Joe Brown Reviews - Las Vegas Sun News

Joe Brown joined the Las Vegas Sun in 2008 as a reporter, critic and blogger focusing on entertainment and culture. A writer and editor with more than 20 years of experience in print and electronic media, Joe worked as a writer and editor at the San Francisco Chronicle and The Washington Post before gambling on a move to Vegas.

Wayne Newton: The story, but not the sound

Wayne Newton: The story, but not the sound: Monday, November 2, 2009; REVIEW: The only thing fans will enjoy about this show is the memories it evokes; By Joe Brown; I had been warned that Wayne Newton can’t sing anymore. Apparently it’s been common knowledge for years that his voice is shot.

'The Shawl': Smart and spooky: Wednesday, October 28, 2009; REVIEW: Mamet play about a psychic, a client and a mysterious third delivers; By Joe Brown; “The Shawl,” a seldom-performed three-hander by David Mamet, culminates in a seance.

Photo: Douglas Peterson conducts the Southern Nevada Musi

Two groups, many voices, spellbinding results: Tuesday, October 27, 2009; REVIEW:; By Joe Brown; Maybe it’s a stretch to call it “Glee” for grown-ups.

Photo: Nevada Ballet Theatre dancers perform in

Nevada Ballet Theatre dazzles by degrees: Monday, October 19, 2009; Review: New artistic director Canfield heats program to a thrilling techno-music boil; By Joe Brown; For his first program as new artistic director of Nevada Ballet Theatre, James Canfield used the frog-in-a-pot-of-water strategy. The curtain opened on Saturday night with a comforting and familiar, business-as-usual, lukewarm performance of George Balanchine’s “Rubies.”

Photo: Chazz Palminteri, who has acted in dozens of films

Compelling ‘Bronx Tale’ is refreshingly good theater: Wednesday, October 14, 2009; REVIEW:; By Joe Brown; I wondered why Chazz Palminteri’s “A Bronx Tale” was suddenly booked into the Venetian Showroom for a limited run this month.

Photo: Clowns ply their chilling trade Friday at Fright D

Fright Dome: Circus Circus fear factory teems with terrific human horrors: Monday, October 12, 2009; REVIEW:; By Joe Brown; If your friends and colleagues show up strangely and suddenly hoarse or voiceless one morning, it’s a good bet that they visited Fright Dome the night before. Or that they are moonlighting there.

'Company': Musical about couples, pal proves hard to stage: Monday, October 5, 2009; REVIEW:; By Joe Brown; My friend’s cell phone rings as we’re driving to see “Company” at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre on Friday night. After a few minutes of small talk, it becomes clear that the caller is distressed about her spouse.

Not content to coast, Liza Minnelli soars in Broadway reprise: Friday, October 2, 2009; REVIEW:; By Joe Brown; Death-defying and life-affirming, Liza Minnelli’s Wednesday night performance at the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM Grand exceeded all expectations.

Photo: Mentalist Luke Jermay performs his act at O'Sheas

'Mental' at O’Sheas may not amaze, but will at least amuse you: Monday, September 28, 2009; Review:; By Joe Brown; “Mental,” a new mind-reading show at O’Sheas, invokes a Las Vegas oxymoron: “Mind” and “reading” don’t really go together in this town.

Sparks, curses fly in resonant play about love: Thursday, September 24, 2009; Review: In darkly funny production, acting shines; By Joe Brown; For days afterward, I couldn’t stop thinking about “Reasons to Be Pretty,” the latest play by Neil LaBute, at UNLV’s Black Box Theatre. And not just because I had to write about it.

Photo: Dana Kreitz performs during a dress rehearsal Thur

In zany spoof about ‘reefer,’ the joke’s on squares: Monday, September 21, 2009; Review:; By Joe Brown; About halfway into Act I of “Reefer Madness: The Musical,” it hits you: Chris Mayse picked, produced and directed this show just so he could play God. Really.

Photo: Robin Zander of Cheap Trick sings almost all the l

Cheap Trick performs original homage to classic Beatles album: Thursday, September 17, 2009; Music:; By Joe Brown; How do you prefer your Pepper? That was the question last week among Beatles devotees deciding between newly released CD versions of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

Photo: From left, Thomas Chrastka (as Andrew), Stacia Zin

Courageous play wrings humor from unlikely setting: 9/11: Tuesday, September 15, 2009; REVIEW:; By Joe Brown; Is it too soon? That was the big question when plays and movies about AIDS began to appear.

Orchestra rides guest soloist to thrilling high: Monday, September 14, 2009; REVIEW: Passion and intensity define Philharmonic’s season opener; By Joe Brown; If he could go back in time, I wonder if Las Vegas Philharmonic conductor David Itkin might rejigger the order of the three pieces he planned for the orchestra at Saturday night’s season-opening performance.

'Working': A show about work: Monday, September 14, 2009; REVIEW: Cast and crew competently present praise for jobs big and small; By Joe Brown; When the lights go up on “Working,” a musical about, well, working, it seems as if the show has made a dent in Las Vegas’ unemployment problem all by itself.