Lance Burton and ‘Tournament of Kings’

This is the holiday weekend when the whole family is most likely to visit Las Vegas, and almost the last three-day weekend for Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo.

After 14 years, the magician no longer felt the love from management and decided to bow out gracefully by Labor Day. At the nearby Excalibur, "Tournament of Kings," the Strip's other great family institution, is likely to be crossing swords for a few more years.

Both are the Vegas version of homemade ice cream, rounding out a weekend of pool time and fireworks.

Aw-shucks magic

Lance Burton first materializes onstage, literally, coalescing inside a giant version of the "Visible Man" models kids grew up with before "Bodies ... The Exhibition."

From that big buildup (which also follows pretentious narration placing Burton in the pantheon of legendary magicians), the star comes out and says, "Hi folks, how are you?"

It's that contrast between the big wows and the "aw shucks" charm that's been key to Burton's appeal at the Monte Carlo since 1996.

But history has a short life span on the Strip. The magician is counting down to the end of his run in the Victorian theater he designed (one of the first on the Strip to replace tables and booths with rows of seats), though he still jokes after escaping the hangman's noose, "Do you know how much it would cost to change the initials on this theater?"

Burton's future after Sept. 4 is unannounced. It's likely he will land elsewhere on the Strip. But there's much to be said for watching him drop from the chandelier once more in this warm environment, even if your children haven't been among those who rush to the stage -- 40 or more on this night -- when Burton invites them up.

Granted, it might be deja vu. The magic-packed 95 minutes was different by exactly one illusion since I saw the show in 2008: a fun variation on those familiar boxes that "cube" people, this time scrambling a man and a woman.

Even the comic relief is an institution. Juggler Michael Goudeau celebrates 19 years with Burton on Saturday, still getting big laughs on his reckless unicycle even if he gave up chomping apples a few years ago.

The trappings have aged along with the stars, but a production design that's modest by Cirque du Soleil standards won't be noticed by youngsters watching their first big-time stage magic. It's not the clunky robot that impresses anyway. It's the vanishing of a woman that caps the segment.

Both pale to the low-tech charms of a little boy standing frozen in the spotlight while Burton makes silver dollars tumble from him. Catch it one more time before he drives his flying Corvette into the sunset.

Cutting edge

"Is it good? Yes yes yes. Is it bad? No no no."

So goes the "Tournament of Kings" tankard-clanking song, which also sums up the general level of complexity as well as long-held public opinion of the Excalibur's knightly horse show.

Hotel president Felix Rappaport says adults account for 80 percent of ticket sales. Picturing that many grown-ups without the camouflage of youngsters brought visions of an arena full of Will Ferrells and John C. Reillys in "Step Brothers," with maybe a few Steve Carells from "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," all of them thumping the countertops as the medieval version of pro wrestlers slam heads on the corner turnbuckle.

Yet there's something undeniably compelling for children of all ages in the intricate, visceral stunt work by convincing buff guys. The jousting and swordplay -- backed by Scot Rammer's timelessly cinematic score -- rise above surrounding pageantry that was showing its age in a recent 20th-anniversary performance (although the edition on display debuted in 1999).

Remember, too, it's the only Vegas show with horses and the rare one with dinner; 20 years of trying to figure out how to get to the white meat on a Cornish hen without utensils.

So which to pick on a holiday weekend? Catch Burton while you can. But if you have seen "Tournament" already, wait until next year. Chances are good the producers will get a thumb's up to upgrade the costumes, lighting and scenery.

The only reason not to hold off is if Antonio Restivo, perfect as the bad guy Mordred, goes the distance on "America's Got Talent." He might get a better offer then, and man, would it be hard to find another fire-twirling scary guy quite so sinister.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.