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| February 28-March 6, 2002 | ARCHIVES |
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| "It's The Norm" - Recent Entertainment Events in Las Vegas | |
There's a Lady on stage! A wonderful lady too. She could, if she wanted to, sing just her own hits and it would probably last all night long. Unfortunately the Flamingo Hotel showroom is not open all night long, but while it is Gladys Knight holds forth as only she can. Singing her hits and making everyone in the audience feel good all over and glad they came. The evening we attended it seemed that every single seat (750) was occupied. And unbeknownst to all of us this particular evening, we were in store for one of those very special nights when the entertainer goes beyond a normal show time limit. Ms. Knight's usual show will run about 90 minutes, but this was opening night and she treated us to nearly two hours of hit after hit. The show, produced by entertainer Danny Gans and his personal manager Chip Lightman, opens with a short biographical film, which naturally sets up the entire evening. Ms. Knight appears from center stage and begins the musical love fest with "At Last" followed by "Love Overboard," "Save the Overtime" and "Friendship Train." This is a lady who knows how to work a stage, as she is constantly on the move from one side to the other side thereby allowing everyone to see her up close and personal. She talks, but not to excess, with the audience. Her brother Bubba, one of the famous Pips, enters the room carrying a bundle of flowers and a comical routine follows between the two. Next comes some of the more recognizable mega hits including "You're the Best Thing," Grammy winner "Midnight Train," "Falling" and "Hero." |
It appears that like most great entertainers she has a hero of her own. That hero is and was Sammy Davis Jr. This wonderful tribute starts out with "Wind Beneath My Wings" and goes through four of his greatest hits including "Bo Jangles" where Bubba is dramatically staged within a black box in the background dancing pantomime to the song. One more of the many highlights is her Motown medley, comprised of such classics as "Get Ready," "Dancing in the Streets," "My Guy," "My Girl," "Stop in the Name of Love" and "I Wish," which then leads into another very recognizable mega-mega hit "I Heard it on the Grapevine." Seven heavy-duty musicians led by musical director Scott Kennedy support her on stage. Gladys also has five of the best darn backup singers anywhere giving her all the right sounds. The backup singers really come into their own when the ensemble does a Gospel Medley near the end of the show. This wonderfully inspired moment in time is where her roots were planted when she was a youngster. It consists of "No Ways Tired," "The Reason We Sing," "I'll Take You There" and "When The Saints Go Marching In." Her encore song is "End of the Road" followed by another video of people at the Olympics. Like when we opened this column, you know this a Lady who loves being on stage. She could, honestly, sing all night long and not get tired. We highly recommend everyone plan on taking in one of her seven weekly shows. For further information or reservations call the Flamingo Hotel box office at 733-3333. That's
it for another week. I'm outa here!
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