TORONTO - Every little thing they did, seemingly, was magic last night as British-American New Wave band The Police brought their first tour in 23 years to the Air Canada Centre.

During the first of two sold-out, back-to-back shows in Toronto, singer-bassist Sting, 55, guitarist Andy Summers, 64, and drummer Stewart Copeland, 55, played hit after monster hit from their late '70s, early '80s heyday, just as they did during their Vancouver tour launch two months ago.

Although this time out, the set list was slightly altered and shorter, and the previously muddled middle section seemed much improved.

Beginning with Message In a Bottle, the trio seemed primed from the opening note on their stripped-down, in-the-round stage which boasted massive lights, speakers, overhead video screens but little else in the way of distractions.

Still, it was hard to keep your eyes off Sting's tanned, chiselled arms, which were shown off to great effect in a white sleeveless shirt.

The singer's impressive physique aside, this tour is supposed to be about the music and, frankly, when the tunes are this good -- the strong opening continued with Synchronicity II, Walking On the Moon (which inspired a crowd singalong on the chorus and saw Sting and Summers do a walkabout on their massive circular catwalk), Voices Inside My Head/When the World is Running Down You Make the Best of What's Still Around -- that's probably not a bad call. One major improvement from the Vancouver launch (although this is still a jazz-loving band that likes to jam when the mood strikes, which is often), was that previously unrecognizable hits like Don't Stand So Close to Me, Truth Hits Everybody and Every Little Thing She Does is Magic were recognizable once again.

Thank goodness, because Magic was probably the best song of the hour-and-45-minute show, although Roxanne, King of Pain and Every Breath You Take all came a close second.

Copeland also excelled on his percussion setup behind his drum kit during a very New Age-y version of Wrapped Around Your Finger, while an energetic Summers scissor kicked like a man half his age during So Lonely as Sting improvised the lyric, "Welcome to the Andy Summers show," just like he did in Vancouver.

Other highlights were almost guilty pleasures in terms of their simple lyrics -- De Do Do Do De Da Da Da, Can't Stand Losing You, and Next to You, although nothing could detract from the band's stellar playing on all three songs.

For those who didn't get tickets to The Police's two sold-out ACC shows, they return to the same venue on Nov. 8, for which there are still a few tickets left.

And while it's hardly the same thing, Summers also has a Police-related photo exhibit at the Edward Day Gallery on Queen St. W. in Toronto from July 25-Aug. 14.

Opening last night with a loud, if largely underwhelming, 45-minute set was the British rock trio Fiction Plane fronted by Joe Sumner, the son of Sting, whose real name is Gordon Sumner.

As it turns out, Joe is also the singer-bassist in a British rock trio and vocally sounds uncannily like dear old dad, particularly in his upper register.

Sadly, he doesn't have the same propensity for songwriting hooks as his father.

After tonight's second show, The Police roadtrip heads to Montreal's Bell Centre next for two sold-out shows on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

The reunion trek is expected to be far and away the No. 1 tour of the year.

What The Police played last night:

Message in a Bottle
Synchronicity II
Walking on the Moon
Voices Inside My Head/When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around
Don't Stand So Close to Me
Driven to Tears
Truth Hits Everybody
The Bed's Too Big Without You
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Invisible Sun
Walking in Your Footsteps
Can't Stand Losing You
Roxanne
ENCORE:
King of Pain
So Lonely
Every Breath You Take
SECOND ENCORE:
Next to You