Columnist Joe Delaney: Magical production takes a Westward turn

Joe Delaney

Thursday, May 11, 2000 | 9:54 a.m.

Joe Delaney covers entertainment for the Sun. His column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at joe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4066.

Having made the point in Friday's column, "If it's not magic, then it's impressionists on the LV stages," we're still happy to add that "Hocus Pocus, It's Fielding West" is now in the Lady Luck showroom, with 8:30 p.m. shows on Thursdays and Sundays and two shows, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, all at bargain prices.

West's work is a masterful mixture of mirth and magic sans scatology, very funny business with Bob the Bird, a comedy switch on the Houdini classic, "Metamorphosis," and a hilarious closer when he tries to produce a real tiger from behind a screen. ... Jeannie Duran is West's comely assistant. ... This show is worth making the trip to Casino Center.

Also worth it, "The Stars of the Strip," comedy and impressions, co-starring Robby Howard and the Walkers, afternoons at the Lady Luck. ... Admission, both shows, can be had for the price of a drink.

And more impressions

Would you believe the Scintas (pronounced "Shin-tahs"), now in the LV Hilton Nightclub, are two brothers and a sister doing music, comedy and impressions, as are the Lady Luck's Walkers? ... The Scintas are American-Italian siblings from Buffalo, N.Y., working with a "token" American-Irishman, Peter O'Donnell. ... Our review will appear in Friday's Sun.

Special events

The Mandalay Bay Theatre reopens Friday with the "Classical Mystery Tour," with vocal renditions of the Beatles music, backed by the LV Philharmonic, performances are at 8 p.m. through Sunday. ... Barry Manilow is scheduled for five performances there in four days, May 25-28. ... "Manilow Live" is Barry, his music, plus a full orchestra.

Mexico's most prolific and celebrated songwriter-performer, Juan Gabriel, will appear in concert on May 27 in the Mandalay Bay Events Center, with Raul DiBlasio as his special guest. ... Tickets are on sale.

Star-policy rundown

It's Earth Wind & Fire (Caesars Palace); "Honky Tonk Angels" (Gold Coast); Clint Holmes (Harrah's); Johnny Mathis (LV Hilton); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage -- Danny Gans is recuperating from his appendectomy) Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Neil Sedaka (Orleans); David Cassidy-Sheena Easton (Rio); Wayne Newton (Stardust); and Andre-Philippe Gagnon (Venetian).

Sam Butera & The Wildest are back in the Tropicana Lounge, Friday through Sunday, then move to Addison's Lounge in the Regent Las Vegas next week. ... Butera & Co. play the Santa Fe, June 2-3, then return to the Regent, June 6-18. ... Marlene Ricci performs in the Regent's Addison Lounge through Sunday. ... Ricci's experience sum total is impressive.

Local happenings

"You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" is in its second weekend of a three-weekend run (LV Little Theatre) while Actors Repertory Theatre's "The Secret Garden" opens Friday for two weekends (Summerlin Library Theatre). ... The Liberace Museum celebrates what would have been the entertainer's 81st birthday with numerous events Saturday.

The Liberace "Play-A-Like" competition, amateur division, is from 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. and the professionals compete, 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Carluccio Restaurant's piano lounge in Liberace Plaza. ... The nonprofit Liberace Museum is the key funding arm for the Liberace Foundation, which has awarded nearly $4 million in arts scholarship grants to date.

Walt Boenig's Big Band Mother's Day Concert starts at 2 p.m. Sunday (Reed Whipple Center), admission is free but with a ticket. ... The Nevada Jazz Orchestra Concert is also 2 p.m. Sunday, Winchester Center.

More jazz notes

Jazz fans can be found enjoying the Joe Lano Trio, Tuesday through Sunday evenings (Paris Las Vegas); Mike Breene's Trio is another weeknight treat (Santa Fe). ... Fridays it's Pogo's and Sundays, 6-10 p.m., it's Marv Koral's All-Stars featuring trombone great Carl Fontana. ... Pick up their swinging new CD whilst digging them at Pierce Street Annex.

Good luck wishes

All the best to talented Joel Fischman and his First Class Productions Inc., offering expertise for booking, producing and creating unique entertainment and special events. ... Fischman's achievements in Atlantic City and later, here at Bally's and Mandalay Resorts Group, were exemplary. ... He is also serving as a consultant to Harrah's in the East, South and Midwest. ... See you Friday.