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ent000826-040

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ent000826-040
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Libraries

BARNEY GLAZER IN NEVADA Pzazz 70 Is Pfull of Pfizz, Baby Those who like their musical stylings in the superspeetacular j concept will strike it rich at the Desert Inn, where "Pzazz '70 and All That Jazz, Baby" opened last night. Producer Frank Sennes, high lama of his Las Vegas ilk, is doing it again after thrilling 20 million Vegas visitors with previous extravaganzas. Twenty million henchmen can't be wronged, although some who fell off their chairs with excitement had to be righted. DONN Arden, who created, staged and directed "Pzazz '70, added the va-va-yoom and scubee-seubee-do long identified with the familiar Arden touch. His new thriller may well become his master's thesis. Harvey A. Warren designed the sets, that would do justice to a Tiffany setting. Jim Harbert, who composed and arranged the music, doesn't need his mom to convince us that he's a musical genius. He has the marathon credits to prove it. Leonard Adelson, who wrote ingo bill with Sonny & Cher, a] the lyrics, began his pro career] with the tune "Calla Calla." He also wrote "Sandra," a complete Civic Light Opera show that Edwin Lester proudly [presented in L.A. for almost three years. William Campbell designed the costumes as he also does for the Hollywood Palace and Dean Martin TV shows, although I can't recall Dean ever wearing any of Campbell's creations. Pat Boone shares the Flam- pairing that hugs the patron' right in his hip. Boone is as far out of Sonny & Cher's in-thing as a slab of lox is removed from a peanut butter sandwich. That's the Mlogic on paper. In person at the Flamingo, it all makes sense. Every tiger and tigress seeing this package comes away lionizing the three. This is Sonny & Cher's debut in Gamboltown. Boone has been a local favorite for many years. The two factions finally met at the intersection of White Buck Avenue and Mad Mod Road. * * * naheim Bulletin Wednesday, July 16, 1969 BARNEY GLAZER 'Pzass 70' Really Sensational Show "Pzazz '70 and all that Jazz,! Baby" opened recently at the) Las Vegas Desert Inn, displaying the same intensity, energy and concentration that have made "Hair" the nation's leading musical moneymaker. Once Donn Arden brushes away the dandruff, the truly sensational production numbers of "Pzazz '70" will give the new musical a "Hair" styling that will put it right at the head of Las Vegas attractions. Why let a juggler, magician and impressionist, as excellent as they are, slow down the pace? They're as effective as , giving a dog a sugar-coated pill. Instead, blend their talents into the wildly paced production numbers so that no traffic slows down. Lancelot's quest for the Holy Grail was a tough assignment but finding a clean dinner show in Las Vegas for kids is even tougher. "Pzazz '70" almost makes the grade. It doesn't have a single nude, which practically gives it a family rating, But Will Jordan, who is a superb impressionist and a flop comedian, tells smutty stories and gums up the bubble image. Get ride of the filth but not necsssarily of Jordan, Throw him into the production numbers, str^fiing up his turn. Don't let him slow down the whole show. Harvey Warren's production designs and Bill Campbell's costume designs strut like peacocks and stick out their chests like pigeons. They add the star light to the night. Jim Harbert's] music and Leonard Adelson'si lyrics are promises made in I good faith and honored. After "Pzazz '70" makes; these alterations to whip up the' frenzy and rev up the hysteria, Solomon will have to retract that crack that the race is notf to the swift. Much can be said about the: dynamic young cast, ungraced by a big name. They have the constitutions of mountain goats. They're welded into one will, sheer poetry in motion. Show girls, some with faces as bleak as the plains of Kansas, carry [fancy headgear aboard bodies that are spectacularly scenic. These are the ingredients that nourish the Vegas visitor's dreams of happy things. This is the kind of musical that makes the famed Strip retain an even keel. "Pzazz '70 and all that Jazz, Baby" needs only reasonable adjustments. When it's assembled properly, the musical may become the season's perfect production. It'll be easier finding a flaw in the Kohinoor Dia-