Night Clubs Reviews

Mar 25, 2001 - "Jubilation" at the Flamingo Creates Its Own Ruby Slippers

By Jack Neal

Reno's Flamingo Hilton has a new hit on its hands. The new Breck Wall-Patrick Maes' nightclub show, "Jubilation," has all the show-business smarts Barry Ashton used to bring to his nightclub spectaculars a couple of decades back, but Wall and Maes do theirs with a decided millennium update.

"Jubilation" is funky, sexy, glamorous and fun.

Directed by Jack Townzen, who has an enviable background in dance (appearances with Rudolph Nureyev and Joffrey Ballet), "Jubilation" is loaded with sensational movement that's hip, a knockout to watch and dazzlingly brought to life by nine of the finest dancers, seven gorgeous Ziegfeld type girls and two Chippendale-type hunks, to grace the nightclub stage. Music director David Adams has given this formidable group the great tunes of yesteryear - such standards as "Get Happy," "I Feel a Song Comin' On," "The Carioca," "The Continental" - and added a driving beat and sizzling tempo that zings "Jubilation" into high gear for a breathtaking start.

Gina Capecci has choreographed and her moves "dance to the music," as the lyric goes, in a way that makes the connection between music and dance not just a perfect fit, but inventive and exciting. An added plus is the hip hop bungee-jumping jitterbug number that's right out of those marvelous 1940's movie musicals featuring dancing-fool teenagers roaring across the dance floor.

The costumes by a raft of designers and costumers (Dan Gardner, Lucie Chambers, Matt Daugherty, Vegas Costume Works, Emerson Costumes) are both close to elegantly nonexistent and terrific, and fascinatingly lush haute couture and gorgeous.

Comedian Janice Hart does a solid and hilarious turn impersonating such stars as Streisand, Cher, Sally Jesse Rapheal and Tina Turner (outrageous). Hart's act is fresh, quite good on the impersonations and easy to like.

Hart's co-star, also a female comedian, is Beverly Wines - better known as Pudgy. Pudgy is a cross between Totie Fields, Don Rickles and Phyllis Diller - a trio that may be, in tandem, too far out to image let alone take. Nonetheless, Pudgy has high-octane energy, a big, pliable singing voice, and - when she doesn't linger too long - a great tableside manner. "We're Goin' Have a Party" is a song she feels coming on, and on, and on and she works it, the audience and four a five male onlookers for all they're worth.

If you like being part of Pudgy's act, you'll love her. If you'd rather enjoy someone else's performance rather than performing on demand yourself, you might have reservations. Regardless, producers Wall and Maes are using her, she calls herself the queen of tease, as the glue that holds "Jubilation" together and this red-hot-mama powerhouse lady pulls the show-glue business off without batting a false eyelash.

Going from the rediculous (Miss Pudgy) to the sublime, Alana Holland is "Jubilation's" production singer and she doesn't miss a beat, a phrase or a nicely turned lyric. Holland sings well, looks grand - with a Florence Henderson smile that's endearing, and sells songs like she's a Broadway baby.

All this talent is embraced and framed by a glittering Pieter Grove set that only adds to the show's panache. "Jubilation" is a wonderful package of entertainment that doesn't try to fill any shoes but its own. Mary Martin's heart will always belong to daddy, the ruby slippers will always belong to Dorothy, and filling the bill as a choice nightclub show at Reno's Flamingo Hilton will, for a very long time I trust, belong to "Jubilation."

"Jubilation" plays at the Flamingo Hilton, 255 North Sierra Street, Reno, nightly at 8 with two shows Saturday at 8 and 10:30 p.m. "Jubilation" is dark Tuesdays. For information call 775-785-7080.