Theater Reviews

Dec 29, 1999 - Harrah's "Dancin' in the Streets" A Winner

By Jack Neal

If you like Cher camp, good music and singing, attractive people and accelerated dancing, and gorgeous to outrageous costumes, you'll love "Dancin' in the Streets."

Harrah's Reno's new show, produced by Greg Thompson with costumes and choreography by Mistinguett, is the current addition to the Greg Thompson package of duo shows - an early family show, "Dancin'," and a steamier late-night adult show, "Skintight 2000" - which have been staples of a kind in Sammy's Showroom for a number of years.

Five construction hunks set the show in motion with an animated rendition of "Men at Work," a kind of musicalized "Stomp" ala the "Anvil Chorus" that sizzles. Dressed as a Roxy usherette, singer Christine Shelton arrives on scene and reminds the boys that this old neighborhood got on quite well before their wrecking ball and new buildings became the rage.

In front of flicks of the century running on the Roxy (or Bijou) silver screen, Shelton launches into a medley of songs, a vibrant "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and a dazzling "Charleston" danced with pizzazz by "Dancin's" superb and exuberantly flapperish female dancers. The segment becomes a potpourri of terrific solo bits, fun backup numbers (a memorable "Alley Oop"), disco ("Boogie Nights"), a long overdo return of the Andrew Sisters and sing alongs ("Happy Days are Here Again") that all add up to making "Dancin'" a bright new show for a brand-new millennium. Its classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show" ambiance where dancers dance out - as opposed to actors acting out - what's on the screen is a great gimmick that's as much fun to watch as it looks like fun to bring off. And Miss Shelton, the show's glamorous singer with the great big voice, is just as pleasureable to hear as she is to watch.

Beyond being given good things to do, it's "Dancin's" talented, aim-to-please cast that makes "Dancin'" go. Other than Shelton, "Dancin's" men have more solo vignettes in the limelight than do its women, who are, of course, the lovely-to-look-at limelight in any Thompson revue. Veteran Thompson singer-dancer Daryl Ross shares duties with fellow veterans Jim Pferschy and Cameron Bartl and newcomers Raymond Jones and Paul O'Donnell.All do all that's asked of them with skill, charm and plenty of with-it, crowd-pleasing moves. All those good things can be said for "Dancin's" girls as well.

The rapid fire antics of comic Billy Garan keeps the show's momentum purring laughingly along. Garan is an easy match for the temperament of any audience and plays to whatever is working at any given moment with smart showbiz timing. Playing all the parts in a hilarious pinwheel bit, his version of "Casablanca" is a showstopper. Garan's Bette Davis circa "Baby Jane" isn't bad either.

The show's look is another of its major attributes, smashingly colorful Mistinguett costumes and goodlooking, brick-wall, stage-door sets. "Dancin' in the Streets" covers lots of territory, decades of music and dance in fact, that makes it a generation-blending experience for singles looking for dates, dates looking to be singles - and families.

Gotta dance?

Gotta sing?

"Dancin' in the Streets" should keep doing both wonderfully well at Harrah's Reno for quite some time.

"Dancin in the Streets" plays Sammy's Showroom at Harrah's Reno, 219 North Center Street, Reno, nightly except Thursdays. For information call 775 788-2900.