HUGS, PEACE SIGNS, and ENDLESS LOVE: Inside THE BEATLES Cirque Finale

“The Beatles Love by Cirque du Soleil” and its vibrant 60-person multicultural cast bid farewell during a lively, invite-only finale in its soon-to-be-demolished home, The Mirage. This casino and hotel, purchased by Hard Rock International two years ago, will close on July 17 and reopen in spring 2027 as Hard Rock Las Vegas. On this poignant night of goodbyes, the $100-million custom-built 2,013-seat “Love” theater was packed with the cast and crew's friends and family and at least one prominent figure in The Beatles’ realm - Giles Martin.
Giles Martin, son of the late Beatles producer and honorary fifth member George Martin, is the mastermind behind the most enchanting element of “Love” - its 2008 Grammy-winning soundtrack featuring unique reconstructions of Beatles songs. Cirque du Soleil CEO Stéphane Lefebvre briefly addressed the audience before the final performance, which began with the chilling isolated harmonies of The Beatles singing “Because.” He lauded Martin’s musical genius and praised the show for all the “peace and joy and happiness and love” it has imparted to the 12 million people who have seen “Love” over nearly two decades. Though it was primarily a standard performance of the 90-minute show, the audience cheered enthusiastically at the start of each segment, creating an atmosphere more reminiscent of a concert than a Cirque production. The cast performed with heightened energy and emotion - the roller skating leaps during “Help” were noticeably higher, the ever-graceful Dr. Robert (Jimmie Cervera) and original Father McKenzie (Eugen Brim, who departed the production in 2016 and returned in February) moved with extra fervor, and a few spontaneous hugs were exchanged among the hippie kids during the trampoline-heavy “Revolution.”
In a rare fourth-wall-breaking moment, the Sugar Plum Fairy - also known as Lady Madonna’s baby daddy - who usually speaks in a tribal language before a spirited splash dance in yellow Wellingtons, addressed the crowd, saying, “I am feeling a lot of love tonight!” He then encouraged the audience to clap along to the rhythm of “Lady Madonna.” When the usual finale of “All You Need Is Love” arrived, with red confetti raining from the rafters, the cast took their customary walk around the stage, displaying peace signs and singing along to the hopeful anthem. This time, however, visible tears added a poignant touch.