Columnist Kate Maddox: Marino blows big bucks on New Year’s blowouts

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000 | 9:46 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, only in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach her at kmaddox@vegas.com.

For some, it was a toss-up: Which of the big headliners to see this New Year's Eve? One Vegas entertainer avoided the problem altogether -- but ended up with one heavy tab.

Female impersonator Frank Marino, star of the Riviera's "An Evening at La Cage," spent a whopping $20,000 for a weekend packed with live performances from some of his favorite stars. Marino spent the 30th at the Thomas & Mack Center watching Tina Turner and Elton John duke it out. The 31st found him front and center at Barbra Streisand. And, finally, the First was with the Divine Miss M, Bette Midler.

Of the three shows, Marino raved about Barbra. "In a word, she was perfect, not a hair out of place, not a chip off the nail polish." Marino treated three friends to the show, with tickets costing $2,500 -- that adds up to 10 grand when you include Marino's own ticket.

Marino said that the night was the most exciting of his entire life. He said that the energy in the room was palpable and that the audience -- which included notorious Streisand fan Rosie O'Donnell -- was dressed up and looking fabulous.

Marino was less impressed with the previous night's performance from John and Turner. He lauded Turner for her stage presence, but still felt the show didn't have that "special feeling" that one might expect from two musical legends.

Marino, who changes outfits about 20 times during the 90-minute production of "La Cage," was appalled that the once-flamboyant John didn't change clothes once during his show. Very un-diva-like behavior. Two tickets for Turner/John cost Marino $1,200 (in case you're keeping track).

The first night of the New Year found Marino and friends at Midler's show at Mandalay Bay. Marino gave this one two thumbs up. He got the opportunity to go back stage and say hello to the raucous performer and the first thing out of her mouth to him was, "I don't know how you people can afford this. I can't afford it, that's why I'm the one on stage!" Cost for the Midler tickets? Five hundred dollars apiece.

Marino also footed the bill for food and drinks each night, and, of course, the evening required that he spend a bundle on a couple of special millennium outfits, bringing the grand total hovering near the $20,000 mark -- according to Marino. Was it worth it? Marino emphatically says yes. "This was the first New Year's Eve I've had off in 15 years ... I knew it would have to be a memorable one."

Actress Lucy Liu, best known for her portrayal of icy attorney Ling on Fox's "Ally McBeal," recently spent some time in Las Vegas shooting scenes for the upcoming flick, "Play It to the Bone." But she didn't partake in any gambling while in town, for fear she would get carried away.

The New York Times Syndicate reports that Liu didn't put one chip on the table the entire time she was in town. "I have an obsessive-compulsive personality," she says. "I'd be in jail for stealing somebody's car and trying to sell it for more money. I didn't even go there."

It's hard to believe that the super-hot actress would be strapped for cash. She just landed the role as the third Angel, along with Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz, in the movie remake of the campy TV classic "Charlie's Angels" for a reported seven-figure paycheck.