John Katsilometes takes in a true Las Vegas spectacle - Madonna at the MGM Grand Garden Arena

Monday, May 29, 2006 | 6:56 a.m.

Back in November the MGM Grand Garden Arena staged concerts by three monumental rock figures U2, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones. All entertained in their own distinctive fashion, but none quite shouted "Vegas" like the artist who filled the MGM on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Making effective use of 15 dancers, four musicians, three backup singers, a half-dozen wardrobe changes and a multileveled set that featured several LED screens, a pair of dancing platforms flanking the stage and a giant mirrored disco ball, Madonna was uniquely at home on the Vegas stage. The dancers - an athletic lot that could perform with any Cirque production in the city - were particularly impressive.

And the crowd - including a person sitting a few rows in front of me who was either New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson or someone who could sit in for Richardson on "Lou Dobbs Tonight" - stood almost the entire night and went nuts for the remarkably flexible 47-year-old pop icon.

The shows on Madonna's "Confessions" tour were not tailored specifically to Vegas but did have a Sin City flavor, particularly when she slipped into a white Elvislike cape encrusted with flashing lights and "Dancing Queen" scripted across the shoulders in purple sequins.

Madonna managed a few Vegas references, including, "Good evening, winners and losers," to start the show. While introducing Isaac Sinwahny, a vocalist and accomplished shofar (a ram's horn usually played during Rosh Hashana and at the end of Yom Kippur), for "Drowned" and "Paradise (Not For Me)," she said, "This is Isaac I found him at a crap table."

The oft-reported mock crucifixion, in which Madonna was perched on a mirrored cross during "Live to Tell" fell neatly into place with the rest of the shenanigans; a personal favorite was the S&M-styled merry-go-round effect of Madonna riding in circles on a black saddle while singing "Like a Virgin." She also played a bit of guitar, and didn't miss a note (and she did seem to be actually singing) or a step during the tightly choreographed 2-hour show.

In fact, it was a performance that wouldn't need to change an element to work here, five nights a week (dark Mondays and Tuesdays).

NoteMart

Trump: The sequel: Over the next week Donald Trump and Phil Ruffin will announce the addition of Trump International Tower II on Ruffin's property at the site of the New Frontier on the Strip. This, according to dealmaker Jack Wishna, who brought the two sides together.

The project will add 1,283 super luxury apartments to Trump's Vegas holdings and bring in an estimated $1.4 billion in sales. The 64-story Trump International (or, Tower I) is nearly sold out, with less than 50 apartments left for sale out of 1,283 condominiums. The total sales, more than $2.5 billion, would make the project the largest high-rise development in Las Vegas. On Saturday, Trump, wife Melania, and newborn son Barron stopped at the site to see the sights before jetting off to Los Angeles for filming of "The Apprentice."

A ten-spot: Earlier this month we marked the 10th anniversary in Las Vegas for impressionist Danny Gans. Another Vegas stalwart is celebrating a 10-year anniversary - Lance Burton, who in June celebrates a decade headlining at the Monte Carlo. Burton has planned a new creation for the stage, where he makes $10 million in gold bricks disappear (bet on the Royals, is one way) ...

7's up: Wednesday morning just before the press preview of "Love" at the Mirage, good friend Dennis Mitchell of KKLZ 96.7-FM, who hosts "Breakfast with the Beatles" each Sunday morning at 8, mentioned that he did not have any ideas for the upcoming show. So I tuned in just after 8 on Sunday and noticed a "luck" theme throughout - and Mitchell had counted back and realized Sunday's was the 777th show in the program's history. Innovative use of statistics there

OK, who's behind the wheel? A reader spotted the vanity plate CIRQUE1 on a Porsche Cayenne SUV parked at the Las Vegas Premier Outlets.