ART IS A
MASTERPIECE
Currently housed at the Royale Theatre, Art is a priceless masterpiece with the verbal
brush strokes created by actress turned author Yasmina Reza. In 1995, Art premiered in
Paris garnering the Moliere Award for Best Author. Since then Art has been produced
world wide and translated into 20 languages. The London production received the l996-97 Oliver
Award and "Evening Standard" prize.
In America this production has, so far, received the Outer Critics Circle Award as Best Ensemble
Production.
A true ensemble production, Alan Alda, Vincent Garber and Alfred Molina each sculpted from
shades and hues of their individual primary colors, blend on the stage's palate to create a work of
art. The production is framed like a priceless treasure with lighting by Hugh Vanstone and Mark
Thompson sets. One of the producers is Dr. No's James Bond, Sean Connery,
demonstrating
business acumen in bankrolling a winner.
Marc is played by Alda, Serge portrayed by Garber with Molina as Yvan. They are best friends
whose personalities compliment each other. A happy threesome until Yvan becomes engaged and
Serge spends 200,000 francs on a five-by-four-foot painting which Marc considers the worst form
of idiotic trash.
The brilliant, droll, cunning, insightful dialogue speaks to insecurities, needs, fears and
frustrations when a comfortable, secure friendship is invaded by a painting. With a need to
control, Marc (Alda) elevates pestering to an art form. The insecure and likeable Serge (Molina)
waffles more than Aunt Jemima, while status seeking Serge (Garber) defends his painting.
Art is classy, intelligent, and well written, performed and directed to perfection.
While using painting as the tangible metaphor for the emotional multiplexes that comprise all
relationships, the production speaks volumes to everyone in the audience.
Art is
not to be missed.
Even the cast of Frasier wants to do this play.
The talented threesome, Kelsey Grammer,
David Hyde-Pierce and John Mahoney have been looking for an ensemble stage vehicle and
Art is
their
first choice.
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BEVERLY HILLBILLIES
HOTEL
Max Baer, Jr., better known as womanizing Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies, has spent
years fixated on the idea of building a Beverly Hillbillies Hotel in Nevada. About five years ago
he
ran the idea up the Las Vegas flagpole and nobody saluted. Undaunted, Baer waited for better
timing and decided that time has come. He found a more receptive locale in Reno, Nevada.
Donna Douglas, Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Max Baer,
Jr.
 |
The actor/businessman is the son of the 13th heavyweight world boxing champion and has a home
in Las Vegas. He has sublicensed the rights to the show from CBS. Baer said this is the first time
anyone has taken a television series and used it as an attraction for a hotel-casino.
The resort would look like the TV hillbillies' mansion with an oil derrick that towers over the
casino. Bubbling black gold lights will run up the center. Sixteen computerized lights with 7
million candlepower each will gyrate from the tower. Rumbling sounds of a gusher about to burst,
will culminate with a boom as an 80 foot flame shoots out the top.
There will be a "cee-ment" pond swimming pool, and a Jethro's All You Can Eat Buffet.
Waitresses would be dressed as Elly Mae, casino dealers garbed like Jethro and pit bosses decked
out as Uncle Jed. Granny's Shotgun Wedding Chapel would feature a Granny who is a Justice of
the Peace, costumed to look pregnant. All videotaped with costumed Hillbillies characters in
attendance, including the bride's "father" with a shotgun.
Other features include an old-fashioned screening room where all 274 episodes of The Beverly
Hillbillies will play. Baer hopes to start construction on the first phase of the hotel-casino next
summer.
DEBBIE REYNOLDS
DISASTER
Multi-talented Debbie Reynolds, who starred on Broadway in Irene in which she sang the
poignant I'm Always Chasing Rainbows - a song of unfulfilled hopes and never-ending
dreams-once told me that song was her favorite because it symbolized her own life.
Unfortunately, that refrain is still true.
The plucky lady thought she had turned her
bankrupt Las
Vegas hotel around with a new investor. The only reason she had ever gotten in the hotel business
was to have a place to house her Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Museum.
The
bankruptcy judge approved the deal and Debbie celebrated with a well deserved European
vacation. Then, without warning, at the 59th second of the 11th hour, the Florida investor
revoked his offer to buy 92.5 percent of the hotel, leaving Debbie spending Mother's Day
week-end watching her cherished Museum being forced to close.
