Incredible to believe but the Palm Springs Follies is in its 21st season with an all new production called
Hot!Hot!Hot! Equally unbelievable is the fact that I have seen and reviewed 10 of these shows since 2005, which means I've returned sometimes twice in one season. I'm really hooked on the Follies. You know why? It's one-of-a-kind. There's nothing like it anywhere. It has beautiful ladies - and none under 60. It has stunning gentlemen - the youngest ... 58 years young. These folks can dance and sing and lead the parade as if they were still in their prime. Well, I guess they are, and age, like the saying goes, is just a state of mind - at least if you look
that good. Their music includes the good old standards of the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s-songs that they truly know how to sing, because they grew up listening to and singing them. And of course, those glorious costumes are simply gorgeous to look at! The performers, the music, the costumes - is that enough? Hell, yes!
Hot!Hot!Hot!, tributing summer music madness of the 50s and 60s,
hardly falls short of its colorful apparel in lovely shades of orange, pink and purple. And the blue/green sequin outfits in Act II for the dance tribute are to die for. The blue sequined baseball uniforms for a tap sequence in honor of America's greatest pastime at the end of Act I ain't too shabby either to the strains of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal Mo". Praise to
Joan Palethorpe for her resourceful staging and choreography.
Guest star
Maureen McGovern is truly one of our greatest singers with an instrument that has been compared to a Stradivarius. What a range! The voice soars on "Over the Rainbow" and then gets down and gritty with "Blues in the Night". It's such passionate artistry, you could listen for hours, so bring her CDs home with you! She's there through March 10: don't miss her! Ventriloquist Brad Cummings and his mini dinosaur Rex are back again due to popular demand. Pre-hysterical!! These two acts certainly contribute to making this edition of the Follies live up to its title
Hot!Hot!Hot!Follies creator Riff Markowitz' stand-up comedy - no matter how many times I have heard the same jokes about Palm Springs being a haven for gays and the aged ... "You all come here eventually ... to die!" - remains a dependable laughfest. His inimitable way with audience members is uniquely entertaining. Hot!Hot!Hot! is a great show. Will I be back next season? You'd better believe it!
