William Shatner makes a splash in Cirque’s ‘One Drop’ show
The show closed with William Shatner and Redfoo singing, “Screw it, we’re moving to Mars!” The night ended much later, after Carrot Top and “Zumanity’s” Edie the Mistress of Sensuality introduced The Backstreet Boys, who performed a thunderous three-song seton a tented stage atop the pool at New York-New York.
“One Night For One Drop” filled Zumanity Theater on Friday night, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Cirque du Soleil’s worldwide clean water-access foundation. The fifth annual installment featured a finale with Shatner leaving his seat in the audience to join The Tenors and lead the full-cast in the “Moving to Mars” production number intoning, “I have a solution!” to the world’s water problems. Moving to Mars was the suggested, comedic option.
The show was co-directed by Nicky Dewhurst and his wife, Laetitia Dewhurst, centering on the aging ringmaster Morales — a role played by Nicky’s 84-year-old father, Brian Dewhurst. Cirque artist Jimmy Slonina portrayed the young Mortales as the story ventured back in time to tell the performers’ life story.
Also appearing in the production were “America’s Got Talent” champ Grace VanderWaal, the acrobatic Duo Sky Angels, the comedy tandem Daredevil Chicken, the Argentinian performance-art troupe Malevo, and artists from each of Cirque’s resident shows.
More from the “One Night” scene, and elsewhere:
VIVA LYTHGOE?
Former “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe has Strip dreams.
“I would certainly love to take the ‘American Idol’ contestants — a lot of them are working, but a lot of them are not — along with some dancers and do a kind of ‘Reality Rocks’ show, to Las Vegas,” said Lythgoe, walking the “blue” carpet alongside his friend, “Fantasy” producer Anita Mann.
“We’ve had talks and meetings, discussed it with hotels, and everyone seems to be interested,” Lythgoe said. “They are interested, until you start talking money. It’s always about money.”
RESIDENCY ON TRACK
It turns out the music in the Backstreet Boys’ “Larger Than Life” production at Axis theater at Planet Hollywood is entirely tracked, or recorded, at the request of the group itself. Evidently, even in their 1990s heyday, the Backstreet Boys never toured with a live band, focusing instead on advanced staging and their signature dance moves. BSB offers a thrilling, sold-out experience at Axis. But if you’re seeking onstage musical artistry, look elsewhere.
OF THIS DUO
Nicky and Laetitia Dewhurst, both of “Zumanity,” are adding to the family’s line of potential circus stars. They said Friday they are expecting their fourth child in June.
Brian Dewhurst said the grandkids help keep the memories of his career fresh. “They bring me these photo albums and ask me, ‘Where’s this?’ ‘That was in Germany, that was in Japan, that was in the Moulin Rouge in Paris, that was the London Palladium …’ God bless my grandkids, for these trips through time, and for keeping me young.”
OF THAT DUO
Daredevil Chicken is familiar to anyone who saw the Spiegelworld showcase “Empire” in 2012 at the Spiegeltent at Caesars. They went by the name Oscar & Fanny in show. They are known for a bit involving firing bites of banana into each other’s mouths from across the stage, which was performed to great laughter (and groaning) Friday night.
MARIE’S VAUGHAN EFFECT
Former “Chippendales” at the Rio lead Jaymes Vaughan was working the blue carpet for the Reelz TV show “Celebrity Page.” He interviewed Marie Osmond, whose advice is largely the reason Vaughan was on the carpet in a suit and not onstage shirtless with a bow tie.
In 2015, Vaughan spoke with Osmond about his career and specified his desire to leave Chipps for a broadcast career. Osmond told him to go for it. Vaughan should left the Chipps and is now part of the media posse at events such as “One Night.”
NEW OWNERS, SAME CHARITY
When Guy Laliberte sold his interest in Cirque du Soleil, a lingering question was the future of his charity, One Drop. The foundation has always been a personal project, which Laliberte married to the production company for “One Night For One Drop.” I asked him if there was any contractual agreement with the new owners, TPG Capital, to continue supporting One Drop.
“No, no, no, it never came to that point,” Laliberte said before the show. “This is totally on a voluntary basis, from the new owners, to have this incredible night.” Laliberte sold his interest to TPG for a reported $1.5 billion in 2015, but remains a minority partner in the company.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.