…is so not staying in Vegas.
Not when this happens to my mom:
No, my mom didn’t turn into a drag queen. But she got to hang out on stage with one! And the entire nearly naked cast of Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity!
If you’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a Cirque du Soleil show, they are AH-MAZ-ING. Beautiful costumes, outrageous acrobatics, live music, audience participation…I’m obviously a huge fan.
Zumanity has all that, but it’s a bit different from the others since it’s a burlesque-style show. Raunchy and crude (and for the over-18 crowd only) and totally tongue-in-cheek, it’s focus is on sex. Most of the women performed topless, and most of the men were in (heavily padded) g-strings. The emcee (hostess?) is the drag queen shown above, who is so good you forget she is a he. It is by far the funniest of the Cirque du Soleil shows I’ve seen.
And my mom (my itty-bitty, fairly-reserved-in-large-crowds, 69 year old mother) was a huge part of the funny. She was chosen by that mostly naked guy behind her to go up on stage for the final act (in which all of the other mostly naked cast were lolling around on stage…seriously…lolling is the right word (but not to be confused with LOL-ing)). Her and some hot young guy, but no one remembers him because my mom was too cute. Even the drag queen lost her shit at one point and just started laughing. My mom was so flustered from the guy rubbing up on her that she could barely answer the questions they asked (name, where you’re from, who are you here with (the fact that it was her daughter got a huge laugh, too)).
And then, after the polite chit chat, they got my mom on the floor of the revolving stage, ON TOP OF THE NEARLY NAKED GUY. The image of her little legs and feet flailing around is indelibly burned into my brain. Of course, I was laughing hysterically the entire time. There’s no mercy in our family.
You’re not supposed to take pictures during the show, but I managed the one above (please forgive me Zumanity…but it was MY MOM! How could I not?!?). Which has been emailed to all the members of the family. Like I said, no mercy. I just wish I had one of the flailing legs.
Also…as we were boarding the plane the next day to come home, we heard: “Hey, it’s Lee. You’re Lee, right? From the show last night?”
My mom…she’s famous.
Cirque de Soleil is so amazing! I saw one show about 15 years ago and can’t even remember which one it was. A few years ago my daughter and I saw La Mystere (a high school friend is the singer), which was fantastic. Zumanity sounds a little much for me (and especially my 12 year old!). Your mom is such a trooper; I am so glad you had such a great time!
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Wow, your mom is famous! lol That photo needs to be this year’s Christmas card!
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Awesome!!!!!! I love it. My sister-in-law got pulled on stage in mystery but this is way better. Can I have your mom’s autograph?
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That is too funny! and I love the photo.
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This is hilarious! I would have loved to see this in person. Your mom is just as cool as you are, Jill. What a good sport!
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Very cool that you managed to get that snapshot of your mom on stage! What a memory!
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That is awesome. Seriously. If it had been my mother, I would be laughing and taking photos too. Your mom must be one cool lady.
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Damn! Tell your mom that I think she’s awesome!
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Hahahahaha, that picture is amazing, and it deserves to be its own meme. It sounds like an excellent trip.
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Very fun!
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Oh, cool! She’s a good sport, too!
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Yay for your Mom! That sounds like quite the experience.
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This is 100% the most awesome thing EVER!
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I LOVE THIS!!!! OMG! And how did she take this? Is she as warped as you in hindsight?
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Love love love!!! Your mom is a doll for being such a great sport.
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This is so funny! I’ve not been to one of those shows, now I want to.
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O.M.G!!!!! *love* this!!!!!!!!!!! I just don’t know what else to say.
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I love this and I love drag queens!
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That is the most awesome thing ever. Ever.
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Awesome! You couldn’t ask for a better photo op.
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oh that is great, Jill! A priceless memory for sure!
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Your mom’s story (via you!) totally made my day: just great!
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That. is. awesome.
So very cool. Especially getting recognized on the plane the next day. What a great trip!
Oh my lord, that is too funny! I’m not sure I could have stopped laughing long enough to take any pictures.
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