LAS VEGAS -- Vegas thrives on the facade. Take a walk on the famous Strip and you can marvel at the grand gaudiness of the humongous hotels, most of which bank on the allure of their thematic architecture. There's the replica of the Statue of Liberty at New York New York, the imposing sphinx at the Luxor, the castlelike Excalibur and, of course, the golden lion at the MGM Grand.

In Las Vegas, eye-popping appearances are everything.

So it's no wonder that celebrity impersonators -- and we're talking way more than a rhinestone-studded bevy of Elvis look-alikes -- are almost as sought after as the real stars that put on a show for the tourists.

Vegas, of course, is the ultimate place for a tribute. If you're aped in Sin City, then you've obviously arrived.

With that in mind, I caught four impersonator-tribute shows during my visit to the only place in the nation that beats the Big Apple in sensory overload. Each presentation offered elements of classic Vegas, and some manifested a keen sense of keeping up with the rapidly changing tides of pop culture.

"Legends in Concert"

Billed as the "longest running celebrity tribute show in the world," "Legends in Concert" at Harrah's has played the Strip for 25 years. Tellingly, the show has more of an adult feel.

Hosted by Marcel Forestieri as Jay Leno and featuring Jazmine (just Jazmine) as Whitney Houston, Steve Fairchild as Garth Brooks, Matt Lewis as Elvis Presley, and Nate Evans, Reggie Reed, Gregory Lee, Ritchie Stanley and Talmadge Pearsall as the Temptations, "Legends" was thoroughly enjoyable. In spots, it was a downright blast.

Thank those five crooners as the Temptations for that. They were unbridled energy from the get-go. The harmonies were strong, the choreography was tight and their renditions of "My Girl," "Just My Imagination" and "Cloud Nine," to name a few, crackled and popped.

Fairchild as Brooks held his own, too. He mingled with the audience, sang and not once stepped out of character. He has studied Garth well. Jazmine as Houston was all voice. She could shatter champagne flutes. But her stage presence, even in glittery costumes, was next to nil.

Forestieri worked as Leno, easily adopting the image, vocal tone and inflections of the comedian. The jokes sometimes fell flat, but that was part of his charm.

Finally, Lewis as Presley was good. His version of "Suspicious Minds" was a soulful hit. Yet, Elvis impersonators in Vegas are like neon lights: There are millions of them.

"The Beatles Love," Cirque du Soleil

In a word, stunning.

The world-renowned Cirque du Soleil, here featuring a cast of 60 international artists, interprets the music of the timelessly influential Beatles during 90 minutes of graceful acrobatics, imaginative stage decor, images on video screens and film footage.

Songs such as "Eleanor Rigby," "Get Back," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "Drive My Car," "Yesterday," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "A Day in the Life" are symbolically explored.

"Octopus's Garden" featured what can best be described as human jellyfish. That would be Cirque members wearing billowy white outfits who dangled from bouncing bungee cords. The whole song had an under-the-sea look to it.

"Strawberry Fields Forever" was a tea party scene with lots of bubbles, pageantry and a baby grand piano. Psychedelia was definitely in the air. But sometimes the '60s flower-child aura was magnificently tempered by war images, nostalgia and loss of innocence.

It all happens at the unique, in-the-round theater deep inside the Mirage. If you have front-row seats, as I did, the experience is heightened. You may even find yourself becoming part of the production, figuratively as well as literally.

"Barbra & Frank, the Concert That Never Was"

The legendary Barbra Streisand and the late Frank Sinatra never performed in concert together. That was a gargantuan missed opportunity, for sure, considering that both singers are benchmarks as song stylists. The actual Streisand and Sinatra knew how to own a song. They built their respective careers on that.

So here come Sharon Owens as Streisand and Sebastian Anzaldo as Sinatra in a low-key, cabaret-fashioned show at the Riviera Hotel that gives you at least a fleeting impression of what the real thing could have been.

Owens and Anzaldo are masters at mimicking Streisand and Sinatra. Owens, in particular, has Barbra's mannerisms exquisitely perfected: the rapid-fire kvetching, the looks of sarcastic bewilderment, the smooth yet self-conscious movements. And when she brushed the hair from her eyes with a single stroke of a manicured nail, it was pure buttah. Her voice, however, was close but no Babs. To be fair, Streisand is that most singular vocalist. Her pipes are nearly impossible to re-create.

Anzaldo was total Frank, from the loose yet debonair gestures to the soaring and suave voice. They performed together and separately for about 90 minutes. The crowd was sparse but engaged in the proceedings. Kudos to Owens and Anzaldo for making the best of a light night.

"American Superstars"

Geared toward a younger audience, "American Superstars" at the Stratosphere Hotel aims to give a contemporary twist to the impersonator extravaganza while retaining the old-school Vegas glitz.

We get showgirls stepping off the stage and fluttering through the audience. That's so Vegas. But all the credit belongs to the performers, namely Lorena Peril as Christina Aguilera and Chad Givens as Tim McGraw.

Peril gave us both sides of Aguilera, the scantily clad vamp and the ballad-belting scorcher. The latter was her calling card. Her rendition of "Beautiful" was jaw-dropping. She hit the notes with emotional precision.

Givens as McGraw was equally impressive. He had the look, the mannerisms and the voice down pat during "Real Good Man" and "Indian Outlaw."

The remaining three -- Darren Lee as Elvis, John Anthony as Rod Stewart and Damian Brantley as Michael Jackson -- were hit-and-miss. Anthony had Stewart's looks and moves locked, but he lacked the signature raspy voice. Lee was adequate as Presley, but he never made you feel excited about seeing the King. Brantley proved to be a moonwalk pro as Jackson, and he was quite the showman, but the singing (especially Jackson's hiccups affectation) was amateurish.

IF YOU GO:

LEGENDS IN CONCERT

Where: Harrah's Las Vegas, 3475 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

When: Two shows nightly Thursday-Tuesday. Dark Wednesday. Showtimes are subject to change; check with the box office at 702-369-5111.

How much: $59.95 and $49.95 for adults, $44.95 for children. Add tax and fees. Buy tickets online at www.harrahslasvegas.com.

Tip: The line for photos with one of the impersonators is long. It doesn't seem worth the wait when it isn't the real artist.

THE BEATLES LOVE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

Where: The Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

When: 7 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday-Monday. Doors open at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Dark Tuesday and Wednesday.

How much: $150, $125, $99, $93.50. Add live-entertainment tax. Call 1-800-963-9634 or go to www.mirage.com.

Tip: Front-row seats are pricey but worth the cash. The view is astounding, and you get to be a small but nifty part of the show.

BARBRA & FRANK, THE CONCERT THAT NEVER WAS

Where: Riviera Hotel, 2901 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

When: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Dark Monday.

How much: $72.45 and $83.45. Call 702-794-9433 or go to www.rivierahotel.com.

Tip: This is an intimate show, even with a full house. It has a living-room feel. The closer you are to the stage, the more likely the performers will incorporate you into their banter.

AMERICAN SUPERSTARS

Where: Stratosphere Hotel, 2000 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

When: Shows at 7 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday; 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Dark Thursday.

How much: $46.25, adults; $35.45, kids. For $51.25, you get one show ticket, one dinner buffet, two drinks and one tower pass. Call 1-800-998-6937 or go to www.stratospherehotel.com.

Tip: A trip to the 107th floor of the Stratosphere, to the Romance at the Top of World lounge, is well worth it. The view is spectacular; the ambience, oh-so-swanky sultry.

FOR MORE: Information on other impersonator and tribute shows: www.lasvegasshows.com.