Leave it to Rave Motion Pictures to bollix up the Las Vegas premiere of the movie version of Mammia Mia!, held Sunday afternoon -- partly to accommodate the schedules of the Vegas cast and those of their colleagues in other Strip musicals.

There was quite a pleasant buzz at the start. Not even at a Star Wars movie have I seen an audience applaud the opening studio logo. Then, five minutes in, the picture froze (as digital projection is wont to do), setting off an understandable mass groan of dismay. Way to kill the vibe, Rave!

I should point out that this is the second time that this has happened during a one-off special screening at Rave. The much-touted kickoff of its series of HDTV transmissions of opera from Italy (an unpromising Aida from the Teatro alla Scala) ground to a halt in Act I, Scene 2 and never resumed -- partly because Rave didn't bother to have a digital projection specialist on hand for the event, leaving the regular staff to bear the brunt of patrons' wrath.

But I digress. The stated reason was that dozens of people were still waiting to get in, but I didn't look that way when I nipped out to the gents'. From where I sat, it looked more like somebody hadn't changed the lens on the projector (they'd been showing Hancock earlier) and was showing the movie in the wrong aspect ratio. The telltale outward movement of the "tormenters" (those black drapes that define the frame) into the good old 2:35 screen width was rather a dead giveaway.

Mamma Meryl discovers 007's Achilles heel: singing

Since I'm reviewing the movie for City Life, I'll confine myself to the most general of observations. A) "Dancing Queen" prompted a huge ovation. If it were possible to stop a movie dead in its tracks (well, actually Rave has proven that you can), this would have done so. B) The heavy Oscar buzz for Meryl Streep is right on the money. Evidence? How often does a performance get an ovation in the middle of a song? ("The Winner Takes It All," to be precise.) C) Lots of post-film chatter about Amanda Seyfried, who appears firmly set upon the road to film stardom. D) Frequent, appreciative laughter and applause for the gay-friendly content. E) Laughter also for Pierce Brosnan's singing ... but not in a good way. Ah well, the men in the film are all good sports and brave fellows. F) As in "Free soda" -- but not much of it: about a thimbleful, once you subtract the ice. It kinda took the "large" out of largesse. G) Bring Kleenex ... I'm just sayin'.

Oh, and one more scarifying thing: Spandex may be In again. Carol Linnea Johnson, who toplines the Mandalay Bay company of Mamma Mia! was accompanied by her daughter -- who wore a miniature, scarlet "Dynamo" outfit of her own, which put her on the receiving end of many compliments. So don't say I didn't warn you.

The same evening, sadly, marked the end of Spamalot, probably the classiest show on the Strip and certainly one of the more affordable ones. This report (with video) gives a sweet, melancholy account of closing night and renders any further comments from me superfluous.