ent000323-004

^P^SSETY?½ Fri., May 7, 1982 "Fire &Ice" (Hacienda; $14.95 min.) Las Vegas, May 6 ?╟÷ Moving into frontrunner position as choreographer and creative honcho of production shows is Jerry Jackson, whose "Fire & Ice" dancing/skating packet scores highly in all aspects. With Hacienda owner Paul Lowden and producer/orch leader Ron Andrews giving Jackson a virtual carte blanche to mount the new entry, their confidence in the outcome was never a matter of doubt. It took $1,000,000 to redesign the stage and backstage areas, redecorate the showroom, pre- production costs et al, yet the weekly nut will be under $30,000, the low budget an enviable asset in current depressed times. The six scenes developed by Jackson include three in which dancing and skating principals and personnel are moving at a furious pace, with dozens of costume changes, those costumes not so incidentally designed by Jackson. The rink is an ellipse with enough depth for ensemble and soloists to perform freely where Nancy Lee Parker, Nancy Talavera & Marc Mountaintes, and Teresa Foy work brilliantly in the area. Only juggler Albert Lucas is connned and that is in height for his tossings. In the redesign of the stage, the proscenium was left as it, with not enough overhead space to match the other extensions. Babe Pier, one of the better impressionists around, roars through his comedy spot with upbeat revelations, his rapport with the audience hitting peaks from Walter Brennan opener singing "When The Saints Go Marching In" to poignant Jimmy Cagney and Jimmy Du rante finish. F^ier is a winner in this room and context. Highlights from "Fire & Ice" include Parker's zippy blade whorls; Lucas maintaining his balance while tossing multi-objects including juggling of flaming brands; the adagio blend of Talaveras & Mountaintes in all of their segs, but particularly in "The Sports Arena"; the perky tribute to Sonja Henie by Teresa Foy, who doubles as vocalist and femcee and the female dancers who also reveal gorgeous anatomies during their toppless routines where some very energetic, typically Jackson, dance patterns are displayed. Deserving kudos are Mario Poppino and the Poppets in a novelty terp; the "Zoot Suits & Pompadores" scene with Liz Conn, Kelly O'Fallon, Lauri Thompson, John Maddison, Martin Moody and Walter Pence. Moody has several innings pitching his smooth vocals and shows a neat tete-a-tete with Robin Renee in "The Flappers." Kren Grobba's ice choreography is svelte among the settings, many of them applause inciters, by Winn Strickland with Bob Kiernan's lighting designs and just-right sound by Chips Davis. With tech coordination by Henry Lackey, the important musical side of "F&I" is handled with precision by a sextet under direction of Andrews, charted by Greg Bosler and vocal arrangements by Ian Free- bairn-Smith, plus original musical and lyrics by Jackson and Bosler. Chuck Harper intones the narration. "Fire & Ice" seems destined for a long run. Will.