ent000817-053

This Clipping From HOLLYWOOD REPORTER HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. DEC 29 1958 MOULIN ROUGE f Louis Prima ?·r Keely Smith are a cinch to prove the biggest business pullers in the history of Frank Sennes' establishment. Near the wind-up of opening night's show, the bistro owner went onstage to announce: "There'll just be a short production number now, as 1200 are outside waiting to get in." That seemed an understatement. The second - show line, four abreast, stretched from maitre'd Marcel Lamaze through the foyer, down the sidewalk the length of the building and wound up in the corner gas station. Pity it is that Prima ?·r Smith are in for but 10 days; a pity, too, at least to this reviewer, that Miss Smith has not been vocally integrated more into the act. That is not intended to detract from the impact scored by Prima and/or Sam Butera and The Witnesses (6). It's just that 45 minutes are allowed to elapse before Miss Smith's vocal artistry is given the opportunity to shine, via "It's Magic." That 45 minutes is exactly half the show?╟÷counting Donn Arden's "Wonderful World" revue routines. Up to this point she's merely used as a foil for Prima. Aside from that, any nitery - goer able to get in to see this show will not want for entertainment of a very high nitery order. The frantic Prima, backed by the equally frantic Butera Cr group, had the large room rocking with their "When You're Smiling," "Just a Gigolo," "Ain't Got Nobody," "How Can You Tell About Me" and "Sunny Side of Street" routines. Prima's antics and trumpet get strong support when Butera (on sax) and The Witnesses go to work on "Greenback Dollar Bill," "Fever" and "Rock-a-Bye." Then comes the high point of the show after Miss Smith (with Prima fronting the band) wraps up in her own vivid style "Stormy Weather," "Drivin' Me Crazy," "Man I Love" and "Somebody Loves Me." The high point is Prima and Keely teaming on "Nothin's Too Good For My Baby," "Embraceable You," "That Old Black Magic" and "I'm In the Mood For Love." Closer is the title song from their soon - to - be - released Columbia Pictures starrer, "Hey Girl, Hey Boy." Arden's "Wonderful World," although again shortened for this engagement, continues an example of ace nitery showmanship. ?╟÷Neal Graham.