Retooled Holmes production packs a punch at Harrah’s

Joe Delaney

Friday, March 29, 2002 | 9:02 a.m.

Bravissimo, bravura, tour de force: All three superlatives apply to the performance of the "new," completely in control Clint Holmes in his newly named theater at Harrah's. Just beginning his third year in a contract that extends him at the property to 2006, Holmes was hot when he opened there two years ago. He has come light years since.

Holmes generously shares credit with his college classmate, longtime friend, musical director and arranger Bill Fayne and the 12 superior musicians who back him, plus vocalist Janien Masse, who first served notice of her considerable talent in the ill-fated "Notre Dame de Paris" at Paris Las Vegas and "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" at Flamingo Las Vegas.

The performance opened with a song that could be a closer, "Got to Get You Into my Life." This was followed by Holmes' "one hit -- in 1974," "Playground of my Mind." Next came some chat about Sammy Davis Jr., leading into "I've Got to be Me" and a bit of "Mr. Bojangles." Holmes was home free at this point.

Jamaica was the next stop with a rousing "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)," with the audience fully involved and singing like a well-rehearsed choir. "I Wanna Be" gave Masse and the musicians a chance to show who they would like to be with each portraying a favorite performer.

"Try to Remember" led into an original Holmes-Fayne song inspired by the events of Sept. 11, "Who Will Stand" -- very effective. It was time to talk about Holmes' original musical, "Comfortable Shoes," co-written with Nelson Kole, scheduled to open in Chicago sometime this fall.

"America was Waiting," telling the story of the dreams of Holmes' mother and father, will be in the stage show, but actually was a carry-over from Holmes' previous performances. "Green Mercury" told the story of his first car and his first and second dates. Another original, "She Never Thought Twice," was dedicated to his wife, Brenda.

Interspersed were accurate but tongue-in-cheek takeoffs on Johnny Mathis and Tom Jones. Holmes had Fayne join him in singing an operatic aria from "Barber of Seville." "At the Rendezvous" allowed Holmes to show off his jazz virtuosity a la Bobby McFerrin.

The finale was a brilliant Fayne musical arrangement that included a medley of songs from "West Side Story," sung as well as I've ever heard them by Holmes and Masse.

The standing ovation by a capacity crowd was spontaneous and extended. It was a performance to remember.