Columnist Joe Delaney: ‘Splash’ much better at Riviera

Joe Delaney

Thursday, May 4, 2000 | 10:25 a.m.

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

"Splash," revisited. ... On April 27 the UNLV hotel entertainment class and this columnist joined a capacity crowd at the Riviera to see the revised and now finely-honed edition of the long-running production. ... World-class ice skaters, medal winners Inna Gregorian and Mikhail Panin, along with Victoria Bilyeu, are the new centerpiece.

Choreographer Nick Navarro has updated and energized the production numbers and a talented and attractive company has responded in kind. ... The specialty acts are outstanding: The Los Latin Cowboys combine humor with their exciting Argentinian gaucho routines; the Richard Brothers are the equivalent of watching three Rudy Cardenas juggling at once.

Uundarma's artistry as a contortionist is classic; a fitting preface to Bela Tabak's ear-splitting Riders of the Thunderdome that precedes the finale. ... Packed for the early show, it was 80 percent of capacity at 10:30 p.m.

"Splash," concluded

The difference between the show we reviewed in January and the performance last week is the fresh esprit de corps. ... "Splash" has been nicely revised, energized and, as important today, merchandised to the point that crowd counts are running 30 percent ahead of the comparative period in 1999. ... Shows are performed seven days a week; all performances have partial nudity and there will be a locals special rate on Fridays, starting June 2.

Locating Lance

Lance Burton is in Japan, appearing in the Tokyo International Forum through Friday and reappearing at the Monte Carlo on Tuesday. ... Paul Rodriguez and his Yo Quiero Comedy Jam closes tonight in the Lance Burton Theatre, with the chronically unhappy but funny Richard Lewis in residence Friday and Saturday. ... Burton's good deeds in the community could fill several columns; he is a fine good citizen example.

The E! Channel 's "True Hollywood Story," chronicling the lives and careers of Mirage stars Siegfried & Roy, repeats this evening at 9 and again on Friday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Star-policy rundown

It's Gladys Knight, starring in "Smokey Joe's Cafe" (Caesars Palace); Susan Anton, final weekend (Desert Inn); "Honky Tonk Angels" (Gold Coast); Clint Holmes (Harrah's); Trisha Yearwood (LV Hilton); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Siegfried & Roy, plus Danny Gans (Mirage); Kansas (Orleans); David Cassidy-Sheena Easton (Rio); Wayne Newton (Stardust) and Andre-Philippe Gagnon (Venetian).

Diane Ford's Midnight Martini Madness features Ford plus guest comedians but actually starts at 10:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, in the Desert Inn Starlight Lounge. ... The Luxor's "Midnight Fantasy," a winner, starts even earlier, at 10 p.m. ... Is there a message in this?

Well-publicized Jimmy Hopper is moving his show to the stage in the nightclub Ra at the Luxor with performances at 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. ... Was Andre-Philippe's success in a similar spot at the Venetian the inspiration for this venue change?

Local events

Variety Club, the Children's Charity, is the beneficiary of the seventh annual Stacy Darling Tennis Classic, now through Sunday at the Sport Club Las Vegas. ... Variety Club deserves your support and your membership; please get involved. ... Styx and REO Speedwagon perform at 7 p.m. Friday in the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

The CCSN Dance Ensemble presents "Euroflux," Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 & 7:30 p.m. in the Horn Theatre on the Cheyenne Campus. ... There will also be a Jazz Combos Concert at 2 p.m. and the Spring Choir Concert, 4 p.m. Sunday, on the Cheyenne Campus.

LV Little Theatre presents "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," weekends through May 21. ... This is the final weekend for George Gershwin's "Crazy For You" in UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre. ... Asylum Theater's "Ballad Hunter" will be performed through Sunday (Winchester Center).

Thursday addenda

A Traveling Jewish Theater presents Naomi Newman in "Snake Talk: Urgent Messages from the Mother," 8 p.m. Saturday (Charleston Heights Center). ... Friday is Cinco de Mayo; the local celebration will take place from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday (Lorenzi Park). ... Trombonist Walt Boenig conducts the LV All-Star High School Jazz Band, 2 p.m. Sunday (Reed Whipple Center). ... Support these worthwhile local events. ... See you Friday.