Debbie has spent her
life
picking herself up after being sucker punched by men. She deserves better.
Fortunately,
her acting
career is on a roll. Upcoming, a new television series in which she co-stars with comedian Paula
Poundstone.
Her fantastic son, Todd Fisher, continues to be his mother's
spine.
FRANK SINATRA
"HE PUT HIS HEAD ON MY SHOULDER AND CRIED." Frank
Sinatra, Jr.
Barbara Sinatra has announced that the Frank Sinatra golf tournament, to benefit the Barbara
Sinatra Children's Center in Rancho Mirage, California, and Opportunity Village in Las Vegas,
will tee off on schedule May 26th, culminating with a $500 a plate Thanks Frank black tie
dinner on May 30th at the MGM-Grand Hotel.
The event, which has been months in the planning,
will feature a week long celebration of the singer who put Las Vegas on the entertainment map.
Nobody could party better than Frank. His buddies, from Steve and Eydie to Vic Damone, Paul
Anka, Quincy Jones and Jack Lemmon will be in Vegas to remember Frank, play golf, entertain
and raise money for charity.
Sinatra had a big heart, a mean temper and no tolerance for bigotry. He was a key force in making
it possible for Black performers to be permitted to stay in the Vegas hotels in which they were
starring. He also effected the bottom line. A casino drop is the amount of money gamblers leave in
the casino. Despite what press agents would like you to believe about other stars, Sinatra is the
only performer to ever affect the casino drop at Caesars Palace. At 8:30 p.m., the day after his
death, Las Vegas hotels darkened their lights for a one minute tribute The only other times the
Strip has gone dark were at the deaths of President Kennedy, George Burns, Sammy Davis, Jr.
and Dean Martin.
Carnegie Hall Celebrates the Music of Frank Sinatra, was a musical feast. As the climax of
the three-day event, on July 26, 1995, his son created with song and memories a tribute to his
father I attended, followed by a swinging dinner party at Caterina's Restaurant. His sister,
Nancy, joined in the festivities. That Carnegie Hall tribute was then taken into a recording studio
and
turned into a CD titled As I Remember It - - the son relating personal events that
surrounded
his father recording some of his most famous songs. It was a wonderful CD released by Angel
Records, which should have sold better. Shortly after the CD was released I asked Sinatra, Jr. if
his ailing father had heard it. Sinatra, Jr. nodded his head and softly said he had. When I asked
his father's reaction, Ol' Blue Eyes' son looked at me and replied, "He put his head on my
shoulder and cried."
THIS AND THAT
MICHAEL CRAWFORD returns
to Las Vegas for a one nighter, May 23rd, at the MGM-Grand
Hotel, a joint he is currently suing. Crawford, who originated Phantom of the Opera came
to
Las Vegas to star in EFX, a high tech stage spectacular with a cast of 70. Crawford filed a
District Court lawsuit claiming he sustained numerous injuries on stage and then unfairly had his
$150,000 a week contract terminated, when the injuries curtailed his ability to perform. Crawford
was replaced in EFX by David Cassidy who was brought to Vegas after starring on
Broadway
in Blood Brothers.
TOM ANDERSEN a three time
MAC Award winner, celebrates the release of his new CD The Journey with Friday
performances beginning June 5th through July 10th at Eighty Eight's located in NYC. Ian Herman
will conduct the band. Anderson's show will feature selections from his new
album including Irving Berlin's Reaching for the Moon, to Nan Knighton and Frank
Wildhorn's Storybook, from the current Broadway musical The Scarlet
Pimpernel.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
and Mirage
Resorts announced that Alegria, Cirque du Soleil's 8th production, will find a permanent home at
Beau Rivage, the resort being developed in Biloxi, Mississippi.
The show will open the
l,500-seat Beau Rivage theater in the spring of l999.
This is the 4th joint venture between the
Cirque du Soleil and the Mirage Resorts.
The critically acclaimed Mystere has performed
at Treasure Island in Las Vegas since 1993 and an as-yet-untitled production will open at the
Bellagio, the lavish Las Vegas resort set to open in October.
Next Column: May 24, 1998
Copyright: May 17, 1998. All Rights Reserved. Reviews,
Interviews, Commentary,
Photographs or any Graphics from any Broadway To Vegas (TM) columns may not be published,
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