Night Clubs Reviews

Feb 19, 2000 - "Skintight 2000" a Refurbished Adult Hit at Harrah's Reno

By Jack Neal

Harrah's "Skintight 2000" is a sexy and worthy successor to the club's long-reigning "Skintight" the first.

Once again, but not as usual (the son really is better than the father), producer Greg Thompson and choreographer and costumer Mistinguett have put together, updated actually, this sensuous adults-only revue for Harrah's Reno using the same great-looking cast they use for their family friendlier "Dancin' in the Streets." "Skintight" was sexy and steamy. "Skintight 2000" is sexy, steamy and much more entertaining.

Fun and fantasy is the formula that makes "Skintight 2000" run and the show's hard bodies are as much a part of its fun as they are a part of its fantasy. Tightly drawn animal skins give the stage the look of an African village. That look, along with suggestively skimpy costumes, makes up the production's opening salvo of Africana in a show that doesn't fuss much over theme; "Skintight 2000" has a lot more to do with skin than Africa. "Skintight 2000," although far more modest than the multi-million dollar "Lion King" audiences are gobbling up on Broadway, is aptly described as a "Lion King" with an underabundance of fabric and - glory be - an overabundance of cleavage, both female and male.

The show has that special sex-appeal "it" that makes the mating of Thompson's and Mistinguett's talents work so well for fans of tongue-in-cheek sexual fantasy; which is "play" sexuality that's as entertaining as it's fun to ogle. Filled with such turn-ons as "Magalenha," "La Vida Loca" and "White Orchid," "Skintight 2000" is skintight not uptight. Its most artistic moment comes during a nicely stylized and suavely danced dance number where gorgeous ladies wearing ruffled Spanish gowns and disciplined narrow-waisted toreadors move with elegance and precision to something akin to Ravel's "Bolero."

Thompson-show veterans, singing stars Christine Shelton and Darryl Ross are terrific at what they do. "Skintight 2000" is light years ahead of its predecessor in listenable tunes. "Get You Into My Life" and "Perfidia" are two standouts. Raymond Jones and Paul O'Donnell are add-on singers in this late-night update. Both bring requisite lusty attributes to the show in both song and dance. All four singers work with the I-know-what-you're-thinking moxie that adds heat to this already hot adults-only show.

There are lots of great dance numbers: "Zoot Suit Riot" is a knockout as is "Tuxedo Junction." Both give the flamboyant costume designs of Mistinguett full leash on bigger-than-life - and fun - overstatement. The guys and gals - Vickie Kropf, Jamie Karrh, Leah Peterson, Tina Kelley, Christine JeanBlanc, Jim Pferschy and Cameron Bartl - who make all this high-octane stuff work in an ultra-high gear are all superb at what they do and stars in their own right. Theirs' is quite a collection of talent.

The sizzling delivery of Billy Garan, "Skintight 2000's" faster-than-a-speedingbullet comedian, is - well - faster than any single mind can catch at any single sitting. But what is caught is hilarious and what isn't caught makes the show that much more worth seeing a second time. Garan's material is considerably more risque for "Skintight 2000" than for "Dancin' in the Streets" - he gets an ear infection, for example, from phone sex - but he's still a very funny man who never resorts to low-down humor just to get a laugh.

What makes "Skintight 2000" the smart-and-swift entertainment package it is, is its with-it concept and its work-hard-to-please and gifted cast. "Skintight" is upbeat sexual fantasy that has the good sense to combine great dance and song to its great good looks and far-out costumes for an hour-long package that's loaded with high times and good fun.

"Skintight 2000" plays Harrah's Reno nightly except Thursdays. For information call 775-788-3773 or 1-800-HARRAHS.