Travel Reference
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the poor suckers on stage (and I was laughing until the tears streamed down my
face). Which leads me to my next point: See it, but under no circumstances vol-
unteer to be hypnotized (unless you think you'll enjoy having strangers snicker at
you every time they pass you on the Strip).
Of the really big names in Vegas, there are few who can compete on the
level of sheer, unadulterated showmanship with Mr. Las Vegas himself,
Wayne
Newton
555
(will likely be playing at Harrah's, though he moves around from
theater to theater; check www.waynenewton.com for his performance schedule;
ticket prices usually range from
$
65-
$
76).
He sings, he dances, he plays the banjo,
he plays the drums, he plays the fiddle, he kisses EVERYONE . . . and it's an utter
delight. Even though Newton's voice is no longer the honey-toned instrument it
once was (it now has the rasp of Carol Channing), he has the uncanny ability to
make even the mustiest of standards sound brand new and touchingly meaning-
ful. I was not a Wayne Newton fan until I saw him in the course of researching
this topic, but like he's done for so many hundreds of others he won me over
(I even purchased a CD). There's a reason he's a legend, so go see him now because
he won't be around forever.
Another surprise, at least for me, is how utterly charming, self-deprecating,
and fun
Manilow: Music and Passion
555
(in the Las Vegas Hilton;
%
800/
222
-
5361; www.musicandpassion.com;
$
111-
$
199; Wed-Fri 9pm, Sat 7:30 and
10pm)
is. On my first encounter with him, I expected a snoozy nostalgia-fest,
but Barry Manilow has not lost his zest for performing or for redefining himself:
A full third of the concert was taken up with songs from his latest hit album, and
he very obviously relishes performing them. Of course, he also does “Mandy,”
“Looks Like We Made It,” “Can't Smile Without You,” and a number of his other
hits, sounding as silken as he always has, and backed by a quartet of multitalented
singer/dancers. And I'll admit it, when the confetti started falling and a walkway
suddenly jutted out over the audience for “Copacabana,” I went as wild as the rest
of the crowd . . . and I never particularly liked that song.
FIVE TOP-NOTCH COMICS
As I write this, there are five comedians with their own permanent shows on the
Strip. The deliciously witty
Rita Rudner
55
(at Harrah's;
%
702/369
-
5222;
www.harrahs.com;
$
49,
$
39 discounted; Mon-Sat 8pm)
was in the process of leav-
ing New York-New York and moving to Harrah's, so I won't include a review here,
as I haven't seen her recently enough for that, but from past experiences, I can say
her show's likely to be terrific. The four others are equally as enjoyable, each with
their own particular shtick and audience.
If you like edgy, political humor and lean a bit to the left, I highly recommend
George Wallace
55
(at the Flamingo;
%
702/733
-
7333; www.caesars.com/
flamingo;
$
72,
$
50 discounted; Tues-Sat 10pm)
for his wry commentary on the
state of nation. His set pieces on people who “should be beaten” will delight any-
one who's ever had an unpleasant boss, dealt with an officious cop, or had a clingy
girlfriend or boyfriend (and that may be most of us).
Louie Anderson
55
(at the MGM Grand;
%
702/597
-
7600; www.louieanderson.
com;
$
40,
$
30 discounted; Sat-Thurs 7pm)
formerly of
Saturday Night Live
and the
TV Bloopers
show, has a mild, Midwestern manner that masks a sharp intelligence.
His show is the most G-rated of the bunch, but it's deftly amusing, and by the
