Criss Angel stars as a surreal, enigmatic Victorian Noble. Along a path of imaginative
exploration, he encounters Kayala and Crimson, two women who represent different aspects
of femininity, four bizarre Ushers, who will introduce the audience to the baroque theater
of Criss’s mind and a high-energy troupe of characters and dancers who mix a multitude of
styles into a high-energy visual feast, punctuated by moments of grace and sensuality.
The stunning illusions in Criss Angel BELIEVE are not presented as stand-alone elements,
but as interdependent components using heightened imagery, fantastical creatures and
impossible feats of legerdemain, which are integrated into the dazzling, colorful fabric
of the story.
Premonition
Criss comes towards the audience and throws his wristband into the crowd. Once a
spectator catches it, Criss has the person tell their name, where they're from,
and to pick any word out of the English language. A small, locked box (always within
the view of the audience) is then lowered from the top of the stage, where Maestro
opens it and brings its contents - a clear plastic jar with a piece of paper in it
- to Criss and the selected audience member. Much to the amazement of the audience,
the paper contains the name, location, and chosen word of the participant.
Tesla Coil
Criss is suited up in a chainmail outfit as a very large Tesla coil is presented
onstage. Criss goes to enter the cage surrounding the coil, but Crimson has other
plans. She turns the power to the coil all the way on, causing sparks to fly and
the theatre lights to go out. A pained shout is heard from Criss, and he writhes
on the ground in pain as human-sized rabbits in doctor's coats lift him onto a
gurney and roll him offstage.
Lucky & Homage to the Rabbits
A small rabbit appears on a large projection screen, desperately trying to
escape. It makes its way out and hops onto a box, taking a small microphone
and discussing Cirque du Soleil show rules and how it is now going to take
over the show. While assuring the audience that no animals were harmed during
the production of the show, a large light burns out and falls from the top of
the stage, crushing Lucky and killing him instantly. The Ushers come out to
find Lucky, placing him on the front of the stage as multiple rabbits come out
to dance for their fallen friend. While they dance, Lucky's corpse is taken
away, only to be replaced with Criss' body on a gurney. Crimson, who seems
to be leading the dance, rips Criss' form off of the gurney and onto the floor,
where all of the rabbits fight over it to get a piece. They then dance around
with his limbs, head and torso, before being shooed away.
Humbodik
The Ushers reassemble Criss, before running offstage to get "the machine".
Crimson reappears, dancing for the body of Criss while the machine is brought
out. Criss' body is then lifted from the ground, before being engulfed in CO2.
After the CO2 is blown away, we see Criss, whole again.
The Dolls & Doves
Three dolls - Gigi, Taz and Charissa - appear, dancing seductively while they
dress Criss. Criss does some sleight of hand with doves, before he disappears
into a cloud of CO2, reemerging with his own pair of wings. He levitates above
the stage for a few moments, before disappearing into the stage.
Poppy
Grit, a rabbit, appears on the stage and performs some contact juggling, while
a large rabbit hops onstage to watch him. Two men dressed up as poppies come
out and spin around, as a very large poppy is brought onstage. Suddenly, the
poppy opens to reveal a beautiful woman clad in a white unitard. She performs
some aerial acrobatics as Criss appears through a trapdoor in the middle of
the stage. He stands on a platform made of thorns, staring up at the woman in
awe, a hand clutching at his heart. The woman descends from her flower into
Criss' arms. The two embrace before she gets off of the platform.
Scarecrow
Two men in white, billowy skirts wave large white fans before Criss, hiding
him from view. When he is show again, he is shouting in pain, as Crimson is
crawling through his body. Kayala hides behind the Ushers, who urge her to
save Criss. She goes to run offstage as Crimson exits Criss' body, but Crimson
catches her and begins to strangle Kayala. Criss has escaped his thorny prison,
and runs over with a large white cloth to protect Kayala. He makes Kayala vanish
under the white cloth, as Crimson makes herself vanish under a red cloth. Criss
rips the red cloth away to reveal a burning tree. He then runs offstage to follow
Kayala.
De Kolta Chair
The four Ushers appear on the dark stage with flashlights, looking for Criss.
They come upon many rabbits, before Zangelica appears onstage with a baby
carriage. The doll-sized Criss and Kayala appear from the carriage, before Lars
picks up the smaller Criss and sits him on a chair. Lars and Maestro then lift a
cloth over the chair, allowing Criss to reappear as normal. Maestro then begs him
to perform his "favorite trick", the De Kolta chair. Kayala, a chair, and a large
box are then brought onstage. Criss places a purple cape over Kayala, having her
move her hands before she disappears. The box is then opened to reveal her.
Dance Off
Multiple Moles appears onstage and begin to dance. Criss and Kayala run offstage
as the Ushers begin to play Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who will dance against
the moles. Each dances in turn, the most notable being Lars break-dancing on his head.
Tronik
Criss and Kayala return, and the Ushers begin to haggle them about their romance.
Criss only smirks and replays that they "can kiss the monster", the monster being
a lurking Tronik. Kayala runs offstage as Criss and Maestro run into the audience,
Lars, Luigi and Slim running offstage to get whips and shields. Criss goes back
onstage and defeats Tronik with magic. The creature staggers back for a moment,
before regaining itself and heading toward Maestro, who cowers. The creature then
removes its arms and torso, revealing Criss inside.
Metamorphosis
Crimson appears onstage and begins to seduce Criss, along with partially undressing
him. He is then thrown into a wooden crate, while Crimson and her minions writhe upon
the stage, tying up the crate. Crimson then climbs atop it, hidden in a cloud of CO2
before a firewall goes off. Criss then appears atop the crate, and begins to open it,
revealing a straight-jacketed Crimson inside.
Wedding
Kayala is revealed, wearing a white wedding gown with a huge train following her.
The Ushers come out to congratulate her as Criss is seen to appear atop the wall
of the train. He then begins to walk down it, marrying Kayala after his descent.
The two proceed to kiss as the Ushers pose for photographs. A large pool of blood
begins to form on the gown's train, growing large with each flash of the camera.
Finally, the gown is ripped from Kayala. A spotlight shines on Crimson and her
paparazzi, before Criss is illuminated, Kayala lying on the ground next to him.
Paparazzi
Criss and his Ushers fight to keep the paparazzi away from Kayala's lifeless
form, the paparazzi dancing with Crimson before the wind blows them away. Criss
mourns for Kayala before the Ushers take her away. A large projection of Crimson
appears before Criss, knocking him to the ground.
In Two
A large, mechanical-like table is rolled out, along with figures sharpening
chainsaws on it. Criss is chased offstage by a Crowman, before one of the Dolls
brings him back on and throws him upon the table. Crimson takes a chainsaw from
one of her henchmen as Criss is bound and shackled to the table, before sawing
him in half. Blood and gore spill out everywhere, each half of Criss' now-lifeless
body pulled in separate directions offstage.
Funeral
The Ushers come out and mourn over Criss, placing red roses on his grave.
Crimson walks out with a Crowman and a wheelchair, spitting on Criss' grave
before throwing her black rose on the ground. She is then covered by a blanket
on the wheelchair and spun around so that she is no longer facing the audience.
More mourners bestow roses upon Criss' grave as Kayala comes out in a black
mourning gown, placing her white rose gently upon her beloved's grave. A large
scrim comes down upon the stage before the wheelchair begins spinning. The figure
seated removed the blanket, revealing Criss. He turns around to look at the
characters of his surreal adventure, but the lights have gone dark and they
are no longer visible. He then turns back to the audience, his whisper of
"Believe" echoing throughout the theatre.
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