Night Clubs Reviews

May 16, 2005 - Audiences can't stop loving "I Can't Stop Loving You" at Reno's Eldorado Casino

By Jack Neal

As befits the legendary Ray Charles, "I Can't Stop Loving You - The Music of Ray Charles" is a terrific show. That it's in the posh and intimate showroom at Reno's Eldorado Hotel Casino only makes this terrific show just that much more of a fabulous event.

Producer David King , who has brought "Spirit of the Dance" and other such Irish stepdance shows to the Eldorado, has far exceeded any of his previous shows with this really superb mixing of the music of Ray Charles with an equally superb international cast of singers and dancers who keep the excitement level at fever pitch from the moment the curtain goes up.

One of my major complaints about the current status of nightclubbing most anywhere in the current cheap-is-better-than-quality environment is the almost exclusive use of synthesized sound. Not so with this very special Ray Charles tribute. "I Can't Stop Loving You" is backed by a knock-out twelve-piece band that helps give the production its enormous pizzazz and magnetism. In large part, it's the Ray Metcalf Orchestra and Mr. Metcalf's driving and electrifying arrangements that makes the 70 minute song-and-dance show fly past and purr along to perfection.

N'Kenge Simpson-Hoffman is the slinky singer with the enormous voice. Seasoned veteran Brandice McKenzie can belt and scat with the best and is a sensation at singing the songs of Ray Charles. But, then, every singer in "I Can't Stop Loving You" - those already mentioned plus C.E. Smith, B.J. Crosby, Ken Prymus and Glen Turner - turn the show on its ear with every sweet and powerful turn of every sweet and powerful phrase they sing.

Gary Lloyd is "I Can't Stop Loving You's" choreographer and his work is, when it needs to be - exciting, and - when it needs to be - sensuous. The show's ten dancers, all from London, are very accomplished and they've been given the kind of exhilarating movement that shows them to best advantage and thrills audiences.

Karen Littlewood is dance captain and much credit must be given to her for keeping "I Can't Stop Loving You" in tip-top shape.

Ray Charles was one of the memorable performers to play Reno in the heyday of Reno entertainment. He always used a full orchestra and gave each performance all he could give and it was wonderful. He never disappointed. David King's "I Can't Stop Loving You" version of the music of Ray Charles is a fitting tribute to the star and is an affecting and nostalgic reminder of the late, great Ray Charles's legendary status.

The show's singing is fabulous, the songs are great, the dancing is stupendous, the set is attractive, and the costumes and cast are either beautiful or handsome depending on the gender and the outfit. "I Can't Stop Loving You - The Music of Ray Charles" is classy nightclub fare and a classic nightclub must-see event.

"I Can't Stop Loving You - The Music of Ray Charles" can be seen Tuesdays though Fridays and Sundays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 7 and 9:30 p.m. at the Eldorado Hotel Casino Showroom, 345 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada. There are no Monday performances. For information call 775-786-5700.