Lance Burton recently celebrated his 10th year as a headliner at Monte Carlo, and his show has gotten a bit of a makeover, with some new illusions added to spice things up.

I was a bit worried going in, since I always enjoyed his show and didn't want to see it changed too dramatically. I should have trusted the guy. He's still funny, earthy and full of an aw-shucks good nature that keeps his eye-popping illusions, both new and old, grounded and relatable for audiences of all ages and sophistications.

With the exception of a videotaped show opener involving a narrow "escape" from a roller coaster track, you won't see any of what I call "whirling blades of death" magic here. You know what I'm talking about: the type of illusions where the something sharp and supposedly dangerous is heading toward the magician as he struggles to get loose from chains and handcuffs. Will he escape? Of course he will!

Everyone knows it, so the drama that may have been effective in more innocent times is all but lost.

You also won't see any "stand and pose" illusions. That's where the guy in charge strikes some dramatic pose, usually with arms outstretched, while equally dramatic music makes us wonder if the elephant will really float.

What you see in Lance Burton's show is a mixture of smaller, more personal magic -- lots of birds appearing and people disappearing -- and some larger set pieces that still impress, without all of the showy theatrics. Burton will surprise you in a lot of ways, not the least of which is when you realize that a big-budget, traditional magic show in Vegas can still be entertaining.

Whether he's doing something small (such as changing a piece of crumpled up paper into a bird) or big (hey, where did that Corvette go?), Burton maintains his Kentucky kid level of enthusiasm and charm. He really seems to be enjoying what he's doing and also seems to delight in the audience's delight. It's almost as if he's saying, "I know! I just made a goose appear out of nowhere! Wasn't that cool?"

Yes, it is cool.

The new illusions and revised set pieces are also quite good, including one that turns a woman into a gold statue version of herself. As with most of the rest of the show, these additions are understated yet still impressive, allowing the audience to suspend its disbelief instead of having it crammed down its throats.

Also of note is Burton's supporting act, Michael Goudeau, a comic juggler who tosses everything from bowling balls to beanbag chairs with equal skill and more than a dash of goofy humor. He's like that dopey uncle at your family reunion who you can't help but be amused by, only this one is tossing around chainsaws, so it's even better.

One of the other great things about Burton's show is the price. When I first reviewed the show in 1997 or 1998, tickets were $45 to $55. Now they are $60 to $72, which is shocking when you see some other entertainers who have doubled their ticket prices in the same amount of time. It's also quite a bargain compared to the $100-and-up prices you'll pay at most of the shows in this town.

Instead of trying to keep up with the Celine Dions and Blue Men, Burton has kept his show traditional, simple and real. Now that's what I call magic.

Vegas4Visitors Grade: A-

Lance Burton

3770 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
877-386-8224
Price: $60 to $72

Tues. and Sat., 7 and 10 p.m.

Wed. to Fri., 7 p.m.

The Full Story

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