John Katsilometes takes in a freewheeling evening of no-frills (in most cases, anyway) entertainment at the Suede Restaurant and Lounge

Tuesday, July 25, 2006 | 7:44 a.m.

The scene brings to mind one of those daffy dinner parties hosted by Rob and Laura Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show," where all the guests take turns performing their favorite numbers to a bouncy piano accompaniment.

Except, the monthly showcases at Suede Restaurant and Lounge are far more, um, colorful.

Promoted almost exclusively through e-mail loops and word-of-mouth accounts, the Suede performances might be the best free-of-charge entertainment in the city. For the uninitiated, Suede is an alternative-styled restaurant and lounge positioned on Paradise Road, just a spot south of the Hard Rock Hotel (a couple of somersaults from Double Down, for those who need a more descriptive locator). If ardent gaiety shivers your timbers, steer clear.

If not, it's a really hip event. One Sunday a month, a collection of cast members and music directors from some of the Strip's biggest productions - including "Phantom: Las Vegas Spectacular," "Ka" and "Mamma Mia!" - take part. Former "Hairspray" music director Keith Thompson began organizing the evenings of frivolity a few months ago (Sunday's show was the fourth in the series). The proceedings kick off at 10:30 p.m. and run until about midnight.

Opening the show Sunday were Thompson with Elizabeth Shane of "Mamma Mia!" and Rebecca Spencer of "Phantom," performing numbers from a devastating spoof of "Oklahoma"-styled musicals called "Idaho." Following, in order, were Richard Oberacker of "Ka"; Tyler Williams, late of "Avenue Q," and Satomi Hofman of "Menopause"; Michael Brennen, Greg Kata and Tracy Lynn Thomas of "Mamma Mia!"; Michael Lackey of "Phantom" and his wife, Betsy; and Michael Lee, late of "Hairspray."

Lee was the most striking figure, taking the stage in a rhinestone-studded choker and some sort of black leather one-piece covered with a sheer skirt. His final number, an original composition aptly titled "Ridiculous," was a rousing capper to the evening.

The idea is to eventually move the showcase to a larger venue - Krave on the Strip, ideally. The next show is set for Suede, and if Sunday's full house is any indication, the event has already nearly outgrown its roots.

NoteMart

Prior to being honored at Saturday's Food & Beverage Directors Association of Las Vegas gala dinner at South Coast, former Caesars Palace Executive Pastry Chef John Hui expressed frustration at repeated corporate takeovers. "That happened to me five times at Caesars," said Hui, who worked at the hotel for a little more than nine years

Also from the gala, Autrui Award recipient Ray Norvell, who moved to Las Vegas in 1974, said the city is "much better today, businesswise, than it was then. But lifestylewise it's very different. In those days we couldn't understand why they added I-15 through Las Vegas. It didn't make any sense - you could drive from one end of town to the other in 20 minutes."

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