‘Fosse’ a fine fit at Aladdin Theatre

Joe Delaney

Friday, May 25, 2001 | 8:44 a.m.

"Fosse" is the third -- and the best so far -- in a series of four Broadway musicals being presented this year in the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts by the SFX Group.

Reva Rice, a Las Vegan since starring here in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express" at the Las Vegas Hilton, shares co-star billing with Linda Bowen, dancer Terace Jones and singer Josef Patrick Pescetto, who merit their featured-billing status.

It is really a sampling of the best of the late Bob Fosse's choreography by a first-rate company of 28 dancers performing 29 musical numbers from 11 Broadway productions, eight films and eight television appearances, all choreographed by Fosse. Richard Maltby Jr., Chet Walker and Ann Reinking are credited with the conception, and the late Gwen Verdon served as artistic advisor.

Walker re-created Fosse's choreography for this production. Reinking shares honors here and also shares director honors with Maltby. Low bows are also due Ralph Burns and Douglas Besterman for their musical arrangements executed with near-perfection by the Fosse Orchestra under the direction of Don York -- major contributors.

Rice started the evening with "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries," followed by "Fosse's World," culled from various productions he had choreographed and featuring Bowen and Jones with Rice. "Bye Bye Blackbird," from the television special "Liza with a Z," was the first evidence of any dynamics, raising the overall energy level.

Selections from "Dancin' " slowed the pacing again, and then came a rousing "Hey, Big Spender," which shifted things into high gear. Neil Diamond's "Crunchy Granola Suite," "From This Moment On" and "I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man" closed out Act One. There was a 15-minute intermission between the first two acts and a three-minute pause between the second and third act.

Act Two -- which included "Dancing in the Dark," "Steam Heat," a big winner, and closed with "Big Noise from Winnetka" and "Me and My Shadow" -- set up the third act with such great standards as "Razzle Dazzle," "Who's Sorry Now," "There'll Be Some Changes Made" and "Mr. Bojangles," sung by Pescetto with Vincent Sandoval as Bojangles and Jones as the Spirit.

Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing," with the entire company and featuring the Fosse Orchestra, proving anew the importance of live music, was a dynamite closer. Fosse fans will have a wonderful time at the Aladdin this week, and some non-Fosse fans could be converted as well.