Vegas is coming together and receiving acclaim as a film center, location venue, and film festival draw. Even former mob lawyer and now Las Vegas Mayor, Oscar Goodman, got in act with a cameo in prostitute murder mystery 'Angel Blade' that also featured washed-up casino mogul Bob Stupak. In fact, many former film legends and washouts turned up in this indie circuit, including Margot Kidder, from Superman fame, and Tippi Hendrin, an Alfred Hitchcock thespian. It goes to show that everyone wants to be a star on some level. Now mayor wants to turn former downtown post office into a Mob Museum, which should be a real calling card, and I am sure hizzoner's movie poster mug will be at entrance, and he will be selling hot buttered popcorn, along with cheap D street wine. Can a Hoodlum Film Festival be far behind?

Las Vegas has increased its film noir allure beyond green felt jungle film titles of yesteryear, such as 'Casino,' 'Viva Las Vegas' (Hey, Ann-Margaret still performs here), and other gambling genre offshoots. Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire are still great locales for Sci Fi thrillers and dopey westerns, so if you are hiking trails, bring your video clips for a possible audition.

Revolution Film Works CEO and Executive Producer of Angel Blade presented a short seminar on film distribution during festival; it was an insight in difficulty of actually getting a film on silver screen; indie filmmakers will know how to pay back all that money advanced on their credit cards to produce their brainchild.

Independent filmmaking, and viewing, is a strange mix of bad acting, low budgets, lousy lighting and sound, and ennui. Occasionally a gem pops through, but most celluloid should be left on floor or digital delete button hit with repetition. What most indie's need is a good eye for editing.

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Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

Mark Thompson's sparse white set with an intense blue sky sets tone for a holiday on a tiny Greek island. As they sing "It's a rich man's world" bar/restaurant is cleverly lit — doors are highlighted with bold purple spots and floor is illuminated with what appear to be red rocks. Anthony Van Laast's choreography is simple and efficient. Phyllida Lloyd's direction is what smoothes seams between scenes and songs. As producer Craymer insisted, music is a natural extension of action.

Twenty-one years ago Donna Sheridan played by seasoned actress Tina Walsh, had her own little holiday. The diary her daughter Sophie finds opens Pandora's box. Sophie, young bride-to-be is played by Suzie Jacobsen Balser, a refreshing new talent. Sophie forces her mother to reexamine past so that she can discover who she is and what she's really all about. "Slipping Through my Fingers" is a touching mother-daughter duet.

The supporting cast is also first rate. Donna's two band members from Donna and Dynamos turn up for Sophie's white wedding. Played by Reyna Von Vett and Jennifer Perry they provide comic relief, wisdom, and as always, a few memorable musical numbers.

Sophie's fiancé Sky, played by Victor Wallace has a chorus of male friends who are eager to celebrate last hours of bachelorhood. When Act II rolls around there are so many questions. Which one of three men Donna knew rather briefly — at a time when brief relationships were in vogue — is Sophie's father? There are clues and there are songs, most personal of which is "Mamma Mia!".

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Linda Lane, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

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