Lance Burton

Master of Magic

By Kristine McKenzie

Conjuring up a car. Making people disappear into thin air. Transforming a piece of paper into a dove. It's all in a day's work for Lance Burton, who has been amazing audiences at the Monte Carlo for 10 years

Burton's show is one of the most popular and longest-running magic acts in Las Vegas. If you see it you'll understand why.

Burton is a classical magician, dressing in a tuxedo and tails and beginning every show by performing his trademark sleight-of-hand tricks. He is a master and you'll be left shaking your head in amazement at his speed and dexterity as objects disappear and reappear, birds emerge from scraps of paper and torn paper reassembles itself in front of your eyes.

After sufficiently amazing the audience with his warm-up tricks, Burton then invites everyone to join him on a journey through magic. He is the perfect guide for the trip, creating an instant rapport with the audience with his subtle jokes and Southern charm.

Along the journey, you'll see Burton's assistants and Burton himself disappear, only to pop up instantly in other parts of the theater. You'll watch as a woman is turned into solid gold and gasp as Burton levitates not only his assistant, but himself along with her.

The trip includes a party where ducks mysteriously multiply for "dinner" and a ride in a car that magically appears and then disappears with an audience member in it.

Even if you think you might have some idea about how a trick is performed, Burton is so quick and so good at what he does, that you are still left completely puzzled as to how he pulls it off.

Burton's is a family-friendly show and he always takes the time to get the children in the audience involved by inviting them up on stage to assist with a few tricks. It's only fitting considering Burton first caught the magic bug after being pulled up on stage by a magician when he was a child.

Burton has been a staple in Vegas entertainment since he was a featured act in Folies Bergere. He graduated to his own show at the Hacienda Hotel before signing a 13-year contract at the Monte Carlo in 1996.

Burton is a veteran performer and knows exactly how to captivate an audience. From his emergence on stage in a smoky chamber, to his exit in a floating Corvette, this magical journey is one you don't want to miss.