Reviewed · LOS ANGELES

The Mentalist at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino

★ 5.0 · 2,268 reviews 1 hour (approx.) From $42 Operated by V Theater · Bookable on Viator
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The trick here is not simply watching a magician perform. Gerry McCambridge builds the show around the people in the room, pulling audience members into mind-reading stunts involving names, hometowns, wishes, and personal details. You may sit quietly, or you may become part of the act.

I like the small V Theater, where audience participation feels close and personal rather than distant. I also like the mix of comedy and mentalism, which keeps the hour moving and gives the show more warmth than a straight succession of magic tricks.

The main caution is language. This is recommended for ages 16 and over, and some material includes profanity and sexual innuendo. The show also runs for about an hour, so anyone expecting a large-scale Vegas spectacular may find it brief.

Key points to know before booking

The Mentalist at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino - Key points to know before booking

  • Gerry McCambridge is the center of the show: Expect comedy, magic, and mind reading built around live audience participation.
  • The theater is inside Miracle Mile Shops: You can pair the show with dinner, drinks, or shopping at Planet Hollywood.
  • You may be called on stage: The performance depends heavily on audience involvement, so sit back only if you are comfortable being noticed.
  • Tickets begin at about $42: Seating categories let you choose between price and location.
  • Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early: Pick up tickets at the V Theater Box Office with photo ID.
  • It is better for teens and adults: Language and sexual jokes make it a poor choice for younger children.

A mind-reading show built around you

The Mentalist at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino - A mind-reading show built around you

The Mentalist is a compact Las Vegas production with one clear idea: take information from audience members and turn it into entertainment. Gerry McCambridge uses mentalism, magic, and comedy to reveal details that seem impossible for him to know.

That can include a person’s name, hometown, anniversary, biggest hope, or darkest fear. The fun comes from watching the process as much as the result. You see someone from the audience make a choice, answer a question, or write something down, then Gerry appears to know far more than he should.

I would choose this show if you enjoy the puzzle of magic but want more personality than a silent card trick. Gerry talks directly to the room, jokes with people on stage, and uses the audience as part of the performance rather than treating everyone as a passive crowd.

The production is not presented as a grand theater spectacle with huge sets or elaborate effects. Its appeal is closer to a personal encounter. The smaller room helps. You can follow the expressions of audience members as they try to work out how the trick happened.

More Comedy & Magic Shows in Los Angeles:

Inside the V Theater at Planet Hollywood

The show takes place at V Theater, located inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. This makes the venue easy to combine with other Strip plans, but Planet Hollywood is a large complex, so allow time to find the theater.

The listed start time is 7:30 p.m. Ticket pickup takes place at the V Theater Box Office, and you should collect your tickets with valid photo ID for the lead name on the booking at least 30 minutes before showtime. Seating begins 15 minutes before the performance.

The box office is listed as open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., though hours can change. I would not leave ticket pickup until the last minute, especially if you are unfamiliar with Planet Hollywood or want time for dinner first.

V Theater sits within Miracle Mile Shops, which gives you plenty to do before or after the show. The shopping center has more than 170 stores and places to eat. That convenience matters in Las Vegas, where a short walk inside a resort can take longer than expected.

A drink is available at the Showgirl Bar outside the theater, and drinks may be brought into the showroom. Outside food and other outside drinks are not allowed. If you want dinner, eat before arriving or use the shops as part of your evening plan.

What the one-hour performance feels like

The Mentalist at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino - What the one-hour performance feels like

The Mentalist lasts about one hour. That is a useful length for a busy Las Vegas night, especially if you have dinner, another show, or a late reservation afterward.

The pace depends on the audience. Gerry’s material includes comedy and direct interaction, so the mood in the room can affect how lively a particular moment feels. The show is not just a string of polished tricks performed at a distance. Audience responses help shape the evening.

Expect several people to take part in the act. Some audience members may answer questions from their seats, while others may be brought on stage. The show’s strongest moments come when Gerry works with someone who seems genuinely surprised by what he reveals.

You should be ready for that possibility. If being called on stage would ruin your evening, choose a seat where you feel less exposed, though no seating area can guarantee that you will not be noticed. Part of the show’s appeal is that the people involved are real members of the audience, not simply actors appearing for a scripted routine.

The comedy gives the mind-reading a lighter tone. Gerry’s jokes help fill the space between demonstrations and make the show accessible even if you do not normally watch magic. At its best, the humor makes the audience relax before the next trick catches them off guard.

The strongest reasons to see Gerry McCambridge

The Mentalist at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino - The strongest reasons to see Gerry McCambridge

The most praised part of the experience is its audience interaction. The room is small enough for participation to feel widespread, and some performances involve many people rather than only one volunteer.

That setup creates a useful difference from larger Las Vegas productions. You are not simply watching a performer on a distant stage. You are watching friends, couples, families, and strangers react in real time. When someone insists that no helper could have prepared them in advance, the moment gains extra force.

The second strength is the blend of styles. The show is not strictly a serious mentalism act. Comedy softens the more mysterious sections, while the magic gives the performance something to build toward. If one trick does not impress you, the tone can still keep the evening enjoyable.

Gerry’s personal history is also worked into parts of the show. This gives the performance more shape than a series of unrelated demonstrations. You get some sense of the entertainer behind the act, not only the tricks he performs.

The best response to the show is often the lingering question of how a particular effect was done. You may leave with one or two moments that keep bothering you on the walk back through the casino. That is a fair measure of success for mentalism.

