Sunday, December 28, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LAS VEGAS SHOWS: Charm of local cast propels 'Mamma Mia!' to best new Strip production of the year

Donna (Tina Walsh), Rosie (Jennifer Perry) and Tanya (Karole Foreman) perform in "Mamma Mia!" at Mandalay Bay. Photo by Jeff Scheid. Tom Jones, a Las Vegas mainstay, keeps moving forward without forgetting the past

Cursed be the Internet and the honesty it enforces.

Fingertip access to reviewjournal.com and all my show reviews of 2003 keep me from doing a serious "1984" number on my less-than-ecstatic impressions of the year's big, newsmaking entries into Las Vegas entertainment.

In fact, none of the three most heralded debuts of 2003 drew an "A" when originally reviewed: Cirque du Soleil's erotic "Zumanity" and Celine Dion's "A New Day ..." showed how too much money can result in too much confusion, compared with the local debut of the global phenomenon "Mamma Mia!" long after the kinks had been worked out.

Still, it just doesn't seem right to ignore major investments that drew international attention and instead give the top honors to one of the perennials.

So the revisionist fix is in. I have since revisited both "A New Day ..." and "Mamma Mia!" I throw in the towel on "Mamma Mia!" for the No. 1 spot. I still think the book often sinks to the level of a bad TV sitcom, but the local cast sells the fluff with such charm you hardly care.

"Mamma Mia!" also appears to be the year's most influential debut. The Queen musical "We Will Rock You" seems a lock for Paris Las Vegas next year, and other potential theatrical musicals, including "Phantom of the Opera," will have "Mamma Mia!" to thank for the ability to expand their running time beyond 85 or 90 minutes.

Here's my take on the year in entertainment on the Strip.

1. "Mamma Mia!" at Mandalay Bay -- Besides the strong cast, after so many topless jiggle shows for Dad, isn't it time Las Vegas had a hit that lets baby boomer moms bond with their teen daughters?

2. "O" at Bellagio -- The show remains an overwhelming visual feast with its colorful cast and incredible stage.

3. The Second City at the Flamingo -- The only new show to make me stand up and cheer was the locally written edition of The Second City comedy troupe performed on a bare stage. But shortly after it debuted, key cast member Jason Sudeikis took a job as a "Saturday Night Live" writer, and his funny fiancee, Kay Cannon, departs Jan. 6.

4. "Blue Man Group: Live At Luxor" -- This weird but wildly inventive show features silent pranksters in scullcaps and blue greasepaint pounding out a strong percussive score and offering a unique style of humor.

5. Celine Dion in "A New Day..." at Caesars Palace -- At $175 and $225 for floor seats, Dion's unique showcase remains a must-see only for true fans. For the rest of us, it's still a beautiful but awkward mix of surreal opera and adult-contemporary cheese.

6. "Mystere" at Treasure Island -- Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas debut show continues to impress with stunning staging, a compelling cast and live music.

7. Tom Jones at the MGM Grand -- As timeless and old-guy hip as James Bond, the Tom-cat keeps moving forward without forgetting the past.

8. David Copperfield at the MGM Grand -- No longer obsessed with proving magicians can be hip and cool, the hardest-working man in show business seems more relaxed and thus, cooler.

9. Clint Holmes at Harrah's Las Vegas -- Original enough that no three or four words describe him, he's an entertainer with the courage to treat his show as a continual work in progress.

10. "Siegfried & Roy at The Mirage" -- Here's a final salute to the Las Vegas icons who made the Strip play catch-up after their Mirage spectacle debuted in 1990.