If Sammy Davis Jr. is the prototype that all entertainers are judged by, then Lance Burton is certainly the prototype Las Vegas Magician that all types of this genre are judged by. It just cannot be better than this. If one is to simply enjoy being entertained, feeling good about life, and having a good time, then this is it. 101 A++. We of course are working by my standards, taste and opinions. This is my column and all shows are judged by the Sammy Davis Jr. standard of stage presence.
It was good to see a full house for Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on an early Thursday night. This is like the grizzly bears at MacNeil river in Alaska, truly one of the wonders of this world. After 5 record-setting years at the late Hacienda Hotel and Casino, Burton opened on 21 June 1996 at the Monte Carlo in a show room built for him and named in his honor. It is perfect, although magic from the balcony can be a bit drawn. We were fortunate to be in row 4 and, even though I know that six girls must come out of the floor and not out of a suitcase, the illusion from this distance is absolutely perfect.
With "Forever Plaid" gone and times changing, I am officially restructuring my top shows in Las Vegas to Bellagio's "O" and Monte Carlo's "Lance Burton."
My life, as well as this column, is pretty much structured to entertainment and education. What is it that makes you happy, is entertaining, and gives you a touch of the creative arts?
The Lance Burton show fills the bill on all counts. There is some restructuring and different twists from the last time I reviewed the show, but not a lot and it is good to see consistent and familiar segments.
Lance has become very interactive and, although I am never one for asking the audience questions and have them appear on stage, in this case in works despite being overdone. Burton gets a ton of mileage out of kids and six & seven year olds are pretty cute with the show script exuding the best from them. The show draws a large number of children and the chance to have your child on stage could be big plus at the box office.
If ever there was a show to be seen and not written about this would be it. Magic is a visual art and overly presentational. Sooooooo see it. It appears five days a week, two shows a day, dark Sunday and Monday and at $60 and $55. It is something special.
One in our party thought that Burton may have a speech problem but not me and we were seated next to each other. Lance has a new flattop haircut that is different from those in the wonderful give-away souvenir program. He wears a mobile power pack microphone with headset speaker. I guess that since I knew the routine and some of the shtick, understanding was not a problem for me although the back of the balcony could be a challenge. This great program included an illusion reminiscent of Burton's appearance on the Johnny Carson Show. With his standard slight of hand, tux, lamppost and Vivaldi, I found that it was way way way to too short on this night. Carson was overwhelmed by it, and me as well.
"What's new?" is always a question, and added to the repertoire is the squashed "wabbit" illusion with diagrams, the real "wabbit" and the real machinery need to do in "Elmer". Lance Burton is masterful due largely to his great stage presence and showmanship. I need to see the show every year just to update as well as to be entertained.
Lance has seven girls (all covered) and two guys who are comfortingly familiar and, I am sure, loyal. Michael Goudeau is still the specialty act and is still eating & juggling apples. This is not a young man's game and I am sure juggling chain saws and bowling balls is an act that at some point takes its toll on its master. Goudeau has been a team player for as long as I can remember and he is all pro.
Lance Burton does the big stuff, the little stuff, and the slight of hand. I am so thankful to have the privilege to live in world were I can be part of the audience.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment