Tune puts on a ‘better’ anniversary ‘EFX’ performance

Joe Delaney

Friday, Oct. 6, 2000 | 10:07 a.m.

The MGM Grand production of "EFX," starring Tommy Tune, now in its fifth year, is in its third incarnation.

Michael Crawford was the first star of "EFX" and the show was structured to show off Crawford's English Music Hall virtuosity. David Cassidy, now at the Rio, succeeded Crawford and the production was restructured with a more youthful contemporary approach. Tune, a very tall Texan transplanted to Broadway, is a brilliant choreographer-dancer, a superb song-and-dance man. Again the production was restructured.

The more than 250 amazing special effects are all still there, including the talking head of James Earl Jones. Tune's contract is up in January, and the street talk is that he will leave then.

Broadway is beckoning, and Tune has indicated he is ready to return to musical theater. If the parting is mutual, MGM Grand's executive producer, Richard Sturm, need only find a performer with some marquee value who can sing and dance and fit in a story line restructured a third time.

Tune announced at the show caught that this was his 750th performance and appeared much more in tune with the production than was apparent a year or so ago. The large, talented and attractive cast also rose to the occasion. It was a much better performance.

There was a fun prologue with Sal, not billed, who involved the audience in some nonsense, a la the pre-show shenanigans for both "O" and "Mystere." The special effects took over with EFX Master Jones calling upon the Masters of Magic, Space, Time and Laughter. Tune arrived, and the journey began. It is a journey that is only possible if you dream -- and believe.

Next came the sequence in Camelot with Merlin and the wicked Morgana, followed by a circus segment, a tribute to P.T. Barnum with an incredible aerial performance by the Flying Kaganovitch. Tune had a song, tap-dance and chat insert here, closing with a cosmic (Celtic-flavored) jig.

Gone in the interest of time is the Houdini section with the lovely duet. The action went right to H.G. Wells and the time travel and the truncated rescue of the fair maiden. The closer was a medley of several selections involving the entire company. Audience response was strong.