by Norm Johnson Send Me E-mail

"Forever Plaid" is back! And it's at the Gold Coast over on Flamingo. They held a big press night earlier this week (Feb.1st) to unveil the latest version of a show that made its debut in New York on May 20, 1990, and ran at the Flamingo Hotel mini-showroom for six-years. The bottom line - if anything can get better, this version has done it!

"Forever Plaid" is the story of four unlikely guys whose dreams of musical glory comes true-but only after their death in 1964. The miraculous return to earth (41 years later) brings the nerdy crooners with ageless voices to a stage they never got to appear on before going to the great stage in the sky. It's a really cute idea of how to present some of the great songs of the past. To this writer there is nothing better (well I know there's arguments out there about this) than some of those "Oldie but Goodies." And, gang, you get it all with the Plaids.

The show opens with David Kancsar on piano playing "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" from the 1967 movie. The first song by the Plaids is what else but "Three Coins in the Fountain" followed quickly by "Undecided Now." You now know why you loved this group when you first saw them some 10 years ago. The harmony is dead perfect. "Cry" by Johnny Ray is there. Tennessee Ernie Fords "16 Tons" followed by "Chain Gang" are just a few of the hits presented. This is followed by a story line dealing with Bobby Darin, who happened to be performing before SRO crowds in a room across the street from where they are in 1959. Perry Como gets stranded in the town in 1961 and Perry visits them leaving behind his sweater.

The wonderful harmony is performed by the cast consisting of J. Gregory Davis, Bruce D. Ewing, Doug Frank, and Dale Sandish with Mark Perkins (understudy) and Ken Seiffert on Bass.

There's much more and spread throughout is great comedy, some very touching moments and just lots of great music such as "Matilda", "Heart and Soul", "Catch a Falling Star" and "Lady of Spain" (they magically appear on the Ed Sullivan Show). "Three Coins in the Fountain" is the closing vocal with the final being "Love is a Many Splendored Thing."

Showtimes are 7:30 pm. nightly (dark Friday) Tickets are $29.95 plus tax and if you want a nice dinner (outside the showroom) it's only $34.95 plus tax.

The Boys of Thunder were out at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway from Monday through Thursday testing the new race cars, tires and dealing with a shorter spoiler. Rusty Wallace, who has announced that this will be his final year as a full-time racer was there. The Busch brothers were testing their respective cars (Kyle will be a rookie this year in the Cup Division driving a Chevrolet).

Rusty, was extremely complimentary about the brothers, stating that he felt "Kyle will be a tremendous race car driver and has a great future ahead of him." The 2004 Nextel Champion, Kurt Busch said he's looking forward to defending his title and of course racing his Ford against his brother once again full-time. "Last time we really raced each other on a regular basis was at the Las Vegas Bullring. It's going to be fun beating him again."

And just a quick word-wait till you see the new Dodge Charger!

The Nextel Cup and Busch race teams will return to the Las Vegas Speedway on Friday March 11 with the Busch race held on Saturday and the Cup event Sunday, March 13. From what we (the media) were told the additional grandstand seats being added at turn three are going fast. The price now is only $99.00 now and includes the whole-ball of wax, plus a general admission ticket for the Craftsmen Trucks and Champ Cars in September. When the season gets underway at Daytona the price goes up. So, if you are planning on going, get that ticket today. Call (702) 644-4444 for reservations or info.

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY: Bob Anderson, as previously announced in this column, will be at the Summerlin Library Theatre for a special three nights beginning Friday Feb. 18th. Tickets, priced at $24.95 may be purchased by calling 1-866-468-3399 or online at www.bobanderson.com. Just a few of the songs you'll be hearing from one of the best singers in the business include "Here and Now", "I Remember You", "You Better Love Me", "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "The Very Thought of You." It will 90 plus minutes of great entertainment, believe me. With Vince Falcone on piano and his trio how much better can it get?... Hey, gang, don't forget that special person in your life on Valentines Day. It falls on a Monday this month. The Cannery is featuring a very special menu at Waverly's Steakhouse and the Victory Café that one night only from 5-9:30 pm. Call (702) 507-5900 for info... Grant Griffin and his night of magical music in the showroom inside the Orleans Hotel on March 8th will be another great night of songs by Grant and his three special ladies. More on this as the date nears... Surprising news last week from Rick Thomas, who has headlined his magic show at the Tropicana Hotel every afternoon for up-teen years, when he announced moving his show (and those beautiful cats) to the Stardust Wayne Newton Showroom starting the afternoon of March 25. Showtimes will be 2 and 4 pm... Hypnotist is now doing his "Hip-Nosis" show in the Congo Room at the Sahara Hotel with show time set at 10 pm., nightly except Wednesday...

Well, gang, that's it for another week. I'm outa here!

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