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| March 17, 2006 | NEWEST - PRIOR WEEK - ARCHIVES |
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| "It's The Norm" - Las Vegas Entertainment Events | |
"MATSURI" ARRIVES FROM JAPAN
Went to the Riviera Hotel the other evening to take in the latest production show to hit the Las Vegas Strip. This time, however, it was not a Broadway show, but a show fresh from Japan. "Matsuri," the number one production in Japan, is performing a limited engagement in the Splash Theatre through April 29.
Most shows on the Strip feature singers, show girls and magicians as the main attraction. "Matsuri" is different and breaks all the rules. The show features world-ranked professional athletes, extreme sports, dance and Japanese tradition in a huge production with (guessing here) about 50 some performers. Two of the featured performers are world-renowned athletes - world champion German wheel gymnast Yasuaki Yoshikawa and Trampoline World Cup winner Daisuke Nakata. This is a very quick paced show, with no soft spots. It is constantly moving, revolving and spinning into one athletic performance after another. The Trampoline guy goes higher and higher and you do believe he will disappear into the ceiling, never to come down - but he does. The German wheel thing is new to America but is big throughout Europe and now Japan. The sport involves gymnasts performing complicated routines in a big wheel. Yoshikawa is renowned in the sport for his technical expertise, in which he uses inertia, centrifugal force and gravity to perform complicated and visually compelling routines. He won first place in the German wheel vault and second place all around in the World Championships in 2003. And, believe me gang, this is a fantastic part of the show. "Matsuri" is performing in the Splash Theatre at the Riviera Hotel with show times at 4 p.m. Saturday through Thursday and 7:30 and 10:30 pm. on Fridays when Splash has its night off. Tickets are $59.95 general admission, $69.95 VIP seating. For reservations call the box office at 1-877-892-7469. It was another fabulous weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the "Boys of Thunder" did their thing on Saturday and Sunday. The Sam's Town 300 on Saturday had a great crowd estimated at around 90,000, while the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 stuffed some 154,000 into the stands and infield. As previously mentioned, the speedway becomes the fifth largest city in Nevada on Sunday. Jimmy Johnson sling-shot his way to victory leading only a single lap-the one that counted, and beat out the Sam's Town winner and lap leader Matt Kenseth. |
It was without question one of the most dramatic finishes ever at the local speedway. Kenseth, who had the win in his grasp, if only the race stayed green, was slowed down by a yellow flag, giving Johnson a two-lap shot to win. From some reports, Kenseth had indicated he was having a problem with his car (which had led 146 of 267 laps) just before the yellow was waved. But, had the yellow not came out, it is questionable if Johnson could've improved his position and pass the eventual second-place finisher. "Today we didn't have the fastest car at times, but we got it right at the end of the race," Johnson said. He received a check for $400,000 for his victory. Once again the crew chief for the Lowe's sponsored Chevrolet was Darian Grubb, who has filled in for Chad Knaus while he serves a suspension for rules infraction. Thus far Grubb has guided the team to a win at Daytona, a top finish at California and this victory. Wonder how many offers he'll be getting to become a fulltime crew chief? THIS AND THAT QUICKLY: My good friend Earl Turner has returned to his roots (our little village) with a super act. He's performing at the Sound Trax showroom inside Palace Station over on West Sahara. This is a guy who has more talent in his little toe than a lot of headliners on the Strip have total. Go see him, you'll be glad you did!... George Wallace and David Brenner will join forces beginning April 4 and running through April 29th inside the Flamingo Hotel showroom. Wallace has had many unannounced performers join him for improv during his 10 pm. show. These include Chris Tucker, Jerry Seinfeld and Brenner... Saturday will be the giant St. Patrick's Day Parade in Henderson with County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury serving as Grand Marshal. This is the 40th such parade and is without a doubt one of the best in the country. It gets underway on Water Street at 11 a.m... Robert Goulet will be among the latest inductees to Canada's ever-expanding Walk of Fame on June 3rd. Robert (I can call him that having known the great singer for a number of years) and his wife, Vera, will attend the ceremony along with other inductees Alex Trebek and Paul Shaffer... Stephen Sorrentino will be performing his show "Voices in My Head" at the Atlantic City Hilton Hotel from April 2 to the 21st... Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme will be at the Stardust this coming week, Wednesday through Saturday with showtimes at 8 pm. This is usually a sellout performance by two of the best. Suggest you get on that phone right now and make your reservations... Late Late Show host, Craig Ferguson, will do a one night performance Saturday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Tiffany Theatre at the Tropicana Hotel... Well, gang, that's about it for another week. I'm outa here!
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