Bette Midler Where: Caesars Palace When: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4, 6-7 & 10-11 Cost: $93.95 and up Info: (866) 80-SHOWS

It's not easy to be both bawdy and elegant, sassy and classy, funny and dramatic. But Bette Midler pulls it off with aplomb. An infinitely versatile, charismatic presence in pop culture for the past four decades, Midler will call the Colosseum at Caesars Palace home for the next two years.

The opening video sequence portends what's to come: An ominous, fast-moving tornado forms and builds strength in the desert's outreaches, stirring everything in its path, at first tumble weeds and then trees and finally even buildings. It reaches the Las Vegas Strip and Flamingo Road and the stately Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The dynamic natural force that is Bette Midler has arrived.

Midler is a joy to behold. Unexpected delights complement the powerful songs for which Midler is best-known –"Wind Beneath My Wings," "From a Distance" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."

The Harlettes, a 13-piece band and more than 20 dancers make Midler's vision of something big, something clever, something bold achieve full life.

Don't expect anything remotely Cirque du Soleil here; The Showgirl Must Go On is more old-school Vegas, with an energetic, engaging blend of song, dance and comedy.

Self-deprecating comedy allows the audience to grow more familiar with Midler and her many talents. Delores Delago, the wheelchair-using mermaid, brings smiles, and old, old Soph, a showgirl who has seen a few too many stages, also makes an appearance.

Her emotionally charged renditions of "When a Man Loves a Woman" and "Hello in There" contrast smartly with silly puns and jokes about when "drugs" became "medications."

Born and raised in Hawaii, Midler first captured the public's attention in 1967, when she landed a role as Tzeitel, the eldest daughter, in the smash Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof.

Midler started building a career as a nightclub performer when her pianist Barry Manilow, now performing at the Las Vegas Hilton, produced her acclaimed first album, The Divine Miss M, in 1972. A self-titled album a year later also soared to the top of the charts.

She won a special Tony Award in 1974 for her work on Broadway. A starring role in The Rose in 1979 led to many additional honors and roles on the big screen, including the popular Beaches in 1988.

A vibrant rose that seems as if it should be getting ready to wilt, Midler blossoms again with this new challenge. With her knack for comedy and divine vocal talent, Showgirl is a sure Bette.