The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most loved opera dramas of all time. Andrew Lloyd Webber produced an absolute masterpiece that will continue to generate positive ratings and revenue for the next 200 years. It started as a novel and then hit the big screen before showing up on actual stage.

Bringing this show to Vegas was not an easy task at all. The Venetian picked up The Phantom of the Opera and changed the name to Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular. Their first order of business was renovating the theater to make it resemble the Palais Garnier, the famous 2,200-seat Paris opera house.

Phantom finally reunites Webber with Hal Prince, the show's director, and Gillian Lynne, choreographer. The trio transformed Phantom into a 95-minute thrill ride that will feature every song from the original production. As far as over-the-top “Vegas” goes, this show is pretty tame.

Although they do use modern technology to their full advantage and pull off some incredible special effects, there's nothing about Phantom that strays too far away from the original production. The basic idea is to experience the Paris opera house and the classic show while in the heart of one of Las Vegas' most popular resort casinos. They pull it off beautifully.

The special effects are used in part to create a very unique on-stage atmosphere. When the show first hit big in the 1980s, these types of effects were still 20 years in the making. Utilizing the advancements allowed the trio to create a much more dramatic experience, and even if you've seen the Phantom of the Opera before, either on stage or at the movies, Phantom at the Venetian promises to be a unique experience that you won't soon forget.

The show progresses much more quickly than the original, but even with the sounds and lights, you won't lose the story. It's very easy to follow and extremely interesting. The singing can sometimes be a bit much on your senses with the rest of the lighting effects, but it is a musical after all.

Most people who've seen Phantom tend to prefer the shortened version over the original. Truthfully, the story is simplistic in nature. There's not a lot of depth. It's mostly entertaining because of the music and mayhem. To cut through the bull and just bring the beef was probably the best move Webber and company could have made. The $40 million renovation to the theater also helps to sell it.

The roles of the Phantom, Christine and Carlotta are double-cast due to the production range. The Phantom is played by veteran stage actor and award-winning performer Brent Barrett. He made a name for himself by starring in Chicago and Annie Get Your Gun. Sharing the duties is Tony Award-winner Anthony Crivello, best known for Les Miserables. Christine is played by Sierra Boggess, of Les Miserables fame, and Elizabeth Loyacano who has starred in Oklahoma and The Woman in White. Carlotta is played by Elena Jeanne Batman, who played the same role on Broadway, and Geena Jeffries, who played the same role in San Francisco's version of Phantom.