PHANTOM

by Ed Bruce edbrucevegas@yahoo.com

How many times have you seen the Phantom ? Not enough !

What's the best show in Las Vegas ? This.......is the guideline !

What makes a top show ? Taking it to the next level, always going to the "How can it be better ?" stage.....every day the producers of the Phantom ask, "How can we improve on perfect ? " They do !

Ok, so I am pre show prejudiced having seen this 5 times in L A and now three here at the Venetian in Las Vegas ! I go to bed every night sleeping well knowing this magnificent production is 4 and a half miles from my home and it is there every night .....sometimes twice !

I fell in love with this show at the begining for all the right reasons.....the Hall of Fame music of ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER....the novel by Gaston Leroux.....the book by Webber and Richard Stilgoe and the perfect super staging of the play. They answer the number one question.....they tell the story and do with marvolous flair !

The three times I have experienced the Venetian Phantom I have sat fourth row, second level side floor and center balcony....I am moving back by design with my mission.... the panorama.. and the balcony offered us the total picture.....especially the chandelier movements and the 20 suites on the sides of the stage. Of course you know they built this absolutely perfect theatre for this show and there is no room for improvement here.....its here for the duration ! There lies committment.....the cost of firing this up each night is enormous with fireworks, orchestra, costumes, makeup, hoops and whistles.....not to mention talent.....there of course are no dead spots here.....the appearance is always the same, everyone on cue, on time, working at the job, acting the part and giving a team effort....it is perfect every time .

The production starts right on time with a 98 minute run (slightly altered from original scores) no intermission with two shows Saturday and Monday.....many prefer the Venetian production....I prefer any production !

Imagine reviewing this show as work.....the pleasure I get from the production makes the job a joy. Having seen the show the repetition works in my favor looking forward to favorite passages. Originally I had the audio cassette in my car and played the music non stop for two years. You can never beat a live orchestra .....the program lists 16 pieces.....only five strings......it sounds perfect to me....Conductor Jack Gaughan......you can actually see half of him from the balcony....gives me a good feel.

Interesting that during the day I went to a UNLV college dance show which is college dancers and I noticed their ability level.....(not to be critical).....however I noticed the Phanton dancers (to be critical) they were highly professional and perfect.....they should be and they were....this is just the difference of excellence and the road to excellence.....What did the late Geroge Carlin write....the difference between the right word and almost the right word and is like the difference between a lightning bug and lightning !

First time to see Anthony Crivello as the Phantom....he was on his game this night (every night I am sure).....so too Kristi Holden as Christine and Andrew Ragone as Raoul. Longtime local Bruce Ewing plays Monsieur Reyer......I have reviewed his work in Forever Plaid and local productions he does.....what a quality individual and super talent.....always good to see Bruce !

LATE LOUD AND DARK are my three big negatives that often appear in productions that garner my wrath....none of that here. There was one dance scene where a couple of balerinas where not shown in as much light as their fellow dancers....it may be by design but for my never ending critical eye I did react to this. The overall lighting, all encompassing qualty echo chamber sounds and colorful costuming here continue to be among the entertainment treats of my lifetime !

Enjoyed it as much as anything I have ever seen.....right here in Las Vegas....recommended to the world. I will see it again many times before I die.

110 A+ A+ A+