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ent000598-058

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ent000598-058
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Libraries

Too Darn Hot!' is hot one at Skid Road by WAYNE JOHNSON Art* and entertainment editor If the reaction of the audience at yesterday's performance of MToo Darn Hot I'' can be trusted (and why not?), the Skid Road Theater has a toe-tapping, money- In-the-bank hit with Its new lunch* time-theater production. The large audience (by far the largest I've seen at any Skid Road Theater lunchtime show) whooped and hollered and applauded throughout the snappy 35-minute song-and-dance revue, and at the show's conclusion, the audience gave the five visible performers (plus one hidden pianist) a darn* hot ovation. ?╟≤?╟≤Too Darn Hotl" was conceived and directed by David Nash, who packed 18 tunes (many of them familiar standards) Into a revue that sails along with song- and-dance and is blessedly unencumbered with connective patter. The five singer/dancers ?╟÷ Cheryl Whitener, Kura Shepard, Chad Henry, James Judy and Andy Shaw ?╟÷ work at a fever pitch: singing, dancing, making multiple costume changes, and Just generally delighting the audience. Nash Is a Seattle native who has performed In Las Vegas and recently worked as a (lancer in the Music Hall Follies. In putting together "Too Darn Hot I" he had the show-biz savvy to use a healthy supply of great American songs, varied neatly with novelty tunes which had the audience In stitches at yesterday's performance. The show opens with a mini- overture (played by pianist Ellie West) and goes into Shaw and' Judy alternating in singing ?╟≤?╟≤Steppin' Out With My Baby'*and ?╟≤?╟≤Top Hat.M The whole cast then sings and taps its way through "Puttln'ontheRitz." Henry strips down to leopard- skin shorts and sings "It's the Animal In Me" (greeted with audience whoops). Judy begins singing "Night and Day/' and he is joined by Whitener, a remarkably pretty woman, who sings the song In seductive French f 'Nuit et Jour"!). This bit has a touch of class, even If the Asia ire* Rogers-style dance only reminds the audience that the dancers aren't Fred and Ginger. Change of pace: Shepard comes on with a high-voltage Merman Imitation as she and Judy whip through "You're Not Sick (You're Just in Love)." Change again: Shaw and Whitener, dressed in formal while, start with "I Won't Dance" and segue Into "Cheek to Cheek" and tack on some more almost-Astaire- Rogers. Henry cracks up the audience with a ditty about "Shanghai Lil," represented by Shepard (singing like one of the Hot Box girls). Then the three men charge their way through (would you believe?) "Bei Mir Blst Du Schoen." Add to that the revered classic," Wiki, Waki, Woo"; Shepard's tribute to Carmen Miranda, "Ay, Ay, Ay (1 Like You Very Much)"; several more novelty songs, capped by the show's title song and "Let Yourself Go" ?╟÷ and you have a show that had the audience begging for more. *Too Darn Hot I" will play at 12:10 p.m. weekdays through August 31. Call a day ahead to reserve a sandwich.