Barry seemed to be in a great mood for the opening of the show. He came out in that rust colored jacket that he wears occasionally - the style is reminiscent of the Beatles Sgt Pepper jackets.

No changes to the set list. Are You Lonesome Tonight was great again, and so was River.

This time during the 50's medley, Barry walked over and started mugging for the fake camera - and making kissing noises into the fake lense. I haven't seen him do that in a while.

I was sitting in BB-27 on the stage, so if I really wanted to *see* Barry I had to view the monitor - but at least they do have them installed now so that the people on the far side of the stage seats can see. Still, you lose a lot of the effect of the songs from there - it's kind of like watching the show on TV. One thing I noticed is how good the sound is over there. I was hearing things that I don't normally hear. I found that interesting - I would have thought that the sound wouldn't have been as good on the sides.

It was kind of neat to watch the funny cigarette skit from the stage seats. Kind of neat to see Barry that close, too.

At one point Barry commented that we could just call him "Santa Barry". Ok, Barry reminds me of Santa - well, twinkling blue eyes part, anyway. And he's been kind of jolly all week.

It's not looking like I'll be coming to the show as often in 2007 - in fact, I only have one date planned. Hopefully that will change and I'll be out here feeding my Manilow addiction a lot more frequently. But if I'm forced to go cold turkey, at least I've had a couple of great years seeing the show. You never know what's going to happen - and I *do* believe in Santa Claus! :-)

A final point to ponder - why *is* it that in Las Vegas it's always the UP escalator that's broken?? (hey, I'm writing this at 5:15am - surely you don't expect any deep philosophical thoughts, do you??)

It was another streamer night! Ok, now I've been describing Barry as bouncy - but tonight he was BOUNCY! He was literally bouncing on stage during It's A Miracle!

It was the standard opening (well, except for the bouncing). But again, Barry had set the mood from the start. The audience was wild - some real live wires. First time I ever needed earplugs at a Manilow concert!

Barry mentioned that tonight's show was the 200th performance of M&P. How time flies!

Since I wrote most of this immediately after the show, maybe I can get the order of the songs right! The 40's segment was first - before the first Christmas song.

I don't think I've ever really mentioned the horn section. They're very much a part of the choreography of the 40's medley. I really noticed them last night - and really heard them. It was kind of neat.

I'm having a heck of time getting good photos of the first part of the 40's medley. I was sitting close to the Dew Drop side, but I still couldn't get many good shots of that part of the show. Everyone is moving constantly, the choreography is so lively (for lack of a better word). But it's great to watch.

Then they sang Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Well, I think that's when they sang it. Geez - I just left the show less than half an hour ago and I already can't remember. It's Barry's fault - he rattles my brains!

I think I left out Can't Smile Without You in my other reviews. He's been doing that after the 40's segment. The song seems to be more upbeat than it's been in the past. It's always been an upbeat song, but this is something different. Barry has changed the beginning of it - the band starts the song, and it's a much "bigger" sound than when Barry would start the song at the piano. That might be the only change, but it seemed significant to me - it's almost as if he's changed the tempo of the song with that one little modification.

We got River again. Another great performance of it, too. He introduced the song as not being a typical Christmas song, and talked about how bad it is to breakup during the holidays. Then he said, "Oooh, a slash your wrist song - let me do that one for you". (paraphrased)

I think Looks Like We Made It gets better every time he sings it. Is that possible?? I think the screams get louder every time, too!

No changes to the 60's medley except that it just seems to get more lively and more fun everytime they do it. This time the audience was on their feet almost from the beginning of Can't Take My Eyes Off You. They stayed on their feet for Where Did Our Love Go, but then most people sat down for You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. At least to me, the audience *should* be seated for the last two songs of the medley. Well, I guess What the World Needs Now Is Love would lend itself to a standing audience, but not You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. But that's just my opinion, which isn't worth much!

There was something special about Mandy/Could It Be Magic tonight. Can't put my finger on it. Come to think of it, there seemed to be something special about the entire 70's segment.

But the time passed too quickly - it was over way too soon. Only one more show. But every show this week has been like a Christmas present so far. I'm sure tonight's show will be, too. Part of me can't wait for the show tonight, but another part realizes that it will be at least a couple of months before I get to see another one - don't wish your life away, right?

