Danny Gans: A Las Vegas Entertainment Institution In New Digs

Like some others in Las Vegas Danny Gans is one of the few entertainers today who is, in Las Vegas, a certified mega-star even though in other places the response to his name may well be, "Danny who?" But go to see him once and you'll know for sure who he is and will probably tell your friends.

Gans has been a Las Vegas fixture since 1996 when he gave up the road to be with his family. He played for awhile at the Rio, then Steve Wynn brought him to The Mirage, gave him a 1,250-seat theater and Gans was off and running. Wynn eventually sold The Mirage and opened his self-named resort. This year, he opened an adjacent property, Encore, and gave Gans his own theater there where Gans opened in February.

Danny Gans is good at what he does. He's charming, likable and talented. Comparisons are odious, so I won't compare Gans to others doing impressions in Las Vegas. Suffice to say his is a good show and everyone I've seen it with — and the people sitting around us — enjoys it.

Gans' repertoire includes some surprises (a really lovely Sammy Davis, Jr., a long Johnny Carson-Carnac, Paul Anka, John Mayer and Jason Mraz), his jokes are often topical. Some of his stuff — notably Michael Jackson, Louis Armstrong, Tom Jones, Kermit and George Burns — is pleasant but it wouldn't be missed were it to be replaced. He uses material straight from the source — Jeff Foxworthy, in particular, comes to mind — but it's quite well done.

Gans' jokes are topical — octomom, Michael Phelps bong photo — and he makes excellent use of the theater's attibutes.

Built for Avenue Q and, then, used for the Las Vegas production of Monty Python's Spamalot, the Encore Theatre is a beautiful house — spacious and comfortable. Acoustics and lighting are great and the technology in the form of video panels adds to the show.

In short, Danny Gans' show is a very enjoyable, pleasant way to pass 90 minutes. And he is deserving of his reputation as a terrific entertainer.

Danny Gans plays Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30. Tickets are prices at $75 to $120, excluding taxes and service charges.Go to www.encorelasvegas.com