Columnist Joe Delaney: Early impressionists paved the way for today’s stars

Joe Delaney

Friday, July 30, 1999 | 9:24 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@vegas.com.

With David Cassidy being revealed on Wednesday as Danny Gans' Rio replacement, the announcement that Gans will be moving to the Mirage in mid-January should be forthcoming within the week ... The Rio's timing seems premature unless a deal has been made for Gans to leave earlier.

Gans has been the most recent impressionist success story, brought here first by Bill Cosby at the Hilton, then with Joan Rivers at the Desert Inn. ... Tom Willer saw Gans' immense potential at the Hilton and brought him into the Stratosphere. ... At the Rio, Gans is still selling out in advance at $99, which does include tax, gratuity and two drinks. ... This is remarkable when you consider it was $39.95 just three years ago.

Gans' material is always current, he works with great rapidity and fluidity. ... His carbons are accurate, with just a touch of satire, often funny, a model of performance consistency. ... He achieves an instant rapport with his audience on a one-to-one level.

Anent impressions

Impressions, humorous or serious, have always been an important part of many an entertainer's repertoire. ... Mime Marcel Marceau's depictions are physical impressions. ... They show his onstage persona, the clown Bip, in various situations. ... The late Rufe Davis' forte was unusual sounds. ... Guy Marks, also no longer with us, excelled at voices but could also be an ostrich, a horse, camel, boat, sea gull or all the voices in an opera.

Rich Little, appearing in the Riviera's Top of the Riv tonight and Saturday, was the first full-time impressionist to become a successful LV main showroom headliner, for a quarter-century so far.

Little's award-winning "Great Pretenders" series on HBO afforded good exposure to Bob Anderson, a brilliant singing impressionist yet to be accorded his due in Las Vegas, to Johnny Dark, now doing stand-up comedy only, and Babe Pier, who never should be laying off.

Credit given

Little deserves credit for paving the way in Vegas for Gans and for Bill Acosta's "Lasting Impressions" in the Luxor Live Theatre. ... Acosta's impressions are mostly musical with a strong assist from dancer Jay Fagan and four female dancers. ... Acosta works easily and well with a style much closer to that of Rich Little than Danny Gans.

Little's track record in films and television are challenges in the future for both Gans and Acosta. ... Little's voices are as accurate and as varied as the other two. ... Rich's presidential press conference segments set him apart. ... This will be the basis for a one-man show Little is scheduled to debut on Broadway early in 2000.

You have a rare opportunity to catch all three this weekend. ... With due respect to Rich, Danny and Bill, my all-time favorites remain Shecky Greene, the late Sammy Davis Jr. and Guy Marks.

A millennium season

UNLV's Performing Arts Center's announcement of its "Season of the Millennium, 1999-2000," is most impressive with performances representing the best of the New York stage, international stage and a superior Charles Vanda Master Series, closing with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis. ... Meanwhile pick up their current CD tribute to Duke Ellington. ... Call 895-ARTS for concerts details.

Equally impressive is the fact that artists, dancers, actors and musicians from UNLV's College of Fine Arts will participate in the prestigious Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, starting Aug. 5.

Dr. Robert Tracy, associate dean of UNLV's College of Fine Arts, will curate the art exhibition there, "Loving Las Vegas." ... Tracy also coordinated the festival project from the beginning. ... It was Tracy who brought Nobel prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney here.

Friday addenda

"MacBeth" will be performed tonight through Sunday in the outdoor theater at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. ... Michael McDonald, once with Steely Dan and later with the Doobie Brothers, performs at 9 this evening (Texas Station). ... Journey and Foreigner are at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

KUNV 91.5-FM and the Motown Cafe will host a Sunday Jazz Brunch featuring the Phil Wigfall Quintet, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday with proceeds to KUNV. ... Join Ernie George, Tom Ferguson, Joe Lano and Gus Mancuso at Anthony's Restaurant, Fridays and Saturdays, food's good, too. ... See you next Thursday.