Columnist Kate Maddox: Closing of ‘LifeForce’ a farce

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2000 | 10:06 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

"Nebulae: The LifeForce" has kicked it. Not only is the show kaputsville, but no one can seem to locate the whereabouts of the stars, sets or producers -- which is unfortunate, because I hear they owe the Showroom at the Venetian some rent.

After Saturday's show, performers in the Russian "spectacular" grabbed their gear and left the scene. According to insiders at the Showroom, this was a stunt that the Russians had apparently tried to pull off before. Early last week the crew pulled a U-Haul up to the stage door and began loading their stuff, supposedly hoping no one would notice what was going on. Subtle.

They were spotted by one of the Showroom managers, who immediately took the key from the ignition in the truck -- thus preventing the not so hush-hush plot to slip out the back.

The second attempt at a disappearing act, however, seems to have worked. As of Monday, the hotel was simply saying the show was over because of "technical difficulties" (as in, technically, there is no show). A call to the show's producer, Nikolaj Vissokovsky, was unsuccessful. After being told the entire staff of Vissokovsky's International Productions was in an "all-day meeting," I had to spell "Nebulae" for whoever was answering the telephone -- even though the show is the company's lone production. A good sign? I think not.

The one person who did at least have something to say was the attorney for H & H of Nevada (which leased the Showroom space to "Nebulae"), Bruce Leslie. Leave it to the lawyer to put it bluntly: "Basically, it's a contractual abandonment." So, did the folks at H & H at least get a heads up about the sneaky departure? "No. They vacated the premises, and currently there have been no further discussions." Asked whether the Russians owe some back rent, Leslie curtly replied, "I don't know about (the financial specifics) at this point."

OK, so things definitely aren't smelling like roses over there, but at least the departure has a positive side. Both Melinda, the First Lady of Magic and Andre-Philippe Gagnon should benefit from "Nebulae's" nebulous escape -- that's one less Showroom tenant competing for customers and elbow room backstage.

It seems the rumor about Donny Osmond taking over for Tommy Tune in "EFX" at the MGM Grand was just that -- a rumor. Gossip maven Cindy Adams was apparently off the mark when she reported the replacement in Friday's New York Post.

Osmond's publicist called to say that the former teen dream is hard at work on a new album (being produced by punker Joey Ramone of all people!) and has absolutely no plans to conquer the Strip. Tune's contract is solid through the end of the year.

There were more than a couple of touching moments at the final curtain show at the Desert Inn this weekend. One in particular was recounted by Larry Finuf, longtime companion of Toni Clark, widow of DI founder Wilbur Clark.

On Sunday evening the Golden Boys played to a packed house and a standing ovation, but the adulations went to Mrs. Clark as well. Finuf passed along a farewell note:

"There wasn't a dry eye in the house as celebrities Sonny King, Steve Rossi, guests and staff members passed in review of Mrs. Clark's table and congratulated her on behalf of her late husband. She was overwhelmed by her sudden 'rock star' status as handshakes, photographs and autographs were sought. Oh, everyone knows the Desert Inn isn't the same hotel it once was and the property has had several owners since Wilbur's passing, but it was always regarded as Wilbur and Toni's house, and they were family, as was the staff at the Desert Inn."

archive