BWW Reviews: LEGENDS At 30 Is Still Lots of Fun

Celebrating 30 years, Legends In Concert is the second longest-running show in Las Vegas. Recently moved to a 4 p.m. slot Sunday through Friday, with 9:30 shows Sunday and Monday, Legends is now in the (appropriately legendary) Flamingo Showroom.

When Legends began its run, there wasn't the plethora of impersonators - or, as they're more acceptably called today, "tribute artists" - we have now. There are entire shows built around one act and, like Legends shows that feature a number of acts.

While it's arguable that some of those showcased are not precisely "legends" (Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, for example) many are and all are successful. The performers rotate in and out of the shows, often traveling from Las Vegas to Legends outposts in Atlantic City, Branson, Myrtle Beach, Hawaii and other locales.

In the edition I saw Saturday at the Flamingo, there were five performers. First up was John Anthony as Rod Stewart. Anthony is an absolute look-alike and performs with the tremendous enthusiasm of the man to whom he's paying tribute. His act is lots of fun to watch and, also, to sing along with.

Second on the stage was Katie Murdock as Britney Spears. She's a real look-alike and has the moves correct. Sadly, she also has Spears' voice correct. It is irritating and, since the majority of her audience for this show is older than Spears' demo, one fears her efforts are wasted on them.

Next was Steve McCoy as Tom Jones. McCoy is the tribute artist chosen by Jones himself in a contest held in Atlantic City. Jones has introduced him from the stage saying, "He does me better than I do."

With dark curly hair, McCoy is mid-career Jones and goes over the hits with an excellent voice and Jones' moves down pat. In fact, when he held the last notes of "I'll Never Fall In Love Again," the audience applaudEd Loudly and at length.

The fourth performer was Damien Brantley in a tribute to Michael Jackson. He is a really good dancer, has Jackson's look and the voice and is a fine reminder of what Jackson brought to the stage.

Every Legends show closes with Elvis. At the performance I saw he was Harry Shahoian. He, as he has been when I've seen him before, does a good Elvis and, since the music he does is so familiar, it was fun to sing along.

Singing along is key to the entire enterprise. We're hearing familiar music and it's lasted because audiences enjoy it. Here, the enjoyment is palpable.

While Spears is out of place in this company, the music is uniformly good. even when it's tracks, rather than played live. The band is terrific.

What's not terrific are the dancers that intrude on so many of the performers. For example, Tom Jones does not and never has appeared with showgirls. He does here. So, wrongly, does Elvis. Not necessary. The originals did and do get by with the music alone. Dancers are extraneous

For information about all of the Legends in Concert shows across the nation and for tickets, please visit www.legendsinconcert.com.

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