And, in case I forget after tonight's show, besides Barry, we have to thank everyone else - Monica, Keely, Melanie, Kye, Ron W., Ron P., Mike, Joe, David, Russ, Ian, Steve, Chris, Brandon, and everyone else in the background - faces we recognize even if we don't know their names.

Barry seemed especially "up' tonight - he positively bounced out onto the stage with a huge grin on his face. He set the mood for the entire night in the first few seconds of the show.

This was a "streamer" night - that's going to be the term I use for nights that are so special I have to take some streamers home with me as a souvenir. And I certainly grabbed a handful of them tonight!

I think Barry opened in a new jacket. It was brown, looked to be velvet. It was trimmed with darker brown. Throughout It's a Miracle, Daybreak, Somewhere in the Night (especially this one!), and This One's For You, I couldn't even take photos. I was just taking it all in. I may have my nights mixed up here, but early in the show he made the comment that he's "an oldie but a goodie" - that got a laugh out of his backups.

They sang Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer again. Everyone seems to be having a lot of fun with it, including the audience. That was the only Christmas song that we got tonight. He skipped River, probably because of an impromptu performance of another song. Now, if we could get Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, too, the Christmas shows would be perfect - but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one.

One of the "take-my-breath-away" songs of the night was Are You Lonesome Tonight. I was sitting in D-31 - that's the perfect spot for feeling as if Barry is singing straight to you. Now that he's moved this song to center stage more of the audience can get the full effect of it. The last couple of lines of that song tonight were amazing - there was so much tenderness and emotion - omigosh! And then when he finished he just continued to sit there with this pensive look on his face. I almost melted - good thing I didn't because I would have missed the great moments that were to come!

Almost every night before he sings Are You Lonesome Tonight, Barry says that he's "about as far away from Elvis Presley as you can get". Hey, Elvis could have taken a few lessons from Barry.

So while I was trying to recover from Are You Lonesome Tonight, Barrry launched into Looks Like We Made It. A girl doesn't stand a chance! Lots of screams during this song!

There was a woman in the front row wearing a wedding dress. It caught Barry's eye and he asked about it. She said that she and her husband were there celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. Barry decided to make a change in the show. He went back to the band to ask them if they remembered a certain song - I was sitting close enough to hear him say that he wanted to do The Best of Me. Even though I really miss Unchained Melody, I can't complain about The Best of Me! It was wonderful! We don't hear that song often enough. I've never seen him perform it quite like that, either. He sat on his piano to sing. It came across as totally unscripted and totally professional at the same time. The previous two songs had already done a number on me - this one just about finished me off!

He did a nice job with Yesterday. Can't Take My Eyes Off You seemed especially bouncy tonight. We got some finger wiggles, too. And I love when he sits on that cube to sing - guess that sounds kind of silly - I'm not sure why I love it so much, but I do.

Maybe sitting on that cube makes the song seem more casual and personal and it's a nice change of pace - kind of like when he sat on the piano to sing The Best of Me. For that matter, when he sits on the piano to sing Can't Smile Without You, too. And come to think of it, maybe that's why I like Venus and the beginning of Love Is A Many Splendored Thing - it mixes things up a little, presents him to the audience in a different way.

You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' was awesome. Even more screams during this one! How someone can take breakup songs and make them sexy, I'll never figure out - but Barry manages it just fine!

The entire 60's segment has really come together. I think it would be really interesting to know the preparation process, how many hours of rehearsal, things like that. The average show attendee probably wouldn't notice these things, but since I saw the show in Chicago, then Barry's first week back in November, and now this week, I see a world of difference - but the differences are mostly subtle things - maybe there's a slight change in vocals, little things like that. The transition from You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' to What the World Needs Now is very smooth - the two songs meld perfectly.

The funny cigarette skit tonight was the funniest of all that I've seen. Judging by the reaction of the audience, I wasn't alone in thinking that!

No changes really to the closing of the show. I did notice a couple of little differences. When Barry mouthed "I love you" toward the backups, he added "I love you all". And even at the end of the show, he was just as bouncy as he was when he opened the show.

