Cher

Ultra glitzy

By Caroline Fontein

It’s Chertastic.

It’s Cherrific.

It’s Chermazing.

“It’s very white trash in a lovely elegant sort of way,” jokes Cher about her self-titled show while greeting her audience in the 4,300-seat Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Cher, who first performed on the Las Vegas Strip in 1960 with her counterpart Sonny, is back in Vegas with a fantastically fitting show that features countless chart-topping hits from her unparalleled career, complemented by extraordinary choreography from Doriana Sanchez, state-of-the-art lighting, special effects and a parade of extravagant costumes designed by the world-renowned fashion icon, Bob Mackie.

Her witty greeting comes just after Cher makes her grand entrance by flying in a platform hanging from the ceiling over the audience before landing on the stage. She is wearing a gold and glittery gown with fringe that sways and sparkles every time she takes a step. It is the first of a dozen or so different costumes that she changes into during the show.

After making a few more jokes with the audience, Cher departs the stage and a screen appears to play a clip of her acting as Laverne, one of her most notorious characters from "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour." The audience laughs at the silly antics of this kooky character before Cher and her troupe of talented dancers and aerialists reappear on stage to perform “Love is a Battlefield.”

Aerialists spin and twist in mid-air, dancers move to the music on stage and Cher dazzles the audience with her incredible voice and elaborately designed costume. It is a truly spectacular act and the first of many in the show.

During each song Cher struts across the stage waving, smiling and singing to the crowd as people in the audience cheer. Guests seated in the front of the theater get a closer look at Cher’s wardrobe as she sparkles across the stage with each new song and costume.

The screen once again lowers onto the stage for another costume change and a video montage of Sonny and Cher timed to “I Got You Babe” plays. The captivating footage paired with the well known song creates a sense of nostalgia for fans.

For “The Beat Goes On” a video clip of Sonny and Cher performing the hit song plays on a backdrop screen as dancers in black and white go-go outfits perform on a multi-level platform suspended above the stage.

This upbeat duet comes to life when Cher appears and takes over singing her part of the song. Not only does she sound immaculate, but her appearance has once again transformed. Now she is wearing long, dark, glossy hair and a short red, glittering dress with go-go boots, making her look as though she just stepped out of the film clip with Sonny.

“My closet looks like the Grand Canyon with a lot of clothes in it,” says Cher before entering a wardrobe that has been rolled out on stage.

Tribal looking dancers enter and perform a riveting routine to the tune of “Half Breed” as Cher walks out wearing her signature sequin and beaded breechcloth and feathered headdress, much like the one she wore in her music video for the No. 1 song. She returns to her wardrobe for another quick change before reappearing to perform “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves.”

Along with the excitement of seeing such an iconic performer live, trying to guess what she will be wearing and how she will enter on stage next adds to the fun.

As the hits keep rolling out, Cher performs at times with her back-up dancers and at times alone, making the show feel both like an extravagant production and a concert.

One of her most glorious moments is when she appears on stage with just her band to sing “If I Could Turn Back Time.” Everything you loved about the music video from her wild, dark hair to her controversial outfit come to life as Cher rocks out with the audience to this timeless classic.

Cher's career has surpassed 40 years, making her both an icon and one of the most popular female artists in music history. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide since her debut as a solo artist in 1964.

Apart from making her mark on the music scene, Cher has also achieved success as an actress, and she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series-Musical or Comedy in 1974. In 1987 she starred in three films: “Suspect,” “The Witches of Eastwick” and “Moonstruck,” for which she later won a Best Actress Academy Award.

Throughout her career she has continued to release chart topping hits. Her No. 1 single “Believe” was released on her 23rd studio album and won a Grammy in 1998.

Cher comes out dripping in Swarovski crystals and sings "Believe" for her encore. Her performance has everyone on their feet for a standing ovation. There's no telling what this show-stopping diva will do next.