Publicity images from "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour."
In March 2009, Michael Jackson announced a 50-night stand in London. It was comeback time for pop music's biggest superstar, who hadn't toured since 1997.
Sadly, Jackson died just weeks before opening night. While the world mourned, it quickly became apparent this guy was going to be worth more dead than alive. Forbes confirmed it, reporting Jackson's estate brought in nearly a half billion dollars in the two years after his death.
Which brings us to "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour," a revenue-generating collaboration between Jackson's estate and Cirque du Soleil that landed at the Target Center on Tuesday for a two-night residency. Cirque, of course, has long since nailed the art of spectacle and Jackson himself
But what is "Immortal," exactly? With Jackson's vocals all obviously on tape, it's not a "real" concert. But it's not just a Cirque du Soleil show with a bunch of Jackson remixes playing in the background, either. Instead, it's a sometimes eye-popping, sometimes boring and almost always vaguely unsettling marriage of the two.
Tour director Jamie King does a fine job of cranking up the sound and fury. A native of Verona, Wis., King began his career as a dancer with Jackson in the early '90s. These days, he produces mega-tours for Madonna and Celine Dion. King even has experience with prerecorded vocals, as he oversaw
But with no single (living) personality at the center of the action, King's giant, motorized screens and bombastic live band start to get repetitive and even grating. Far too often, the Cirque folks onstage are underutilized as mere backup dancers. Those there more for Cirque than MJ are bound to leave disappointed.
To be sure, there are some terrific moments.
After a glacial opening - look, a mime on a moving sidewalk! - things picked up with a tribal
Ultimately, though, it takes patience to get to the good parts of "Immortal." All too often the filler feels like the 10th production number of an Oscar telecast entering its fourth hour. For every breathtaking one-legged breakdancer, there's a guy dressed as Bubbles the Chimp, hugging (and terrifying) audience members.
More:
Review: Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil fall short of immortality
Recommendation and review posted by G. Smith
