a bit of fluff. Celine Dion: A New Day airing March 23 on CBS

[Rhys]

I was privileged tonight to attend the taping of Celine Dion's Production show, A New Day at Caesars Palace here in Las Vegas. I will say that while Celine is very talented as a performer, her work is far too light for my personal taste. However the production was impressive. Franco Dragone, of Cirque Du Soliel fame, is the production designer and this show bears his unmistakable stamp. I think the ticket is worth the money if you are a fan of any Cirque Du Soliel production. From a technical standpoint the stage is tilted at a 30 degree angle so theoretically there is not a bad seat in the house. There are two stair cases on either side of the stage which actually enclose the live band. I don't remember her opening song but any fan of hers will instantly recognise it.( She's chopped off her hair!) It is probably the most Cirque number of the production with dancers primarily in white with these fantastic blue and teal bird like plumes on their heads. They reminded me of dragons. She does an immediate costume change from a mannish suit to a flame coloured dress and that sets the tone of the production from there. "I'm Alive" is a spirited number with the large dance company energetically gyrating in front of a huge video scrim showing a montage of Times Square. A song I am not familiar with ...You Seduce me (?) features her seated in a brown leather chair with all the male members of the dance company surrounding her. One of the things I found most fascinating (and again its a technical thing) was the use of flying straps throughout the production. There are some very surreal moments with a conductor in a gold uniform, a bald man dressed in white and bearing a rose...which Celine took to an audience member...and flying lampposts. Celine herself "flys" in one number (and in a formal gown no less and the brackets holding her are cleverly concealed) She does a tribute to Etta James, Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra. I just remember her "torch" song, Fever out of that tribute. She also does a dance number to Stevie Wonder that is very high energy. She also does a little Neopolitan opera for those of us with more classical tastes (taking a cue from Sarah Brightman? maybe) (I just remember that "Lucia Di Lammermoor" (instrumental) was before it as a very surreal fly sequence with women cast members flying inside flying picture frames...quite something) She closes the show with the theme song from Titanic..."My Heart Will Go On" and the video/staging of this song is dramatic and again surreal and very Jean Cocteau. The scrim at the back of the stage features a closup shot of the moon drifting into view and small meteors fall. Side scrims form a frame work of a old fashioned opera house and a huge candlabra drops from the ceiling ...while the two characters of the conductor (costumed in gold) and the bald man/clown watch the moonrise from the back staircases. She does one encore, to "What a Wonderful World" which is a poignant commentary on today's political situation. In this segement, the back scrim has a giant picture frame and audience members are featured in black and white. Look fast. I'm there for a few frames...unless they save me and edit that part out

I would recommend the production...but for a good taste...March 23rd I think...on CBS

 

[Rhys]

Regular production of the show here in Las Vegas begins March 25th

 

[Rhys]

oh and...

808 (its an upscale eatery feature asian/pacific island fusion cuisine inside Caesars Palace) is very good as well

Try the scallop crusted salmon and the mahi mahi is very good too!

and the Hawaiian macadamia/coconut pudding for dessert!

 

[Rhys]

I think it was

Sir Duke

Music is a world within itself
With a language we all understand
With an equal opportunity
For all to sing, dance and clap their hands
But just because a record has a groove
Don't make it in the groove
But you can tell right away at letter A
When the people start to move

They can feel it all over
They can feel it all over people
They can feel it all over
They can feel it all over people

Music knows it is and always will
Be one of the things that life just won't quit
But here are some of music's pioneers
That time will not allow us to forget
For there's Basie, Miller, Satchmo
And the king of all Sir Duke
And with a voice like Ella's ringing out
There's no way the band can lose

You can feel it all over
You can feel it all over people
You can feel it all over
You can feel it all over people

You can feel it all over
You can feel it all over people
You can feel it all over
You can feel it all over people

You can feel it all over
You can feel it all over people
You can feel it all over
You can feel it all over people

You can feel it all over
You can feel it all over people
You can feel it all over
I can feel it all over-all over now people

Can't you feel it all over
Come on let's feel it all over people
You can feel it all over
Everybody-all over people

 

[k¡tty]

So you might be in part of the shot they panned during her performance of What a Wonderful World? Wearing anything extingishable? Did you wave at the camera? Stick your tongue out? Anything to set yourself away from the rest so that we can figure out which one is you?



It's sounds like it was visually fun. I'm one of the few that admits that I like some of Celine Dion's songs.

 

[Rhys]

Fairly distinguishable. I'm the only blond

 

[Rhys]

a partial set list (that I remember)

Because You Loved me
Its all coming back to me
I surrender
A New Day
The First time ever I saw your face

(not in order)

and I don't remember hearing That's the Way it is...

I know they taped after the audience left so...

 

[Rhys]

aw fuck its tonight

9 pacific I think...