"EFX Then and Now"

Las Vegas has long been considered a town of spectacular productions.. People did not give Las Vegas much consideration as to having theatrical shows. Then something started about four years ago. Theatrical shows started popping up around the area. "Starlight Express" opened at the Las Vegas Hilton. "Forever Plaid" (an off-Broadway show), also "The Rockettes" a little piece of New York opened at the Flamingo Hilton. People still did not feel these shows were not true theater...then a major theater performer moved to Las Vegas and opened in a new kind of show...his credentials were internationally known. That star was Michael Crawford. Crawford had performed in the "Phantom of the Opera" in London, on Broadway and in Los Angeles. He also has some impressive theatrical credentials from shows in England, such as "Barnum" and "Billy." He came to Las Vegas to do a show he had faith in, "EFX." With this production came people from theater and Hollywood to make this production something that could not be done in any theater in the world. MGM Grand gutted the entire theater and started anew for "EFX." After spending $30 million on the theater and $45 million on the production, "EFX" was born. They had to add space for their enormous sets. I had the opportunity of going backstage and seeing the way the sets are transported up to the stage level. To actually touch the dragons, see the electrical and computerized systems that are needed to get the show going, is quite impressive. More than just a spectacular vehicle, this show also has a basic story-line that I believe in. The story behind "EFX" is to use your imagination and believe in yourself.

Original version of "EFX" with Michael Crawford...

When I first saw "EFX" I felt that finally a show had brought some legitimacy to a Las Vegas production. It was a great theatrical presentation, in my opinion.

We start the show with the "EFX Master" who is portrayed by Crawford. You see Crawford's face on a mask that hangs in the air surrounded by fog. He then talks and explains what "EFX" is about. Then there is a flash and the mask disappears and you see Crawford on a saucer singing the main song, which also tells the theme of the show. Crawford wears a white costume that looks like something from the future and has a white flowing cape. He then introduces the four special effects masters. The Master of Magic, the Master of Laughter, the Master of the Spirit World and the Master of Time. Together, they lead the audience to scenes from each world as the "EFX Master" takes on the identity of famous people throughout the show.

"EFX Master" describes the world of "EFX" as, "A journey bounded only by the limits of your imagination, only by the vision in your mind's eye. Welcome to our temple of dreams." He then invites us to come with him on this journey...

Each scene is introduced with some dialogue about the scene. The first scene is based on magic. The "EFX Master" transforms himself into Merlin, the magician from medieval times. We are now in the world of fairies and asked to see the magic that exists all around us every day. Merlin is teaching a young King Arthur about this magic. You see flowers bloom on the trees and a waterfall starts up, then fairies appear and dance a ballet. Suddenly Morgana, the evil sorceress arrives. Arthur is captured by her men. The two wizards duel and Morgana turns into a dragon. Then Merlin transforms himself into an even larger dragon and he destroys Morgana.

We now go to the next scene, which is about laughter...The "EFX Master" takes us into the future and becomes The Greatest Showman in the Universe, P.T. Barnum (in a clown-type outfit). Barnum introduces us to his Circus of Wonders, aliens from other worlds, strange animals and a cast of circus performers. Some of the performers go out into the audience to do some juggling. Crawford has some very funny dialogue as Barnum. He does several stunts. In one stunt he comes down a rope. The rope extends from top of the ceiling (about 250 feet up) to the stage. Then all the cast members dance an Irish jig led by Barnum.

Now onto the next scene about the spirit world...The "EFX Master" transforms into the spirit of Harry Houdini (wearing a period costume). He goes into the realm between heaven and hell where spirits might shed light on the mystery of Houdini. His death (drowning during an escape act) is mentioned as the stage opens onto a seance. Harry's wife Bess holds a seance yearly on the anniversary of his death in an attempt to contact him. Her love has brought him back for this one day. Then Houdini's spirit tells his wife about all his wonderful illusions. She is upset because he left her when he died. There is one dangerous illusion that Crawford performs, the spiked cage illusion. He does this with great ease and makes it look so simple. The Houdini sings a beautiful song called "Tonight." As Houdini is singing the last part of the song you see him going into the air and disappearing as only a spotlight shows his face. This gives an image of Houdini drifting as a spirit up into the heavens.

Now the last scene is about time...The "EFX Master" now goes into the dimension that intrigues all of us. Into the world of time travel as he transforms himself into the legendary H. G. Wells (wearing clothing of that century). Wells takes his Time Machine into the future. He asks us to put on our time goggles (which are really 3D glasses provided in the program). With the 3D glasses on we see images of a small Time Machine that takes us through a journey into history. The song "Counting up to Twenty" is sung by Crawford and played during the 3D adventure. Wells is then transported into the future and to the Morlocks realm. They steal his Time Machine. Wells then, with the help of a girl slave, enters their underground world. The stage is transformed into the Morlocks underground world. Sets are moving onto the stage from several directions including a huge set that is moved from the basement up to stage level. The set looks about two stories high. When the cast of slaves get on stage they do a great stick dance. They have spears and small hollow tube-like sticks and tap them on the stage and dance in time with the music. This is one of the best dance scenes in the show. Crawford does several stunts in fighting the Morlocks to get Wells' Time Machine back. Then Wells and the slave girl get into his Time Machine, and escape through an erupting volcano. You see the entire Morlock world erupt. This is a great scene too.

