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8J/Las Vegas Review-Joumal/Friday, May 2,1997 a GOLDEN NUGGET All New Show. For Reservations, call 386-8100. Featuring The Posse," our nine piece band, the Country Fever Dancers and ycrur favorite country hits. live. Two shows nightly. Doors open at 6:00 & 8:45. Shows begin at 7:00 & 9:45. Dark on Friday. $22.50 plus tax per person includes a basket of country fixins and a pitcher of beer or soda. He has high praise for a cast c about 55 singers, dancers and showgirls that spent several weeks in afternoon rehearsals fc the new edition while still work- ing nights in the outgoing show. ?╟úThey worked very hard and they were applying what they learned to the old show, which was drawing standing-ovations over its final nights,?╟Ñ he says. ?╟úThey were wonderfiil, and if they have a suggestion, I will lis ten. I don?╟╓t try to instill fear.... I try to inspire them, teach them acting and how to work together as a group.?╟Ñ Jackson rummaged through the ?╟úLes Folies?╟Ñ warehouse in search of props from the past for some of the revived numbers from prior editions (?╟úHollywood Glamour?╟Ñ and a ?╟úMusic Hall Montage?╟Ñ), but his theatrical ap- proach downplays the need for grandiose sets that explode, col- lapse or sink beneath the stage. ?╟úSpecial effects, scenery and costumes seem to be the calling cards for most shows,?╟Ñ he says, ?╟úbut my theory is that it?╟╓s only the dressing. It?╟╓s important to get the ?╟ ooohs and ahhs?╟╓ but wha happens between the next spe- cial effect??╟Ñ The updated ?╟úFolies?╟Ñ runs about 90 minutes ?╟÷ yes, the ?╟úsexier than ever?╟Ñ subtitled means liberal use of beautiful, bare-breasted showgirls ?╟÷ and presents 14 separate scenes cov- ering the stylistic progress of women in history. The singing principals are mostly live-voiced (a few songs are lip-sync versions) and in- clude Sue White, Tom Lake, Jen- nifer Joseph, Carmel Smithe, Ron DeCar, Tracy Jordan, Can- dace Hager and Debra Iness. They work to several original tunes by Jackson and find them- selves bathed in fresh lighting ef fects courtesy of designer Bob Ki- ernan. Rather than opt for a flashy, over-the-top finale, Jackson?╟╓s cast gathers on a central stage riser to hold hands and sing the slightly wistful yet uplifting ?╟úCir- cle of Life?╟Ñ from ?╟úThe Lion King?╟Ñ movie. ?╟úYou don?╟╓t have to do a big ?╟ wow-them?╟╓ finale,?╟Ñ Jackson maintains. ?╟úI wanted to leave the audience with a warm feeling. There?╟╓s so much negativity today in the news ... when people go out to see a show, they go to es- cape from the problems of life.?╟Ñ Folies--------------------- From 3 that finds female dancers waving fans and performing synchro- nized leg movements on a rotat- ing turntable, their reflection vis- ible via an angled mirror behind them. There?╟╓s also a trademark can-can number that Jackson says he tried to eliminate. ?╟úI had to keep it in even though I can?╟╓t stand the cancan,?╟Ñ he notes. ?╟úI didn?╟╓t want to do it, but I?╟╓ve always judged myself by how well I do things that I don?╟╓t like.?╟Ñ New additions include a ?╟úBal au Versailles,?╟Ñ a beach scene set on the French Riviera circa 1925, a ?╟úCool Jazz: 1950" segment, a Western hoedown piece and a ?╟úContemporarily Yours?╟Ñ finale that brings the show into the 1990s. ?╟úWe?╟╓re going through different time periods as a salute to wom- en, from the days of the music hall to the flappers (of the 1920s) and up to today. The bulk of the old show was a salute to Ameri- can music and this seemed like a good hook to ground things.?╟Ñ Some of the voice-over dialogue that tells of how things have changed for women is delivered with tongue planted firmly in cheek. To wit: ?╟úNo more Donna Reed ... Today?╟╓s woman packs an AK 47 and knows how to use it.?╟Ñ ?╟úI wrote that as a joke and I didn?╟╓t think they would keep it,?╟Ñ says Jackson, ?╟úbut they liked it so much they left it in. Humor is still important.?╟Ñ His female acro-dancers dress up as fat farmers for part of the Western number and he is pleased with showgirls who, fol- lowing acting advice from Jack- son, turn in ?╟úvery good comedy?╟Ñ in similar segments. A ?╟úStriptease?╟Ñ number finds the showgirls in neon-lighted togs that disappear in more ways than one. They disappear into the darkness when their duds are disposed of. Further comedy is supplied by silent juggler/magician Charlie Frye. He is joined by his assis- tant and spouse Sherry, who maintains a detached air as hub- by labors to comic effect. They are the show?╟╓s only specialty act, which Jackson prefers over, mul- Dancers Sue White and Tom Lake, center, perform against a back- drop of a Parisian scene during ?╟úThe Best of Folies Bergere.?╟Ñ tiple acts that sometimes domi- nate production shows. ?╟úThat?╟╓s the easy way out... you have to do less work.?╟Ñ Jackson?╟╓s penchant for authen- ticity is obvious in the jazz seg- ment, choreographed in the man- ner of jazz master Jack Cole and featuring costumes of lime green and black that were hot colors during the 1950s. In the Western number, he borrowed some concepts from his Broadway staging of ?╟úSeven Brides for Seven Brothers?╟Ñ and again concentrated on authentic costumes from that period; no stiff starched skirts as women of the West were anything but frilly. In a Parisian-Latin num- ber, he says ?╟úthere?╟╓s no costume that stays onstage for more than 20 seconds ... the dancers are making 35-second costume changes and getting right back out onstage.?╟Ñ SAVING WATER ITS ALWAYS IN SEASON * * , / * USE 4 INCH POP-UP SPRINKLERS. me EVENTSVi PRESENTS SPRING FUNG < The Great Folk Art and Craft Festival Calling All Mothers & Daughters To Our County Wide Look-A-Like Contest Prizes Galore Drop by Saturn of West Sahara during show hours & have your Quick Look-A-Like Snapshot taken. Winners to be announced Sunday at 2:30p.m. May 3rd 10a.m.-8p.m. ?╟≤ May 4th 10a.m.-4p.m. y FREE Hosted By: Saturn of West Sahara F/t?·c li ADMISSI??n 5325 W. Sahara iJust2Sk<kMDea __________________Procedsjo benefit Nevoda Child Seekers