Siegfried & Roy are still in top form

Joe Delaney

Friday, March 2, 2001 | 10:10 a.m.

Siegfried & Roy have been synonymous with both the Mirage since 1990 and with the city of Las Vegas for nearly three decades. During their 11 years at the Mirage, they have performed nearly 5,000 shows and, coupled with the attendance at their Secret Garden attraction on the premises, have generated more than $1 billion in economic activity at the hotel.

The show caught was No. 4,869 at the Mirage. We reviewed them when they opened as a featured act in Donn Arden's "Hallelujah, Hollywood" at the MGM Grand (now Bally's). They were impressive then and even more so today. They starred in "Lido de Paris," also an Arden production, at the Stardust, but they became real headliners in 1981 at the Frontier.

Kenneth Feld produced the Frontier show and set the tone for what was to become a true spectacular presentation at the Mirage in 1990. Through the years we have always referred to Siegfried & Roy as "more sizzle than steak" but complimented all concerned with the quality of the sizzle. We're happy to report that the sizzle-steak ratio has been reversed.

Lynette Chappell is their longtime leading lady, equally impressive whether portraying evil or goodness. There is a large, attractive and multitalented cast of humans and an equally engaging and wonderful cast of animals. The production values are outstanding throughout. There is not one wasted moment in the entire one hour, 35 minutes and 37 seconds.

Their entrance is spectacular and so is everything that follows. Siegfried & Roy perform wonderful illusions that are even more effective because both are masters of presentation. Magnificent animals appear and disappear; an elephant appears, disappears and magically reappears. The illusions are nicely balanced with production numbers.

Producer Feld surrounded himself with the best in their fields in John Napier, who shares conception and creation credit with Siegfried & Roy, and co-director credit with John Caird and is also solely responsible for designing the show. Lighting designer Andrew Bridge, choreographer Anthony Van Lasst and costume designer William Ivey Long are true artists as are all the artistic contributors listed.

Siegfried & Roy are responsible for making the illusionary arts the No. 1 entertainment form in Las Vegas. Long may they continue.