I'm sure it was my imagination, but the streamers seemed to fall forever last night. I just remember looking up and seeing all of these colors floating down toward me and they seemed to fall forever. Maybe it was just the crowning touch for an extra special show.

Barry opened in that maroon sparkly jacket that he wore for I Write the Songs so often. A fitting choice for what many of us hoped would be the "Christmas shows."

No changes in the opening of the show (not that I want any - I don't!) - It's a Miracle, then Daybreak, Somewhere in the Night and This One's For You.

We got a mini-Christmas show - not nearly as big as it's been in previous years. Only two songs - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and River. Rudolph is always fun. I think it was funnier this year than it was last year. Kye did his funny Rudolph voice again. And Keely joined in with her own special take on the show. You can't help laughing.

I'm having trouble remembering at what point during the show they do Rudolph. I'm thinking it's before the 40's segment?

Anyway, Barry sang a small portion of The Old Songs before diving into the 40's segment. And then he sang a portion of Singing With the Big Bands. He talks about recording that CD with members of big bands from the 40's - and he talks about how when those guys started playing their music the years just melted away from them.

He moved over to the Dew Drop Side to do the 40's medley, starting with Jump Shout Boogie on the cotton-candy piano. The costumes are very bright and colorful as well. I think the visual aspect of the medley is just as impressive as the actual music.

Barry's still choosing a lady to dance with during Moonlight Serenade. It's fun to watch, especially when he's standing just on the other side of the gate from a woman and you can see the anticipation in their faces.

The 50's segment started with Bandstand Boogie and Kye and Keely dancing. Okay, my mind is really wandering to strange places this morning (as you'll see when you read the review from Thursday night). But during the part of the dance where it appears that the only thing keeping them from sprawling out flat on their backs is that they manage to grab each other's hand, if you've seen the show you know what I'm talking about - do you ever wonder if they "missed" during rehearsal? Ouch! Okay, I told you my mind is going strange places today!

Next was Venus, with Barry and gang hamming it up again. Each of the backups gets their own little moment during this song - it's so funny. Especially when Kye grabs Keely's, uh...when Kye grabs Keely. And when she turns around to confront him! And when Melanie starts walking toward Barry like a zombie before Keely drags her away. And when Kye grabs Monica's, uh...grabs Monica. I think I see a pattern developing here!

Then Love Is A Many Splendored Thing - beautiful song, performed beautifully. And then Are You Lonesome Tonight at center stage. Another beautiful song. Used to hate both of those songs, but Barry has made me love them.

No Unchained Melody tonight - I guess that one was dropped in order to put in the Christmas songs. So I won't complain!

I'm still having trouble remembering the order of songs, but I think this is where Barry sang River. He started it off sitting on the piano at center stage (I think - I having trouble remembering that, too). About two thirds of the way through the song he got off the piano and walked around in front of it - I thought he might sit down on the piano bench, but he continued to stand while he sang. It was reminiscent of the way he performs Even Now. He did sit on the bench for the last part of the song. It was a great performance, he put a lot of emotion into it. You can tell the song is a fan favorite - the audience is reacting before Barry even starts singing.

The 60's medley was next. I still think that You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' is the stand out song from the medley. He seems to nail this one everytime. Always a passionate performance. And the audience loves it.

I love what Barry does with Yesterday - I remember he mentioned in a recent interview that he was trying to stay true to the original song while putting his on spin on it. Yesterday is a really good example of it. The arrangement does seem to be very, very close to the original. But Barry does something with it that makes it his own.

I also enjoy Where Did Our Love Go during the 60's medley. Besides featuring the girls, it's an upbeat feel-good song. I think it's interesting the way Barry is able to stick a little bit of Motown in these medleys. I actually like Barry's versions of these songs better than I do the originals.

The 70's segment was Mandy/Could It Be Magic, followed by I Write the Songs, Copacabana and the It's a Miracle reprise. Same bright yellow jacket that he wore in November. I hope he keeps this one for a while - I really like it.

If my memory continues to fail like this I'm going to have to write my reviews as soon as I get back in from the show! Hope I didn't leave anything out!