Las Vegas Weekly

September 18, 2008 · 3:26 PM

At Believe, the magic starts the moment you enter

By Robin Leach

Photo: TVT

Criss Angel poses with one of his favorite props.

Step just past the new box office and Believe souvenir merchandize store and the magical journey into Criss Angel’s playpen palace of prestidigitation begins right there. You’ll walk down two long hallways that feature amazing framed “paintings”. These are no ordinary works of art. They all move and change as you pass by. The images go through three, maybe four, transformations as you watch them- mesmerized. All feature Criss or Lucky the Rabbit and are totally unique and spellbinding.

Enter the theater’s main lobby area and Lucky the Rabbit moves again in the many different panels fixed behind the bars. But its inside the new completely re-designed and configured theater that you get the first glimpse of the influences of Believe.

The stage is “framed” in a gold border – think of a picture frame … Think of an olden-day theater you might have seen in the magic movie The Prestige. Outside of it, though, and closer to the audience is another “frame.” That consists of two columns at either side with very large intricate mechanical objects featuring Lucky the Rabbit again. I know Lucky pops out of the hiding places, but my hunch is that both objects slide up and down the columns as part of the pre-show. Criss showed me how the smaller version works in his dressing room.

Photo: TVT

Criss Angel with Lucky the Rabbit.

Across the top of that closer to the audience framing though is an amazing “clock” that also has, as yet, unknown movement and surprises to it. But that center-clock rabbit itself stretches out over 10 feet wide and 10 feet tall. It took 30 scenic artists almost three months of work to complete the unique creation. All told there are seven rabbit characters on this “frame” – and in addition to “hiding” the lighting and special effects it will feature the new Cirque automations. Those will all remain shrouded in secrecy until next Friday night when the first preview audience becomes the very first outside people to witness them. Yep -- not even I was allowed that privilege!

Photo: TVT

Criss Angel gets face-to-face with a Believe costume.

For an example of one of choreographer Wade Robson’s dance numbers from ‘Believe” with his dancers, watch part of the “Homage to the Rabbits” segment on YouTube. He offered this sneak preview on his So You Think You Can Dance TV show which last weekend won him an Emmy.

CLARIFICATION: In our exclusive story yesterday (CLICK HERE) about Criss renewing the Mindfreak TV series for a new fifth season, I noted that he still has the Mandrake magician movie on his schedule. I incorrectly assumed the movie he referred to was Mandrake, so I must point out, with appropriate apology, that Criss is no longer involved with that Hollywood project. Instead he is now writing his own magic- themed movie as part of a new extended film development deal.

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