566612081.html

Sunday, March 11, 2007 | 7:40 a.m.

"Spamalot Las Vegas" opened for previews Thursday night at the Grail Theater at Wynn Las Vegas. From where I sat the sound was a bit thin but the audience was not. This show has mass appeal, as my mezzanine section was heavily populated by jolly gentlemen.

That demographic - men, specifically - will loom large in the show's success. Python's satirically tasteless brand of humor makes guys laugh, especially the devotees on opening night who were positively abuzz in the moments leading to the opening scene. If I were to take the guys I play softball with to a show on the Strip - fat chance, that - it would be "Spamalot." It's smart, but it (passes gas).

On Thursday John O'Hurley, in the choice role as King Arthur, seemed to suffer a case of ONR (Opening Night Rigidity), but the show was cleverly assembled and the choreography was inspired. The show's best Vegas-centric lines: from King Arthur, "What happens in Camelot, stays in Camelot;" and a new one from Lady of the Lake Nikki Crawford. When asked, "How do we get to Broadway?" she responds, "We've been on Broadway for two years. This is Vegas, baby!"

A couple of thoughts about the theater: The snack bar in the lobby, called Snackalot, does not sell any Spam items, which would seem a natural given the show's tie-in with the renowned processed meatlike product. And the ushers who clop-clop the shells in the walkway need to become more aggressive. Demure clop-clopping doesn't cut it. Not in Vegas, baby.

NoteMart

In a laudable effort, the Lili Claire Foundation has booked Aerosmith for its fifth annual fundraiser, which will be held April 28 at the Mandalay Bay Event Center. Jason Alexander is again the gala's host, and those being honored by the Foundation are Mandalay Bay President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Hornbuckle, LandBaron Ivestments founder Michael Chernine, and University of Nevada School of Medicine Professor and Chief of Genetics and Dysmorphology Dr. Colleen Morris. ...

Another transmission from Gala Central: Saks Fifth Avenue and the Las Vegas Philharmonic hold their annual fundraiser, "An Evening of Elegance and Style," on March 23 at the Venetian. This year's event honors Las Vegas developers Mark and Gloria Fine. Moet Hennessy will host the reception and the dinner will be followed by a fall (the season) fashion show featuring Swiss designer AKRIS. ...

Las Vegas Art Museum Director Libby Lumpkin is not prone to needless self-promotion, so when she says now is the time to see the "Frank Gehry Designs" exhibit, we say, OK. The exhibits of Gehry's sketches and models for the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute will be taken down March 25. "It is very unlikely these will be reassembled anywhere again," Lumpkin said Friday afternoon. ...

All that Metro and paramedic activity near the entrance of the Stratosphere on Thursday night did not indicate someone had leapt from the tower. Just a sick sort wheeled out of the restroom, we're told. ...

Hallmark moment: I happened across a "coming out" greeting card at a Hallmark store the other day. The card, which congratulates the recipient for, well, coming out, is part of the company's new Journeys line for contemporary occasions. ...

Right on, write off: Plate reported on a silver Toyota Avalon, DDUCTIT.

archive