Cher

By Kristine McKenzie

Fans expect to see outrageous costumes, over-the-top sets and flamboyant production numbers when they attend a Cher concert and she delivers nothing less in her 90-minute spectacle at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

The show, simply titled “Cher,” is a parade of hits from across the prolific singer’s four-decade career, combined with innovative staging, stunning Bob Mackie-designed costumes and choreography by Doriana Sanchez.

Cher's phenomenal career has spanned 40 years, making her one of the most popular female artists in music history. She has sold more than 100 million records worldwide since her debut as a solo artist in 1964.

The singer is no stranger to the Strip. She and her late ex-husband Sonny Bono first played the Flamingo as Pat Boone's opening act in 1969. The duo played the Sahara during the '70s and Cher frequently played Caesars Palace as a solo artist from 1979 to 1982.

That makes her current show a sort of a homecoming at Caesars Palace and you know it’s going to be larger than life when the star, decked out in a dazzling gold costume, makes her entrance, descending from 40 feet above the audience and onto the stage in what she calls her “Flying Wallenda, Evel Knievel death-mobile."

Cher begins the night with a monologue reminiscent of those she used to perform on “The Sonny & Cher Show” before launching into fan favorite “I Found Someone” and a cover of Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield.”

It soon becomes obvious how Mackie got his nickname, the “Sultan of Sequins,” as different dazzling costumes and wigs are revealed with almost every number. Between Cher and her dancers, there are 140 costume changes during the show and Cher switches outfits in less than two minutes with the help of four assistants.

In between all of those changes, the audience is treated to rare vintage performance footage of Sonny and Cher, clips from their popular TV shows and film clips from Cher’s acting career projected on the Colosseum’s mammoth 34-foot-tall, 109-foot-wide, high- definition LED screen.

One of the highlights of the show comes with the hit song “The Beat Goes On.” The number evokes the '60s with mod black-and-white sets and costumes, accompanied by black-and-white clips and photos of Sonny and Cher.

Next, Cher takes the audience on a trip through her closet, which she describes as the “Grand Canyon with clothes in it.”

The first outfit she appears in, while singing “Half Breed,” is a Native American-inspired costume, complete with a full headdress. She and her dancers then switch to colorful gypsy costumes for “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves.”

It’s on to the '70s and the disco ball isn’t the only thing lighting up the stage – so is Cher’s costume as she sings a cover of “Don’t Leave Me This Way” and a duet of “I Got You Babe” accompanied by video of Sonny.

Throughout the show Cher is joined on stage by a five-piece band and a cast of 18 talented dancers and aerialists. Her keyboard player even joins her for the duet “After All,” which Cher originally sang with Peter Cetera.

Longtime fans of the singer won’t be disappointed as the show draws to a close with some of her biggest hits like “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss),” “Strong Enough” and “If I Could Turn Back Time,” complete with the infamous black leather and mesh outfit and sailor hat.

Cher’s mega-hit “Believe” is reserved for the encore and you’ll leave the show believing in this pop diva’s star power.