LANCE BURTON

BY ED BRUCE edbrucevegas@yahoo.com

Goodbye Lance I hope it is only temporary...Lance Burton, master magician in every way leaving his home specially built theatre at the Monte Carlo...Las Vegas strip !

Burton deciding to close the doors on the Las Vegas strip master production after over a decade to purse new avenues....hope those avenues are clos to me.

Current show closes in September...May 26 I paid my final visit to Lance at this venue.

I am prejudiced.... I have been in love his personna and talent for 25 years...nothing changed there. Many years ago Burton overwhelmed Johnny Carson on the tonight show with classic, slight of hand, doves, candles, fire and Vivaldi classic introduction piece. It was still there this night but all too brief for me !
This will be about as good as can get and was...I Vivaldi twice in this show and the music does nothing but enhance the big picture. Burton unlike some started right on time to the second allowing for a perfect score as each show loses one point for each minute late...Burton at least started with 100 and almost finished there.

This specially built theatre at the front of the Monte Carlo is vaudevillianesue and I love the venue...crowd count may be down some for this large venue but all those seated got there moneys worth especially me.

It has been years since I have seen this show here as well as the Hacienda and others in Las Vegas. Lots of history and tradition in this mega production with familiar gags, tricks and personnel. Juggler Michael Gooudeau still on the bill and his goofiness and talent are most welcome on my plate.

How much do you want to change the menu over the years...Burton did have some new material (new to me) and many tried and true production.

With 7 showgirls 3 assitants and tons of production, costumes and ducks this continues to be a major production...and cues and timing still miraculous...thanks to my history and research I realize some of the mechanics of this...AND SOME STILL LEAVE ME WITH....HOW DID HE DO THAT ?

Lance continues to work the crowd and I am not a favorite of this altho...lots of the kids are cute and played well on this night.

Hard to say more...this traditional historical production plays perfect for me...maybe not everyone generically...I don't how you could not like this.

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98 A+