We Will Rock You - Paris Hilton (no relation...) Las Vegas - Queen tribute - strong voiced, though the male lead (playing Galileo Figaro) was straining his highs. Scaramouche was played by a clonette of Les Miz's Cosette - nice delicate touch. Story drives the musical - songs fit in where they can. Lots of set decor in a future-trash ghetto setting. Lots of US pop references. A little bit overly staged, but musically sound.
Mamma Mia - Mandalay Bay LV - ABBA tribute. Power voiced, female lead playing Donna performed her best during The Winner Takes it All. Light sets with great lighting and stage disco subflooring. Good reason for the continued success here. Strong comedic improv work by the cast.
Society of Seven with Lani Misalucha - the filipina has a strong voice, good air, and tends to over-belt (ala Whitney Houston) and delay her starts (Liza Minelli does this, whereas Melissa Manchester and Bette Midler do not) - strongest impressions she did were Celine Dion and Barbara Streisand. But this act is all about Tony, Bert, Gary, Wayne, Hoku, Roy and Randy - they've been at this for over 30 years and the talent shows. Along with the usual Vegas Rat Pack skits, the foreshortened Lion King and Phantom of the Opera acts made for another solid showing. Schedule updates on the SOS website - met with the fellows, who let me know that Bert's wife is doing the official website (which is 20MB worth of flash-enabled graphics.)
Moment by James H. Lui
at 11:38 PM PST