Las Vegas Weekly

October 8, 2008 · 8:51 AM

Siegfried & Roy return from Europe with good medical news as they plan to honor Houdini

By Robin Leach

Siegfried & Roy with Larry Ruvo at the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute gala in February.

Photo: TVT

Our beloved hometown illusionists Siegfried & Roy were the toast of the town in London -– and Roy got a thumbs-up progress report on his recent knee surgery that made the nearly two-week visit there even more memorable. “It was a fantastic whirlwind of events, galas, applause and ovations” their longtime friend and their magic show’s Evil Queen, Lynette Chappell told me when they returned to Vegas yesterday.

Even Roy’s surgeon flew over to meet with the “Masters of the Impossible.” Earlier this year Roy had flown to Germany for an operation to relieve pain from a problematic knee. The doctor gave Roy “a wonderful prognosis” and says, “Roy’s progress and ongoing achievements continue to be an inspiration to everyone.”

Siegfried and Roy lift their glasses at the Oktoberfest kick-off party at Hofbrauhaus.

It was such a great experience Siegfried and Roy dropped plans to visit Germany and Paris -– and stayed happily in London the entire time.

“Siegfried & Roy truly were the toast of the town, “ Lynette added. “Their peers, fans and dear friends came from all over Europe, Australia and even the Far East to honor them. I lost count after five standing ovations and numerous curtain calls.”

Their rare appearance outside of Vegas was at the prestigious London Palladium as guests of honor at a major magic show celebrity charity benefit titled “When Magic Cares, Miracles Happen.” Money raised went to fund research into a life-threatening skin condition that affects 5,000 children in Britain alone. Several who have only months to live came to the theater and met with Roy, who encouraged them saying he’d overcome and they would too. It was just about five years to the day that Roy was badly injured on stage by his prized tiger Montelcore -- the day before his birthday on October 3, 2003. He “died” three times on the operating table during emergency surgery here at UMC Medical Center, but fought for life each time.

One of my former Fleet Street colleagues told me: “This was one of the greatest ever magic and illusion shows ever seen in London. There were the ten best VIP acts on the planet for the Tribute to Siegfried & Roy. It was filmed on HDTV with a live audience of 2,300 of their fans.

Video greetings from Steve Wynn and Cher on the Strip and Sir Anthony Hopkins were played as a total surprise to the two illusionists.

Photo: Scott Doctor

Siegfried and Roy, during a naming ceremony for two tiger cubs at The Mirage in July.

Dame Shirley Bassey surprised them with a champagne toast at their hotel and then had her own private box at the Palladium. Then a reunion with key people from their show that played for 14 years here at the Mirage. Producer John Napier had another box. Anthony Van Laast, their Mirage show director/choreographer, who also staged the Mamma Mia! success at Mandalay Bay orchestrated the London surprise finale. Siegfried & Roy added their own special magic at the very end, as Roy walked unaided onto the stage. He thanked the magicians for turning up to support the event. They included Norm Nielsen, Jason Byrne and the Great Thomsoni and Company who had all made the trip over from their Vegas homes. In addition there were magic routines from Kalin & Jinger, Luis De Matos, Vik & Fabrini, Wally Eastwood, Ben Stone, Raymond Crowe and Soul Mystique.

Two other highlights of the London visit for Siegfried & Roy were the celebrity charity dinner fundraiser, which brought in huge amounts of revenue for children’s and animal charities attended by their dear friend, Princess Michael of Kent, a member of the British Royal Family. She also hosted Roy’s birthday luncheon at her home in Kensington Palace.

“That was absolutely unbelievable,” Lynette told me. “It truly was the trip of a lifetime.” And except on the last two days when real English weather set back in we had glorious wonderful Vegas type sunshine the entire time.”

Now the two illusionists are joining actor Neil Patrick Harris and Hollywood Magic Castle co-founder Milt Larsen to unveil a newly renovated star of history’s most famous illusionist Harry Houdini. David Copperfield and Lance Burton have joined Siegfried & Roy in contributing to the restoration of his cracked star on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Orange Drive near the Magic Castle. The cracking occurred exactly 25 years to the day that the famous magicians’ star was first unveiled and now exactly 82 years to the day of Houdini’s final performance it has been repaired. The unveiling is set for Friday afternoon October 24 and our locals heroes will all be there for the ceremony!

Next up is Siegfried & Roy’s own one-night only first return to magic, when they will perform at the Keep Memory Alive gala on Feb. 28 in the Bellagio for the new downtown Lou Ruvo Brain Institute.

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