I've seen a few shows recently and thought I'd pass on some brief comments:
Ballys - Society of Seven - with Phillipines star, singer Lani Misalucha.
Showing dailiy (except Fri) at 3pm in showroom. This review has changed from
when it was at the Aladdin with the addition of singer Lani, who has a
beautiful voice, and is very beautiful too, and also very energetic. She also is
able to do impressions, and adds that talent to that of the Hawaiian-Seven
mail singers/musicians, who also do impressions. Lani also sings a few songs
"straight" and is delightful. The Seven & L. are energetic and their show is
fun and interesting. The $32.50 price seemed a bit pricey for an afternoon
show, but I guess compared to prices of $65, 85, 100, and so on for night-time
shows, I guess it isn't too bad. Show runs an hour and a half and is quite
entertaining. They lampoon or at least impersonate other Vegas shows, do a
short version of Phantom of the Opera (played straight), and also impersonate
other performers. I thought they missed a bet by not doing "The Scintas"
though.
Ballys - "Don Arden's Jubilee" - still a classic. Great sets, dancing,
costumes, topless showgirls - a "must" for everyone who comes to Vegas to see at
least once. I've seen it at least 5 times over the years, and it is always
great.
Gold Coast - "Rockin and Romancing" - no reason to see this dud unless you
get a freebie. The free cocktail you get will help you through this insipid
review which mostly features 2 men who impersonate Engelbert Humperdink,
Richie Valli, and others. The comedienne was sometimes funny, but often not very,
and she also does impersonations.
LV Hilton - Trent Carlini as Elvis. Now this is an impersonator worth
seeing. High energy show with excellent band. Carlini looks like Elvis, but more
importantly, he sounds like Elvis, and really gives a great show. I think
he's the best Elvis I've ever seen. Show goes through Elvis's career and
Carlini goes through several wigs. The wigs probably could be better (I was
close to the stage), but Carlini really is great.
Rio - Ronn Lucas show. Afternoon show costs only $6.95 (and that includes a
free drink plus discounts) if you get a special coupon. Ask at any Total
Reward desk or check-in counter. Best place to definitely find coupons is at
the Carnival Court at Harrahs (girls hand out coupons or ask them). Show is
extremely funny and best value for a show in Vegas. Show is in afternoon (3pm
I think). Lucas is a ventriloquist and undoubtedly the best one now working
in the country. His show is funny - I'm telling you really funny. Kids can
go too (one of his characters is a dragon which kids love), but some
material is just slightly blue. This is the best afternoon show in Vegas. Show
runs about 1 hour. Did I mention I loved it?
Harrahs- Mac King Show. Same coupon for $6.95 with drink. He's a funny
magician. Shows are at 1pm and 3pm. Great value, but not quite as good as
Lucas. Sometimes there may be a substitute funny magician though. Try to catch
Mac King himself.
Mirage - Danny Gans - good impersonator who sings. But I don't think he is
worth the $100 or so price. Also some of his material is really dated.
You'd better be over 40 to know some of the people/films he impersonates. Also
show doesn't seem to change much - I've seen it a couple/few times and it
seemed pretty much identical. Best reason to see it -- a comp ticket.
Bellagio - "O" - absolutely the best show in Las Vegas. Actually worth the
money for a ticket (which probably will cost you around $125 or even $150).
Generally sold out months in advance. Best way to get tickets - contact a
host at Bellagio and give them your Mirage/MGM/Bellagio card number and buy
ticket through the host. They can get you better seats and book you in sooner.
Last minute empty seats are given nightly at the box office, but the line is
long and no guarantee of getting a seat. Try this midweek if you must.
Rio - "Masquerade/Parade in the Sky" - Best free show in Las Vegas. 4 or 5
shows nightly and there are several different ones. Show lasts over 20
minutes and includes a pre-show with clowns and/or acrobats, followed by floats
"in the sky" and dancers on stage, as well as possible extras such as a giant
peacock, etc. At end of show they throw beads from the floats and you usually
have to try hard if you don't want some. Showtimes are 3, 4, 5, 6:30, 7:30,
8:30, 9:30. If in doubt, phone the Rio at 777-7777 (the one phone number I
can remember!).
Bellagio - fountains on the Lake - shows run from 3pm to midnight, every 15
minutes. You can get a list of the music from the front desk. Best viewing
is nighttime from directly in front of the Bellagio. I've taken friends and
they want to stay and watch 2, 3, 4 shows in a row. This may be the 2nd best
free show in Las Vegas. (Don't miss the flower garden inside the Bellagio.
I finally realized that the display changes with the season, and it is
always worth a visit.)
ยทยทยท
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Worst-kept rule in Vegas: "No cameras or recording devices allowed." -
Nowadays everyone is carrying cell phones and tiny digital cameras and they are
using them in all the shows, the casino floors, the buses, the streets, etc.
No flash and no one seems to notice.
Most likely place to get your camera confiscated: Caesars Palace Collesum
shows like Celine or Elton John. They check bags and really look. But if
your camera is deep down in your handbag it might be missed..... (I put my coke
can down there and they didn't notice it). But gee - they don't confiscate
cell phones!!! The unlawful items are "checked" and you pick them up after
the show - provided you remember. I asked them how many cameras are left at
the end of a day and they said 20-30 per day usually!!! They auction them off
once a year for "charity" (or so they said).
MGM Grand and some other locales may also require you to pass through metal
detectors.
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Word of advice - Las Vegas showrooms and casinos and maybe hotel rooms have,
in my opinion, sometimes poor fire exits and poor prevention of fire
hazards. At Mandalay Bay concert I saw (and complained about to no avail)
wheelchairs were left to partially block the emergency exit aisle. Also an usher
there had no idea where the fire exit went to. Sometimes exit signs are covered
over (to block out their annoying but necessary light). Hotel room exits
may not lead directly outside -- how would you like to evacuate from your room
only to end up in the middle of the casino for example, as happened to me in
the old Vegas World hotel? I've been in the Las Vegas Convention Center
with huge crowds, narrow aisles, and the main corridor blocked with exhibits.
Someone told me that they were at a crowded Palms drawing where outside exits
were barred and guarded.
And just this weekend I was at a casino party (a slot tournament award
event) at the Luxor where they nicely decorated the tables with candles, and one
table almost caught on fire.
So when you are in a hotel room, it wouldn't hurt to check out that little
"emergecy exits" map on the back of your room door. Or if you are inside a
casino, a concert, a party, a restaurant, it wouldn't hurt to take a few seconds
to check out where the nearest emergency exit is, and to think of a strategy
that you might take to get out that exit without being trampled, in the
event of an emergency.
Obviously we are all thinking a bit more of emergencies, due to terrorists,
but the reality is that more likely the emergency might result from a careless
smoker, a candle, a restaurant kitchen, and so on.
Hopefully none of us will ever need to face the reality of such a situation.
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Best, Linda
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