Flying high

My son was walking out of the house this past weekend with something tucked under his arm. I inquired what it was and he cautiously told me it was a case of poker chips (apparently, he and his friends were going to play cards and watch the UFC fights). I gave him my usual disapproving shrug and reiterated my longstanding mantra: “Be smart with your money.”

I’ve had several conversations with my son about gambling, and while I think he’s listened and knows it’s a slippery slope, there’s always the fear that the activity will hook its claws into him. When I awoke the next morning, I noticed two online bank payments to two separate friends, both with the subject line, “Poker.” Thankfully, the total of both payments was less than $10.

Personally, I’ve never been into gambling; it just never appealed to me. In my mind, I work hard for whatever money I have and I don’t want to give it away based on happenstance. And while I know that you can become adept at certain games, “The house always wins,” is good enough logic for me to avoid the endeavor.

Of course, I’m not 100% opposed to all gambling. At Christmastime I usually stuff family stockings with scratch-off tickets, and I do enjoy filling out and following my NCAA bracket during March Madness. But I’ve always shied away from the hardcore games like poker and blackjack — especially in a professional setting.

On the one occasion that I traveled to Las Vegas, I believe I lost $20 before I decided that slot machines were the easiest way to throw out perfectly good money. My wife had to lose $100 before she finally agreed that the tradeoff wasn’t worth it.

In fact, I found the whole vibe of Vegas a bit seedy and uncomfortable, albeit highly energized.

At one point during my Vegas trip, during a night when I couldn’t fall asleep, I decided to take a walk downstairs to our hotel lobby, thinking it would be quiet and empty. Instead, it was still full of wishful patrons looking haggard and dejected. The scene was sad and depressing and made me realize there was a psychological torture to gambling.

I had a friend who developed a gambling addiction years ago and she likened it to being hooked on a narcotic. She said that it didn’t really matter if she won or lost, it was simply the dopamine rush of possibly winning that kept her locked in.

Of course, not everything about Vegas is bad — the city is certainly home to some of the finest live entertainment choices in the world. A decade ago when I visited, I had the opportunity to see Cirque du Soleil’s “Love” show featuring the Beatles music. I don’t think I’ve ever seen — before or since — a more enthralling production that blended acrobatics with storytelling.

“Love” originated from a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Apple Corps Ltd. (the Beatles’ record label), spurred by George Harrison’s friendship with Cirque’s founder, Guy Laliberté. Directed by Dominic Champagne and featuring re-mixed Beatles tracks by Sir George Martin and his son Giles, the show premiered at The Mirage in Las Vegas to grand fanfare on June 30, 2006.

The show combined acrobatics, dance, and visual effects to create an immersive experience inside a specially built $100 million theater that encircled the stage. Earning critical acclaim and several awards upon it release (including a Grammy for the soundtrack), “Love” remains one of Cirque du Soleil’s most popular and successful shows.

Unfortunately, the “Love” show just concluded its amazing 18-year run, with its final performance closing on July 7, 2024. In that time, over 11.8 million people visited Vegas to experience another incarnation of the Beatles legacy.

This week’s feature, “Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net,” is a timely documentary about this famous acrobat troupe and how they combated the devastating shutdown of their business during the recent pandemic.

Filmmaker Dawn Porter was given unprecedented access to the business and people that make up the heart of Cirque du Soleil. With that, she captures a compelling look at. Not only the dedication and talent of the participants, but how the troupe faced impossible odds to reboot their flagship production, “O,” after an entire year off.

If you are a fan of Cirque du Soleil, or any circus for that matter, definitely give this film a try. Looking behind the scenes at something so fantastical gives the viewer a whole new level of appreciation for what it takes to present acrobatic artistry.

A twisty “B” for “Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net,” now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Got a question or comment for Dom? You can email him at moviediary@att.net.