Acosta brings cast of characters to Flamingo

Joe Delaney

Friday, Dec. 1, 2000 | 10:59 a.m.

Impressionist Bill Acosta has moved his "Lasting Impressions" show from the Luxor's Pharaoh's Theatre to the more-than-twice-the-capacity Flamingo Las Vegas showroom.

Producer Jeanne Bavaro wisely replaced the taped musical background and added the Joey Singer/Vincent Falcone Orchestra, 12 attractive and talented dancers, plus enhanced production values.

There were 11 dancers at the show caught. The show is advertised as "topless," and it is for the opener and closer, a sop for those to whom this is important.

The "Lasting Impressions" dancers open the show and nicely set up Acosta's entrance. In great voice, he sang "Falling In Love," chatted a bit then sang "Coming To America" as Neil Diamond, followed by Nat "King" Cole, George Burns and Lou Rawls sharing vocal honors on "Unforgettable." Tom Jones, sans the usual exaggerated dance moves, was next.

By this time, one became aware of Acosta's easy manner, informal information accuracy and impeccable pacing. "Everybody Loves Somebody" featured the voices of Dean Martin, Willie Nelson, Julio Iglesias and Jerry Lewis. "Living La Vida Loca" combined Ricky Martin with Arnold Schwarzenegger -- the latter could stand some beefing up.

The dancers returned with a contemporary Latin-dance number, a respite for Acosta who followed with Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett. The dancers were used in a warm Sammy Davis Jr. tribute, then sizzled, as did the orchestra, in a driving version of "Sing, Sing, Sing."

President Clinton's "Twelve Days of Christmas" included impressions of Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Ray Charles, George Bush, Christopher Lloyd, Austin Powers, Garth Brooks, Forrest Gump, Sylvester Stallone, Ross Perot, Clint Eastwood, Bill Cosby and Jack Nicholson -- a real tour de force. Acosta as Acosta then sang "Music of the Night," from "The Phantom of the Opera."

This example of "vocal chasing" led to "vocal tones," going from Humphrey Bogart to Peter Falk as Columbo and Carol Channing. A story told as Myron Cohen was not one of Cohen's best tales. "On Golden Pond," with a Katherine Hepburn-Henry Fonda scene, the Frank Sinatra medley, a standout, and "There's No Business Like Show Business" as a full-cast finale added another 18 voices to the count.

The sound, vocally and instrumentally, was outstanding. Audience response was constant and heavy throughout.