PHANTON

BY ED BRUCE edbrucevegas

What to do with this review ? ? ?

The Phantom carries a big history with me and I start.... prejudiced....positively....I already am in love with the music, the production and the Las Vegas Venetian theatre. NOTHING HAS CHANGED ! I continue to love the whole thing and almost punish myself for not seeing it more often. One of my standard lines is ...."great to be in Las Vegas where any day I can drive 3 miles and see the Phantom".

Just...OH BOY...It has been maybe a couple of years since my last visit to the Venetian on the Las Vegas strip and a more regular patronage would be nice, altho maybe some space does help me apprieciate it more.

Absolutely everything about this show is perfect ! The Venetian committed five years ago and built the ideal theatre for the show...I have been up front, in the back, in the balcony and last week under the chandelier...its all great and great to get a different look. The theatre itself, a masterpiece, perfectly constructed to the cause...high ceiling enclosing the chandelier...18 boxes with mannequins for affect...effect...as well as staging...gosh just beautiful and functional too. There must be a back stage tour for this that could enhance my psyche !

As a student of communications I appreciate the sound here.... and its execution....throughout the performance and throughout the theatre, pure, clear, clean, well enunciated with great timing, reverberating, echoing....this all with a 15 piece orchestra which is also only perfect...they have the production of this sucker down to a tee every night for every show. The teaming of orchestra, lyrics and storyline is unsurpassable.

THE PHANTOM AT THE VENETIAN IN LAS VEGAS IS AS GOOD AS ANY SHOW, ANY TIME ANY WHERE........AND IT WILL BE HERE....I HOPE FOREVER !

Nice crowd this night, started on time, great program (I love the performer bios)...the program with lots of credits which are deserved throughout...music by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Charles Hart....Production Design by Maria Bjornson...Sound Design by Mick Potter...Lighting by Andrw Bridge...gee its all just perfect. I am unfamiliar with these names, however their genius is illustrated 8 times a week...every week here ! Obviously staff and creater arts personnel at the top of arts world.

The Venetian has lots of horns and whistles and fireworks and trap doors and peripherial sound and the marvolous four piece assembling and reassembling chandelier, costumes perfect, acting flawless and they give you that ultimate look where you feel it is opening night and the the performers are glad to be there and happy to be playing their roles.

Anthony Crivello is the phanton and he is only perfect...he does 8 shows a week...Kristi Holden is Christine and their songs deliver the message as perfectly as any creative arts writer could dream up.

I don't know how they could make this any better !

I have seen the Phantom for over 20 years and it never tires...music unforgettable, this production the work of multi geniuses...96 minutes flawless.

Incredibly, a couple of jackasses arrived 14 minutes late and were seated in front of me of course....I guess they were not interested in a flying chandelier !

The show recommended to the world....as good as theatre gets anywhere, anytime...forever !

There must be those that have not yet seen this....DO IT BEFORE YOU DIE !

702 414 9000 call em yesterday ! ! !

866 641 7469 for specials....call me ....I will go with you any day any time !

110 A+ A+ A+