Paul, Ringo feel the LOVE at Vegas show

Suddenly it was 1964 all over again.

Paul McCartney walked down the red carpet of the Mirage Hotel at the gala opening of the new Cirque du Soleil/Beatles show, LOVE, and thousands of female voices shrieked.

"Pauuuuuulllllllll!"

The publicity-shy Beatle wasn't expected to face the public, but not only did he talk to the press, he walked toward his fans, arms raised towards the air in a double "peace" sign and the cheering grew ever louder.

"I'm looking forward to an evening of happiness," he said and that seemed to echo everyone's feelings.

Ringo Starr, the other living member of the group, walked briskly through the crowd, waving at everyone, but didn't pause to answer many questions.

Yoko Ono spoke at length of how much her late husband John Lennon's legacy meant. "This is a time in the world, I think, when we need to hear what John and the Beatles had to say more than ever before. Their message of love will never die."

Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque, stepped forward to put one arm around Ono and the other around Olivia Harrison — widow of former Beatle George Harrison — who was visibly moved by the proceedings.

"This is a dream I have had for a long time," said Laliberté, "a dream that George and I dreamed together." Indeed, it was his friendship with Harrison that allowed this seemingly impossible project to take place: the first fully authorized use of the Beatles song catalogue in a stage production.

A wide assortment of stars showed up, each one with their own special reason for being there.

"I'm here because of Yoko," said Will and Grace star Megan Mullaly. "I'm one of her biggest fans."

Eric Idle, Monty Python member and author of the hit musical Spamalot, affirmed that "I've never heard a Beatles song I didn't love; I'm looking forward to every minute of the evening."

Saturday Night Live veteran Kevin Nealon observed that "I was a Beatles fan growing up. I still am. You never stop being one."

And Billy Crystal paused to think about why everyone still loved these songs so much. "It's music that makes you feel better," he decided. "What's wrong with that?"

The initial press reviews for the $150 million spectacle have been almost universally upbeat and the management of the Mirage is anticipating a minimum run of 10 years for the show.

A bittersweet coda was sounded by the arrival of Siegfried and Roy, the legendary Las Vegas duo whose act used to occupy the theatre where LOVE is now playing, until a tiger mauled Roy Horn in October, 2003, nearly ending his life.

"I'm glad to be here and to be alive," said Horn. "And we should all feel the same way tonight."

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