Elton in neon -- he never looked better

The oldest truism in this gambling citadel is that the odds always favor the house, and that was never more the case than over the weekend when Caesars Palace put Elton John’s name on the marquee of its 4,100-seat Colosseum.

Few performers in modern pop have been as consistently rewarding on stage as this Englishman whose most compelling numbers, written with lyricist Bernie Taupin, have spoken about the search for companionship and love with an accessibility and grace that have made them part of our cultural fabric.

Whether performing in the sometimes zany costumes of his early days or in his recent, more straightforward, recital fashion, John has shared his music live with a passion that has made the shows consistently joyful.

But John’s new “The Red Piano” show, which opened Friday, is a triumphant step forward for both him and Las Vegas. In a 90-minute set directed and designed by David LaChappelle, the production makes inspired use of original video footage.

Sometimes the new footage, which is shown on a towering screen at the rear of the stage, helps us to better understand a song -- especially the 1973 ballad “Daniel.” Through images as graceful as a ballet, we see that Daniel is killed in battle.

At other times in “The Red Piano,” the images illustrate how the emotion of a song can apply equally to a totally different situation. Rather than show more scenes of someone isolated in space, the video accompanying “Rocket Man” deals with the way fame can isolate a pop star.

The footage follows Justin Timberlake, dressed like a young Elton, through a Dante’s freak show of star struck hangers-on and thrill-seekers backstage, a hard-boiled manager (Paul Reubens) at his side.

The images with “Candle in the Wind,” however, go straight to the song’s subject, Marilyn Monroe, as a hauntingly convincing look-alike slowly breaks down. Not every video matches the songs as perfectly as these, but collectively the footage, underscores the theme of the search for love in its broadest sense.

Booking John is actually the second roll of the dice for Caesars. The first was stepping away from the theme-show trend and returning to the contemporary pop star emphasis that built the city’s entertainment reputation.

Caesars took the bold step of building the $95-million Colosseum and signing Celine Dion to appear five nights a week for three years.

Though many reviews were harsh when Dion’s lavish show opened last March, ticket revenue has already hit $100 million.

John becomes the second Colosseum regular, enabling Dion to have a few weeks off. He’ll appear at least 25 nights a year for three years. Demand has been so strong the hotel has already signed John for another 15 nights this year.

From the opening moments Friday, John made clear his show was not going to be Vegas middlebrow.

Rather than open with a safe ballad, John and his five-piece band, featuring longtime sidekicks Nigel Olsson on drums and Davey Johnstone on guitar, started off with a roar with two of John’s rowdiest numbers, “Bennie and the Jets” and “Philadelphia Freedom.”

In then switching to a ballad, he sidestepped the bigger ‘70s hits in favor of “Believe,” a lesser-known 1995 number whose message of brotherhood and love defined the evening’s theme.

John didn’t rely only on video footage for visuals. When he and the band walked on, E-L-T-O-N was spelled out in neon signs that are as much a Las Vegas trademark as roulette wheels. Scattered around the stage were other neon teasers to other Las Vegas enterprises.

For the encore, John, alone on stage with his piano, said goodnight, fittingly, with “Your Song,” which was his first U.S. hit 34 years ago -- a sweet, intimate moment that reminded the audience that it’s the music, still, that matters most.

The Colosseum may be known as the house that Dion built, but the ambition and artistry of John’s show is what gives the room its first “must see.”

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Elton John

Where: The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas

When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays to Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to next Sunday, March 23 to April 4, July 23 to Aug. 8. No shows on Monday or Thursday of each run.

Price: $100-$250

Contact: (877) 427-7243