If you are at all interested in Cirque du Soleil, then Las Vegas is the place to be. There are currently (2007) 5 Cirque shows with permanent homes on the strip. Ka, O, Mystere, Love, and Zumanity. You know what that means, right? It means that at any given moment during the day, there are probably 400 people walking around the Vegas area who could scratch their ears with their toes while walking on their fingers and juggling fire.

But also, it means that there are choices to be made if you want to see a Cirque show. For us, it was a tough decision. We narrowed it down to Mystere and O, and decided on O. I'm glad we did. O has all the acrobatic wonders of any other Cirque show, but it sets this activity above a unique stage, comprised of a pool that can go from meters deep to bone dry in a matter of seconds. Just seeing the stage alone was worth the price of admission.

This show made me happy. The synchronized swimming was beautiful, and graceful, but there was also a lot of synchronized splashing - in a kind of joyful, playful way. I loved the fact that almost every act ended by sinking or diving or jumping into the water.

I've read that there's a plot running through this show. My husband (deep one that he is) claims to have been watching the progression through a man's life - birth, childhood, marriage, death. I am not a deep thinker - I saw a series of incredibly athletic acts, some mildly humorous clowns, a really cool stage, and a guy with a whip who kept showing up (I just didn't get that one). Both of us thoroughly enjoyed the show, though.

We paid about $110 per ticket, and sat in the front row of the balcony. The seats were great, giving a good overview of the action, and allowing for leaning over to get a better view when needed. There is no intermission, so be prepared to sit for two hours. There are two shows every night, Wednesday through Sunday, at 7:30 and 10:30.

Our only complaint was that there was always so much going on, it was hard to keep up with everything. There were so many "little" things happening around the edges of the pool, even while the main acts were occurring, it was difficult to keep focus in one place or the other! I guess this is due to the circus heritage of the show – think "three ring circus". We agreed we would probably see something new each time, even if we saw the show again and again. I’d be more than happy to try it and find out!

After making reservations over 3 months in advance, one of the most anticipated activities on our Vegas vacation was a night at the Bellagio to see Cirque Du Soleil's "O". One of the newer, Cirque Du Soleil shows, "O" is a spectacular mix of water, lights, fire, acrobats, live music, and comedy! From clowns, high divers, and synchronized swimmers, to trapeze artists, contortionists, and dancers, this show is an overload for the senses! With so much to watch and listen to at once, you'll never come off the edge of your seat during the entire performance.

This elaborate theatre, built exclusively for "O" cost over $100 million and holds over 1.5 million gallons of water. The stage is transformed from a pool, to an inch-deep puddle, to a completely dry platform throughout the acts. High divers jump from over nine stories above the stage, while divers constantly help with the logistics beneath the surface. We sat in the upper level and had a great view of the show.

Even with over 1800 seats, and 2 shows per night (7:30pm and 10:30pm Wednesday through Sunday), tickets still sell out several months in advance. It is recommended that you reserve early, and there is a stand-by line that is first-come, first-served at the will call desk in case you want to chance an open seat coming available. Tickets are $99, $125, and $150 based on seating and there is a boutique outside the theatre with plenty of souvenirs to take home from the show, including clothing and CDs.

If you've never been to a Cirque Du Soleil performance, (or if you been to many), "O" is a unique, breathtaking show for all ages—and well worth the ticket cost for a night on the town!

"O" is an awe-inspiring production. Basic elements of water, earth, fire, and air are mixed and mingled in a variety of spectacular performances of dancing, swimming, acrobatics, and clowning.

The theatre is designed in the style of a European opera house. The name of the show "O" is a homonym for the French word, "eau," which means, "Water." The central element of the set is a large pool built into the stage. The pool contains more than 1 million gallons of water. Within the pool there are several stages.

The performers are inspired artists that have the ability to create magic with their movements. The athleticism of the production keeps the audience filled with wonder.

One unfortunate aspect about "O" is the cost. The show is expensive. In my opinion, "Mystere at TI" is a better show for the money you pay. See my review of Mystere.

"O" plays at the O Theatre inside the Bellagio Hotel & Casino.

"O" performances are twice nightly, at 7:30pm and 10:30pm, Wednesday through Sunday. There are no performances on Monday or Tuesday.

Tickets for "O" are available for $150, $125, and $99.

After seeing "O," "Ka," and "Mystere," I do believe "O" is the most superior of the three. "O" succeeds better in incorporating art and circus into a harmonious presentation that transcends "O" into superb entertainment. Beginning with a dazzling array of synchronized swimming coordinated with amazing rope play, with a stage design that can be described as intriguingly imaginative, the 90-minute show grabbed our attention the whole time, with each act leaving us wanting for more. From fire wheels to midair acrobatics to high elevation diving to creative human catapults across the on-stage pool, no act failed in its ultimate purpose--to entertain. The imagery was so rich, I don't think one viewing is enough. Therefore, I will return to this show, soon, to relive the wonderful entertainment it is.

Like everything at the Bellagio, the Cirque Du Soleil theatre is amazing. You walk into the theatre and find this ceiling-to-floor red curtain. The tone in the theatre is dark, with hints of blue lights on the ceiling. Everything was very beautiful; it gave it a mystical feeling (in my opinion).

I went with a group of nine friends. Our seats were on the balcony in the EE section. The seats may seem like bad seats if you look at the Cirque's seating map on their website, but that is not the case. To be honest, I can't say that there would be a bad seat in the place. From our view, we were able to see everything.

The show itself was amazing. I have seen two other Cirque shows, and they do not disappoint. The show starts off (like the other shows) with two clowns playing with the audience. They basically are warming up the audience. The show begins with a woman coming out of the smoke from the ceiling. It was very beautiful, and the show never stops from there. Since this show deals with a lot of water performances, the seats in the balcony are the best.

If you haven't seen a Cirque show, definitely see this one. OR, if there is a show near you, go see it - you will not be disappointed.