A few more Los Angeles days worth weighing up

Seating, sightlines, and value at $42

The Mentalist at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino - Seating, sightlines, and value at $42

The advertised price is about $42 per person, with a seating category selected when you book. That makes The Mentalist one of the more affordable ticketed evening activities on the Strip, though the final price can vary by seating choice and booking details.

The value depends on what kind of night you want. If you are seeking a large, polished production with music, elaborate staging, and a long running time, this is not the right comparison. If you want an inexpensive hour of live entertainment that fits neatly between meals and casino time, the price makes sense.

The smaller venue is a benefit for many seats because the performance feels close. Still, seating arrangements may not always match the diagram shown at the time of purchase. If exact seat placement matters to you, check the current details carefully and arrive early.

One booking experience also found that companions could end up in separate seats. In a compact theater, that may be less troublesome than it sounds, since you remain close to the action, but couples and families should not assume that every booking will guarantee seats directly together unless the terms say so.

The ticket includes the show and the box office service fee. Hotel pickup, drinks, and other personal spending are not included. You will need to make your own way to Planet Hollywood, but its central Strip location makes that fairly simple by public transportation or on foot from nearby resorts.

Is it suitable for children and families?

The Mentalist at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino - Is it suitable for children and families?

The formal guidance recommends the show for people 16 and older because of language. Some families have enjoyed it with children aged 12, 14, and 16, but the youngest members may hear bad language and adult jokes.

That means I would not treat The Mentalist as a clean family show. Teenagers who enjoy magic and comedy may have a good time, particularly if they like the idea of seeing real audience members participate. Younger children may not understand the material, and parents who want an all-ages performance should choose something else.

The show can work well for a mixed-age group of older teenagers and adults because the central appeal is not tied to one generation. The mind-reading puzzles give the whole group something to discuss afterward.

For couples, friends, and solo visitors, the format is especially easy. You do not need a full evening of formal entertainment. You can book the show, eat nearby, and continue your night along the Strip.

The Miracle Mile setting adds flexibility

The Mentalist at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino - The Miracle Mile setting adds flexibility

Miracle Mile Shops makes this an easy activity to fit into a larger evening. You can browse before the performance, stop for a drink afterward, or choose from the many restaurants and stores in the complex.

I like this arrangement because you do not have to cross the Strip between dinner and the theater. You can keep the plan simple: arrive at Planet Hollywood, collect your tickets, eat or shop, then report to the theater before seating begins.

Do not confuse the convenience of the location with a quick arrival from anywhere in Las Vegas. Planet Hollywood is busy, and the resort contains several entrances and attractions. Give yourself enough time to reach the box office, especially if this is your first visit.

A 7:30 p.m. start also works well for a first evening show. You can have an early meal, see the performance, and still have time for casino entertainment or a late-night walk. The one-hour length helps you avoid giving up the whole night.

The practical downside: expectations and cancellation rules

The Mentalist at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino - The practical downside: expectations and cancellation rules

The Mentalist works best when you approach it as an intimate comedy mentalism show, not as a massive headline production. Some people may find the hour too short or feel that the comedy and self-promotion take attention away from the tricks.

There is also a split in how the material lands. Many people find the interaction funny and astonishing, while others may feel that some demonstrations are rushed or less convincing than expected. That is normal for a performance built around personal taste and audience response.

I would also pay attention to the cancellation terms before booking. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

The activity is listed as requiring good weather, even though the performance is indoors. The safest approach is to check the booking terms and keep your schedule flexible if weather may affect operations.

Who should book The Mentalist?

I would recommend it to you if you want:

  • A reasonably priced Strip show
  • Comedy mixed with magic and mind reading
  • A performance that involves the audience
  • A compact evening activity lasting about an hour
  • A central venue surrounded by restaurants and shops
  • Entertainment for couples, friends, solo visitors, and older teenagers

I would hesitate if you want a quiet show with no chance of participation, a strictly clean family performance, or a full-length production with grand staging. The show depends on Gerry’s personality and the willingness of the room to play along.

The current rating is 4.8 from 2,268 reviews, with 94 percent recommending it. Those figures fit the experience’s strongest qualities: it is interactive, easy to add to a Strip evening, and often leaves you wondering how the trick was done.

Should you book The Mentalist at Planet Hollywood?

Yes, if you like comedy, magic, and the nervous thrill of seeing real people called into the act. At about $42, it offers a good-value hour in a central Las Vegas venue, especially when you pair it with dinner or shopping at Miracle Mile.

Book with realistic expectations. This is a small, personal show rather than a huge Vegas spectacle, and the humor includes adult language. Arrive at least 30 minutes early for ticket pickup, keep your evening schedule flexible, and be prepared to participate.

If that sounds fun, The Mentalist is a sensible choice for a couple, a group of friends, or a family with older teenagers. If you prefer to stay anonymous in the dark, choose another show.

FAQ

Where is The Mentalist performed?

The show takes place at the V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

What time does the show start?

The listed start time is 7:30 p.m. Seating begins 15 minutes before showtime.

How long does The Mentalist last?

The performance lasts about one hour.

What does the ticket include?

The ticket includes admission to The Mentalist in the seating category selected at booking, along with the box office service fee.

Can I buy a drink at the theater?

Yes. Drinks are available from the Showgirl Bar outside the theater and may be brought into the showroom. Outside food and other outside drinks are not allowed.

Is The Mentalist suitable for children?

The show is recommended for ages 16 and over because of language. Some families have attended with younger teenagers, but parents should expect profanity and sexual innuendo.

How do I collect my tickets?

Pick up your tickets at the V Theater Box Office with valid photo ID for the lead name on the booking at least 30 minutes before showtime. The box office is listed as open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., though hours may change.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted or refunded.

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