BY VAUGHN WATSON

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Celeb watchers got a smorgasbord of pageantry, fabulous entrances and star-gazing pop spectacle last night at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Oh, and then there was the Cher concert.

Former President Bill Clinton, actor Taye Diggs, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, soul singers Ashford & Simpson, the rapper Ice T and Saturday Night Live executive producer Lorne Michaels were among the celebs who walked past a gallery of fans on their way to stage-side seating at Cher's farewell tour.

The stars descended on the casino as part of a gala weekend opening of its new 1,200-room hotel, which included the concert. Most of them gabbed at a private dinner before checking out the show, then on to a VIP party.

Inside the arena, Cher -- 56 and looking a decade younger -- directed a parade of indulgent excess and marvelous fashion. There was little to like for a fan of impromptu pop moments: Cher scripted this show tighter than Disney's Aida. And with 10 costume changes designed by Bob Mackie, it aspired to look as good, too.

Except this wasn't about story. The night's theme was floss and gloss.

Cher established the club-set mood. "All or Nothing" was a merengue of dance-house hot color and interpretive choreographed movements. She wore sequined pants and a sari for one song, riding a full-size elephant stage prop. Then she changed into a deep red ringmaster's cloak, certainly master of her own domain.

And Cher did as she has for years, tweaking out her voice with electronic gizmos, masking when the piped-in songs end and fresh singing begins. So a dance-club cover of U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" went limp because it didn't care that the song draws emotion from its lyrics. Cher's version thrived on thumping beats, a head-turning effect.

But really that is the motivation of spectacular, a gala that if TV were covering it (and Access Hollywood was) they'd need split screens to catch the celebs strolling in 20 minutes into Cher's set.

"So far the biggest star we've seen is Rosie," said Kristin Miner, of Westerly, standing with a friend, hoisting a camera in the air in the arena foyer. "'Cause our car came in with her limo."

Cyndi Lauper in her opening set also acknowledged our expectations. She's a feisty diva still pushing an agenda of awkward '80s synth-pop.

"Girls Just Want To Have Fun" was a sinewy exclamation point, pop rocket candy chased with Jolt cola. Rosie O'Donnell, sitting in row two, heightened the excess. She jumped from her seat and onto the stage. When Lauper belted out the hook, Rosie gave her a Wayne's World ("I'm not worthy") bow.

Lauper adorned herself with pro wrestlers in the '80s, like Cher's latter-day celeb pop carnival accompaniment. Rosie, likewise, was a not-needed pop attraction. Lauper was best on stripped-down songs, including a rock-and-violin version of "Money Changes Everything" and "Time After Time," an acoustic pop ballad. Pageant free, she flexed a real diva's power.