‘Bottoms Up’ is in top form at Flamingo Las Vegas

Joe Delaney

Friday, Aug. 18, 2000 | 9:27 a.m.

"Bottoms Up" is back in town, full force, after too long away, as "The Best Of Bottoms Up," 2 and 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays in the Flamingo Las Vegas showroom for a modest $12.95 plus tax.

There are coupons presently available, admitting two persons with a one-drink each purchase at $5.95, gratuity not included.

The Breck Wall-Patrick Maes production credits Wall with staging and direction. Wall is also the comedic catalyst and host, co-starring with David Harris, original cadre with Wall, and Sue Motsinger, plus featuring Billy Smith and six attractive and talented dancers in a hilarious hodgepodge, a rapid-paced pastiche combining comedy, music and contemporary dance.

As the Guru, Wall introduces the show, followed by a dance production number and a series of comedy crossovers a la burlesque. Seven sketches follow with the record pantomime segments and Billy Smith's "rendition" of "Hurt" as standouts. The dancers return in a hot hip-hop production.

Wall's chronicle of one infamous family is classic, as is Smith's "It's Over" that follows. Harris and the four female dancers render "Brown Eyes," and Wall returns to explain why he is no longer himself. Harris and the two male dancers do the funny "Two Tickets to Pittsburgh," and Motsinger scores as country singer "Fatsy" Cline.

Then that definitive stripper, Delilah DeBris, bows, followed by a monologue by Wall, and three depictions of stars with Motsinger as Liza Minnelli, Harris as Cher and Wall as Tom Jones, three brilliant caricatures.

A dance production finale makes it all seem too soon over at approximately 70 minutes.

Vanetta McCann, Clint O'Ray, Trent Sherrell, Dawn Page, Heidi Fairbair and Kristi King are the dancers. Choreography honors are shared by Michael Darrin, Missy Cochran and Kyla Quintero.

"Bottoms Up" has always been on a stage somewhere and is into its fifth decade, originating in Dallas in 1959 and making its Las Vegas debut in the mid-1960s, accumulating more than 40 "Best Show of the Year" awards here, in Northern Nevada, New York City and in those early days in Texas.

I almost forgot: The girl dancers work topless, but in good taste throughout.