Night Clubs Reviews

May 23, 2005 - Greg Thompson's "Bareback" at Harrah's Reno is a sock'em, rock'em cowpoke hit

By Jack Neal

Producer Greg Thompson probably wasn't born in a trunk, but he might just as well have been. He knows showbusiness and the nightclub business and how to mix the two and get the biggest bang for his buck.

Thompson's adult show, "Bareback," which just recently opened (5/13/05) in Sammy's Showroom at Harrah's Reno, is a grand case in point. With a cast of ten - three male dancer singers, one female singer, five female dancers, and comedian extraordinaire Tony D'Andrea - the show hits on all eight cylinders and sizzles for 70 action-packed minutes.

"Bareback" gallops, reveals and pelvis thrusts its way through two-dozen top pop country songs such as "Who's Bed Have Your Boots Been Under," "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy," and "Be My Baby Tonight," and does it with enough energy to light the Great White Way for a year. The saloon-style set is a cozy invitation for sensuous shenanigans from a cast of gorgeous young women and hunky young men who make being a voyeur for their up-close-and-personal moves just too good - even if one feigns hiding their eyes - to miss.

Legendary choreographer Mistinguett has once again created lots of fascinating movement, and - as befits a late night adult show that spends much of its time topless - all of it hot, steamy and sexy. "Bareback" is meant to entertain. It's also meant to titilate and it's quite direct at doing both. Mistinguett has also designed "Bareback's" costumes and the clothes the cast wears - or doesn't wear, as the case may be - adds tremendously to the show's provocative, erotic nature.

Gene Yaws and Tina Cool are "Bareback's" singing stars. They have a solid background in musical theater. It's that experience that allows this exciting singing couple to be very comfortable on stage and excellent interpreters of song. Ms. Cool and Mr. Yaws will open in Greg Thompson's new edition of "Broadway Showstoppers" this coming Friday (5/27/05). "Broadway Showstoppers," a family friendly outing with musicals, will be the early show at Harrah's Reno. "Bareback" is the late show.

Comedian Tony D'Andrea is one of the most durable nightclub standup comics in showbusiness. Mr. D'Andrea's shtick is the situation comedy shtick made hilarious by Jack Benny and Fred Allen in the heyday of radio. Not that Mr. D'Andrea isn't up-to-date. He's very timely and wonderfully funny. But his real talent is in his timing and the way he works and audience in whatever situation and mood an audience is in. I've seen him on the nightclub circuit for years, yet he's always fresh, dry, and great for laughs.

Chelsea Thompson is "Bareback's" lead dancer. She was out with an injury the night I saw the show, but I've seen her work before and she's very fine. I'm not sure how "Bareback" could be better, but Miss Thompson is a very special artist and a major plus for any production she's in..

Jim Pferschy and Tim Tenhumberg are "Bareback's" other two male performers and they're terrific. As are the show's female dancers Bethany Bitz, Britney Irwin, Chanel Keesling and Victoria Leigh. Mr. Pferschy is a bodybuilder. This Greg Thompson production makes exceptional use of the way Mr. Pferschy looks. Bodies are the name of this "Bareback" game. To everyone's credit, so is talent.

If you like country western music, gorgeous girls with great figures, handsome men with great bodies, dry and very funny humor, a cast that's loaded with talent and given everything they need to show off their wares, Greg Thompson's "Bareback" is your show and it's at Harrah's Reno for an indefinite run.

"Bareback" can be seen at Harrah's Reno in Sammy's Showroom Wednesdays through Sundays at 10:30 p.m. For information call 1-800-HARRAH'S, or log on to Harrahs website at www.harrahs.com.