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| July 8, 2005 | NEWEST - PRIOR WEEK - ARCHIVES |
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| "It's The Norm" - Las Vegas Entertainment Events | |
EDWIN COOK AND BABS & FRANK IN CONCERT
Went to two wonderful shows this week: First in Mesquite, Nevada and then right around the corner at the Riviera Hotel. The entertainers are not new to this writer, as I've reviewed both shows previously. But, it had been quite sometime and I thought they deserved a return visit.
The first show was Edwin Cook at the CasaBlanca Hotel & Casino who opened Tuesday (July 5) in the Mesquite showroom with one of the more energetic shows I've seen in quite sometime. But that's Edwin's style - full steam ahead and leave nothing behind! The show I watched began at 5 p.m. and Cook hit his mark with "Rubber Band Man" followed with a Spinner hit, "I'll be Around." Something I was unaware of, but was informed about after the show, was that Edwin was a member of the Buck Ram Platters when they toured South Africa prior to the end of Apartheid. They were the first black entertainers to play before a multi-racial audience and were dubbed "Good Will Ambassadors" by the Mayor of Capetown. Edwin has a 4 1/2 octave range and uses it very cautiously throughout the 60 minute show. His tribute medley to "swing" included "Kansas City", "Route 66" and "Let the Good Times Roll" and was very well received by the audience. I really enjoyed his rendition of "On Broadway," which was a big hit for the Coasters (another group he was proud to be a member of). "Papa was a Rolling Stone" and his impression of Stevie Wonder doing "Superstition" is without question a highlight of the show and is placed perfectly near the end of his set. I was hoping that he would do his tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr., during this set, but instead he did a fantastic tribute to Ray Charles with "Georgia." He followed this with a comical impression of Elvis singing "Hound Dog" and "In the Ghetto." The show closes with Bill Withers' great hit "Use Me." The one thing I really like about this particular entertainer, you never see the same show twice. He mixes and matches perfectly and reads his audience quickly and adjusts as he moves along on stage. Heck, you might see him play the drums during one performance, and next he may be picking at a guitar. He's what people in showbiz like to say is "An Entertainers, Entertainer!" Edwin Cook performs three shows nightly through July 17 with Monday dark. Showtimes are 5 pm. Tuesday - Thursday and on Sunday ending with an 8 pm. show. Friday and Saturday he gets underway at 7 pm., with a final show at 10 pm. Later the same evening I arrived back in town and headed directly to the Riviera Hotel, where a nearly SRO crowd was awaiting the 9 pm., performance of "Barbara & Frank - The Performance that never happened." I first saw this show about a year ago at an off-the-strip hotel. At that time I thought the show was terrific and deserved to be on the Strip. Well, let me tell you, I have not changed my mind. This is more than just a terrific show - it's a showbiz topper! |
 Of course the Barbara is Ms. Streisand as portrayed by Sharon Owens to perfection (just as Barbara would expect), and Frank is Mr. Sinatra as Sebastian Anzaldo plays him. If one closes the eyes and just listens, you would swear the actual person is on stage. Then when you open your eyes you see a very glamorous Barbara and a swinging Frank. The show, in the Le Bistro Showroom, runs about 65 minutes and starts right off with a duet of "I've Got a Crush on You" and "Luck be a Lady." There is some cute patter prior to Frank leaving the stage to Barbara and their piano man Rob Hyatt. For the next 20 minutes you get to hear hits such as "People", "Second Hand Rose" a medley comprised of "Evergreen / Women in Love / Guilty. During certain portions of her time she shows film highlights of the Lady, and then when she's singing "Papa Can You Hear Me" photo clips of her own father are shown. It's a wonderful 20 minutes! Frank returns to a very receptive audience and swings into "I've Got the World on a String" followed by a very nice "Summer Wind." His medley of "Come Fly With Me / Fly Me to the Moon" is followed by a terrific "My Way." Another wonderful performance by a consummate entertainer.  The two re-unite with a beautiful rendition of "It Was a Very Good Year" and "The Way We Were." The final 10 minutes are spent at the piano where they perform some of the memorable hits originally performed by these two legendary entertainers. The closing moments are classic with "Somewhere" and "New York, New York." And, folks, that's all there is. A show you must see! THIS AND THAT QUICKLY: The Rainbow Bar & Grill, across the street from the Hard Rock, has had a ton of rock stars drop by and visit. This afternoon (Friday 8th ) Skid Row will do an acoustic set beginning at 2 pm... Next Friday (the 15th) Boarders Books, Music & Caf´ at 10950 W. Charleston will hold a Harry Potter Festival in conjunction with the midnight release of the new Potter book. It begins in the parking lot at 8 pm... AOL City Guide, the nation's leading online local entertainment guide has named the Mount Charleston Lodge "winner" in the "City's Best 2005 Outdoor Dining" category. Congrats to owner Barbara Orcutt and staff... Rick Thomas, at the Stardust has really caught on with tourist and locals alike and keeps filling the showroom twice every afternoon at 2 and 4 pm., with his unbelievable magic show... Well, gang, that's about it for another week... I'm outa here!
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