roam through the audience before the show to the final acrobatic act and brilliantly colored costume, Mystere is a show that leaves people happy, uplifted and eager to see more.

As people enter the theater, there will be a clown roaming the crowd. His antics are humorous, and his job is to get the crowd in a positive, fun state-of-mind before the performance starts. Be warned, though: If you’re carrying a bucket of popcorn, don’t let this guy carry it … unless you don’t mind being a part of his act.

Once the show starts, the audience is swept away with a high-speed classic circus performance, including a strong man act, trapeze artistry, trampoline tricks, bungee acts and an aerial high bar. It is tied together with haunting music, artistic make-up and costumes, high energy and a baby that makes an appearance throughout the show. Before you know it, an hour and a half has passed and you’ll be forced to reenter a world of people wearing common clothes, doing common things.

Cirque du Soleil has shows that are more risque, a lot more dangerous, arguably more wow-worthy … but Mystere is one of those solid, can’t-go-wrong shows that is pleasing and entertaining without requiring a lot of work on the part of the viewers.

Mystere is a good show choice for families. It is extremely kid friendly packed with oohs, aahs and minimal downtime. But it’s not just for kids; parents will also enjoy the show, particularly for its music, make-up, costumes and incredible artistry.

This show is also a good introduction to anyone who is new to Cirque du Soleil and their take on the non-traditional circus. When people first arrive in the city and ask for a show recommendation, I often suggest Mystere because it is less expensive than many of Cirque’s Las Vegas shows (with additional discounts in low season) and it’s a good introduction to the company’s performances. Are there “better” Cirque shows on the Strip? Most people would say yes, but if you watch one of them first, Mystere doesn’t seem to live up to its hype. To truly enjoy this show’s ability to amaze, make it one of the first shows you see when you visit Las Vegas.

The Mystere theater is impressive in and of itself, and most seats in the house are good, though a few offer limited views. Seats located in the middle of the theater offer the best opportunity to view everything that is going on. Ticket prices start at $60.00; children under 12 are half price. Shows are held every Saturday through Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. There are also select dates throughout each year that the show is black. Confirm show availability through Cirque du Soleil.

Photo credit: Cirque du Soleil