Press Cutting – Review – Viva Las Vegas (1980)

THE STAGE

THURSDAY AUGUST 14, 1980

The biggest surprise of last season was the lavish 'Viva Paree' floor show staged in the intimate surrounds of the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Horseshoe Showbar in its flagship Wonderful World of Entertainment building and the biggest surprise of this summer is that they have kept their promise and produced an even better show – 'Viva Las Vegas'.

As its name suggests the production takes its inspiration from the slick stateside shows found in that city of top class entertainment but Viva Las Vegas is no pale imitation - it could hold its head alongside anything its American mentor has to offer.

The venue, despite certain visual blackspots, is ideally suited for this sort of fast moving intimate entertainment and from the moment the lights dim the audience barely has time to take in everything that is happening.

Blackpool homegrown dynamic duo Tom Bright and Suzie Breeze are a real fined and once again keep the whole thing rolling. A remarkably talented couple with touches of lunatic brilliance, such as a hilarious Andy Pandy sketch.

Graham Maclean and Company must get the prize as the hardest working dance team in town. Loretta Legge's excellent choreography has them zipping through everything from a country hoedown to modern ballet and Hot Gossip disco routines.

There is more flow than last year, Gloria Gee's tight production has honed down the humour breaks and merged with the almost non-stop music and the music takes us through a salute to the USA which incorporates everyone's favourite musicals plus a worldwide trip to some of the most famous stateside cities.

Speciality at Los Indianos know just what a revue audience wants and are perfect for the bill. The South American drum routines, traditional dancing and boleaderos tricks bring out the gasps then the cheers of approval.

But, talented cast apart, the icing on the cake is provided by the truly spectacular costumes. Blink and you could miss a change of two. Again it outdoes even the lavishness of last year's production. Music is care of Jimmy Willan , Charlie Webster, Larry Jones and Harry Bence with additional disco music provided by Stardream. Full marks to all concerned.