Columnist Joe Delaney: ‘Bottoms Up’ reunion brings cast back to stage

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001 | 8:24 a.m.

The performance was made special by the contributions of erstwhile regulars Suzanne Buhrer, Joe Danova and Shon Vaughn, recreating classic segments from earlier editions of the Breck Wall-Patrick Maes L.V.-longevity champ ... Wall directs and stars in the current production, which features original cadre member David Harris, Sue Motsinger and Jay Dalton.

The reception that followed in the Flamingo Las Vegas Silver State Ballroom was similar to a college reunion with so many friends who had not seen each other for many years ... Good neighbor Otto Ottwein and his wife, B.J., were present ... Otto was musical director and arranger for the show and B.J. was a principal ... I was responsible for Otto moving to Las Vegas in 1964.

Last Thursday our University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Hotel Entertainment class was invited to attend the revised and refurbished spectacular "Splash" at the Riviera ... We stayed for the 7:30 p.m. performance ... Approximately $500,000 has been spent for costumes and the new choreography created by award-winning veteran Nick Navarro ... It has given the show a classy new look and added dimensions.

With Los Latin Cowboys, Hugo Latorre and Eduardo Lorne, you have the excitement of the bolos and drums plus very funny audience involvement ... The Richard Brothers of Mexico, an incredible juggling trio, plus Bela Tabaks' Riders of the Thunderdome, gives "Splash" three outstanding specialty acts, in addition to two world-class ice skating teams.

Irina Grigorian and Mikhan Panin are American Figure Skating Pro Championship gold and bronze medalists while Cindy Landry-Davis is a World Championship silver medalist performing with 2006 Olympic hopeful Jared Guzman ... Following Friday's performances, the show will be dark Saturday through Monday, then do two performances a night, 7:30 and 10:30, Tuesdays through Saturdays.

The recent Aladdin production of "Cats" was favorably reviewed by me in the Oct. 12 Accent section ... The review was based upon the full performance Oct. 10 ... Tuesday was opening night; a truck failure resulted in the scenery being delayed and the cast performed concert-style, minus that wonderful junkyard set.

No one left early Wednesday ... We were reliably informed that "Cats" grossed more than $700,000 for the six-day stand.

Star-policy rundown

It's Lacy J. Dalton, Janie Fricke and Juice Newton, Friday only (Boulder Station); Amazing Johnathan (Golden Nugget); Mac King, afternoons, Clint Holmes, evenings (Harrah's); Sinbad and Society of Seven, in separate theaters (LV Hilton); Blue Man Group (Luxor); Paul Anka, plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" (MGM Grand); and Siegfried & Roy and Danny Gans, in separate theaters (Mirage).

Plus Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Rita Rudner (New York-New York); Righteous Brothers (Orleans); Brian McKnight (Paris); Penn & Teller and Scintas in separate theaters (Rio); Michael Holly, afternoons, Steve Wyrick, evenings (Sahara); Gladys Knight (Sam's Town); Wayne Newton (Stardust); Christopher Cross (Suncoast); Rick Thomas (Tropicana); and Melinda, First Lady of Magic (Venetian).

The Beach Boys will be performing at the Stratosphere Friday and Saturday ... Belated congratulations to the Platters' guiding light, Jean Bennett, honored as Woman of the Year last Saturday at Love 'n' Care's Sapphire Ball in the Rio Pavilion ... Bennett goes back to the 1956 beginning with the original Buck Ram Platters and "Only You."

Thursday's jazz is at the Jazzed Cafe, with the Marv Koral All-Stars including Carl Fontana, trombone; Gus Mancuso, piano; Bob Badgley, bass; Pat Sherrod, drums; and Marv on all the reeds ... Friday the action is at Pogo's, and drummer Pete Magadini is Don Menza's special guest at the Riviera on Monday.

Dick Wright's Big Band plays for dancing Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (Charleston Heights Center) ..."The Shadow Box" opens a two-weekend run Friday (CCSN Horn Theatre) while LV Little Theatre's "Doubles" concludes at 2 p.m. Sunday ... Recommended: the annual One-Act Play festival this weekend in UNLV's Paul Harris Theatre.

Violist Nokulthula Ngwenyama and pianist Awadagin Pratt peform Friday at 8 p.m. in UNLV's Artemus Ham Concert Hall, part of the "Rising Stars of Classical Music" series ... Sunday at 2 p.m. in Artemus Ham Concert Hall, it's the 17th annual 76+4 Trombones Scholarship Benefit, with Cork Proctor back as emcee ... This is a wonderful event for a most worthy scholarship cause.

Oops: The Harrah's mailing announcing $10 prices for locals to attend performances by Clint Holmes, "Skintight," the Improv, and the Scintas at the Rio was a one-time mailing to a special list of locals and not generally available ... If you were on the list, take advantage ... If not, sorry for any inconvenience ... See you Friday.