Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular Reviews (Las Vegas, Nevada)

The Best Thing I Have Ever Done in Las Vegas

Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

November 24, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo Ok - so it's actually a French story, if you want to be very picky about it. But opera is Italian and no where could be better suited to the display of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Phantom' than in the opulent splendour of the Venetian Hotel in Las ...Read more Ok - so it's actually a French story, if you want to be very picky about it. But opera is Italian and no where could be better suited to the display of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Phantom' than in the opulent splendour of the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.

Phantom of the Opera is something I was introduced to quite young by one of those great once-in-a-life time teachers who had an entire class of 11 year olds desperate to get to school the next day and listen to more opera. True story.

It's something a friend of mine and I had wanted to see for years, and though she managed to get tickets to see the show in Houston (via our wonderful teacher...) as well as a show in New York - I moved away and was busy travelling around and never managed to see it for myself.

When I saw that it was showing in Las Vegas when I was due to show up for my 5th anniversary with my husband - and my favourite hotel - I knew that it was something I couldn't let pass me by.
It was such a good opportunity in fact that my friend flew up from Houston for the weekend so that we could finally see it together.

This was something we were both excited about - but my husband and her boyfriend (neither of them fans of opera and unfamiliar with the story) came along purely to accommodate us.

After years of missed opportunities and wanting to see the show, I had very high expectations, but nothing prepared me for how spectacular the Venetian's production would be.

The venue is very very grand, and as soon as you walk in and take your seat you realize how this room was custom built for this one show - with the illusion that you are in the Parisian opera house of the show - complete with large chandelier hanging above you waiting for its dramatic moment.

I don't want to spoil it too much because this is a show that benefits from surprise. Despite being very loyal to the original - with the original team reunited to do it and all of the original songs included - there is a spin on it that only Las Vegas could produce.

This is a show and a half - and to my surprise and delight both of the men we dragged along loved it as well - and have become complete converts to the story.

To say this is dramatic and stunning just does not cover it - so I will leave it at that and just say emphatically that if you ever get the chance to see this then you really have to do so. Even if you are not a fan of this type of thing normally - this is the one to see. And if you are a fan of Phantom of the Opera, then you will love it all the more.

The price is also very reasonable I thought at around $35 per person. It is - quite simply - worth a trip to Las Vegas just to see this show.
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Phantom, the Las Vegas Craptactular

by Carmen

Cary, North Carolina

December 29, 2008

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Best of IgoUgo For some reason, the entertainment gurus in Las Vegas think that audiences can only pay attention for an hour and a half, so they took a classic Broadway musical and made it into a Las Vegas Spectacular version. It is my humble opinion, that in ...Read more

From journal Christmastime in Sin City (Plus Some Best Ofs)

Spectacular Indeed

by svearvaldyr

Fortrose, Scotland, United Kingdom

December 22, 2008

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Best of IgoUgo The Venetian is a spectacular location - as a hotel, as an attraction, as a wedding venue - whatever you use the place for, it has been beautifully put together and equally well maintained. As a location for Las Vegas' No.1 show - the Phantom of ...Read more The Venetian is a spectacular location - as a hotel, as an attraction, as a wedding venue - whatever you use the place for, it has been beautifully put together and equally well maintained. As a location for Las Vegas' No.1 show - the Phantom of the Opera - it is perfect.

Walking through frescoes and marble hallways and indoor shopping precincts crisscrossed by canals, classically trained opera singing gondoliers with their beautifully painted ceilings, you are in a truly palatial setting. The entrance to the theatre itself leads you to a darkly lit, wide open space with broken chandelier parts hanging from teh ceiling and dark drapes covering the walls. The lights come down and the subdued opening sequence draws you in quietly and comfortably until the music stars thundering out and the chandelier magically reassembles itself above you ...

They have really paid attention to the details in this production. The acoustics are great, the actors really seem to grasp the soul of the storyline and it grabs you very quickly, never seeming to drag through the one and half hour show.
Every detail has been carefully assembled, from the backdrop and performers to the flawless and dramatic set changes. It all serves as a beautiful palette for the music of the production to sweep you up and draw you in, and then stay with you for weeks afterwards.

Tickets are very reasonably priced, starting at about $65 plus tax. You can pay more to get closer to the stage, but it's not an overly large theatre, so the cheap seats are still very good. You get a great view and the sound system does an exteremly good job of bringing you every word you need to hear.

Don't even think about driving there if you're coming on the weekend. The traffic was unreal. We got a taxi from the Excalibur Hotel who took some back roads and got us there in about half an hour, costing a very reasonable $13.
It's a good idea to arrive early and take the time to explore the Venetian itself, if you haven't already done so. It is spectacularly well done, and if you're looking for a decent bite to eat then you can do a lot worse than some of the restaurants along the canals, many of which are far more reasonably priced than you would think.

It's advisable to book well ahead if you can, as this show regularly sells out, but if you do have the means - particularly if you're a Phantom fan anyway - then I heartily recommend it to you. I don't generally like musicals and I don't usually like Opera, but I do appreciate good music and a good production and I loved this. Close

From journal Las Vegas - the Return

Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular

by ak1

Auburn, Washington

August 24, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo This was a remarkable production to see. Upon entering the theatre, I was emerged into an atmosphere with very little color. The theatre was draped in dark sheets and the chandelier looked as if it were broken. Our seats were only 10 rows from the ...Read more

From journal Vegas, Venetian Style

IgoUgo

Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular

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