The Finale...The "EFX Master" comes out again on his saucer and the cast and Crawford reprise the main title song "EFX." He brings us back for the grand celebration of the human imagination; the uniting theme of this, our world...the world of EFX. The finale dance begins...then the "EFX Master" leaves. A giant hand holding the world is transported on stage. The "EFX Master" is on top of the world and the other cast members dance to the music. The song at the end is very beautiful and has such great lyrics, "If you open your eyes, if you open your heart, you will be amazed, you'll be surprised, don't be afraid of what you feel in your heart, don't be rebuked by those who say it'll never happen, it will happen." I think that was the most inspirational part of the show.

Unfortunately due to all the stunts Crawford performed in "EFX" he had an accident that injured his hip. He is now recuperating from hip-replacement surgery.

The current version of "EFX" is with David Cassidy, who was in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in 1993 on Broadway. He also starred in "Blood Brothers" in 1993 on Broadway, plus other theatrical productions.

Cassidy is good in the show. They have changed the show to give the other cast members more parts. They have taken some of the old songs and given them a more upbeat tempo. The original story-line is still there. They have just added parts to link the different scenes together. I feel these links are weak and lack depth.

Prior to the show five very talented singers warm up the audience with songs. The audience participates by clapping and cheering.

Then the show starts as the "EFX Master" played by James Earl Jones (only his voice and a replication of his face appears on a giant mask-like prop) telling about the main theme of the show. The four masters are still in the show. The Master of Magic (Paul Finocchiaro), the Master of Laughter (Stewart Daylida), the Master of Spirits (Kevin Koelbl) and the Master of Time (Paul May). The "EFX Master" has ordered them to find someone who has lost their imagination, and to try and help this person find it again. Now they look through the audience and find Cassidy in the audience working as a busboy. This person with the help of the four masters tells the story as the show goes on. Cassidy is brought on stage and the four masters will lead him through the show trying to help him get back his imagination. Cassidy explains that he lost his imagination and spirit, after he lost his love Laura.

Cassidy is given various costumes as to which scene he is in: Armor for his portrayal of Arthur in Merlin (Daylida portrays Merlin) scene. Then he changes his coat for the other scenes. Now Cassidy goes through the show using his imagination to find his lost love Laura. In the P.T. Barnum scene he finds a woman (who is picked to play Laura) from the audience and thinks she is his lost love. He brings her on stage. They have added a trapeze act for the Barnum scene, the trapeze act is very good (The Flying Kaganovitch). The trapeze act replaces the dialogue and stunts that Crawford did. The Circus of Wonders now comes out into the audience. Cassidy interacts with the audience by shaking hands with people in the front rows. Then after this the woman disappears in time.

Cassidy must go through time to find his lost love Laura. Through out the show the four masters come in and explain things and lead Cassidy to the other scenes. The Houdini scene has not changed much. Cassidy does not do the spiked cage illusion. Apparently a stuntman or other cast member performs the illusion. When he sings "Tonight," with Bess (Houdini's wife) he just drifts off stage, walking in to the fog. I think this could be a bit more theatrical.

The H. G. Wells scene is about the same...except they have a new song while the Time Machine is passing throughout the 3-D effects. The song is more upbeat and talks of love. When he gets to the Morlock part he starts looking for Laura. The stage is transformed in to the Morlocks realm...we then see the woman escorted on stage and chained to the side of the stage. The stick dance has not changed. After the stick dance, the fight to free Laura starts. Cassidy fights with the Morlocks, but does not do any really difficult stunts. Most of the stunts are done by stuntmen in the cast. He does fight the Morlocks with a spear. They win over the Morlocks, Cassidy frees Laura (the woman from the audience). They get into the Time Machine and are off to the present time.

Cassidy and the woman (from the audience) come walking from the back of the stage, during a dance scene. The woman is given a rose and escorted offstage. The finale starts and another new song "Let it Shine," that is very good. I do like the two new songs I mentioned, but I also miss some of the old songs.

If you have not seen the show, then I recommend you see "EFX" it is worth the price. The 3-D effects done by Oscar award winning team of Rhythm & Hues and the other special effects are great as audience members told me after the show. The cast is great and the dancing good.

news & gossip*krista's desktop*credits*faq & bio
discography*mc links*media*encounters & lit
anecdotes*fan chat*guestbook*quiz

site by Krista, erikog@one.net