Here's a biggie coming in at MontBleu starting April 28: The Folies Bergere, the longest running French-style revue on the Vegas strip. Folies Bergere made its debut in America at the Tropicana Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Dec. 24, 1959.
Originally staged in Paris (where I first saw it years ago), Folies Bergere is a musical sensation that embodies French revues - glittery, barely-there costumes and comedy and talented performers.
Shows begin at 7 and 10 p.m. Tickets start at $30 at (800) 658-3353, Ticketmaster outlets or at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are 20 percent off with a MontBleu players card. This is an adult show. Back when it first opened in Paris it was a must-see for visiting American tourists as such adult shows were not staged in the USA, outside of burlesque.
Yep, gotta see the Follies one more time.
SOME MAJOR TALENT COMING
Some of the talent booked into the Harveys Outdoor Arena for this summer:
• Martina McBride with Little Big Town, July 29 a t 7 p.m. Tickets: $59.50/ $69.50/ $125.
• Rascal Flatts with Jason Aldean, Aug. 3-4 at 7 p.m. tickets $65.75/ $89.75/ $132.75
• Diana Krall with Chris Botti, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m., tickets $49.50/ $69.50/ $99.50/ $125.
• Toby Keith "Big Dog Daddy" Tour with special guests Miranda Lambert and Flynnville Train, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets $67.50/ $87.50/ $97.50/ $125.
Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com, your local Ticketmaster Outlet or www.apeconcerts.com.
For me, Lady Diana is a must-hear, although of late her CDs have been more singing and less piano fingering. Voice is nice, but piano soars.
FROM THE VAULTS
BOOK: Steve Martini is a pro when it comes to thrillers and his "The Arraignment" ($7.95 Jove Books) is right up there with his best. With a wonderful touch of wit and clever plotting, his "Paul Madriani" series has long been a top seller. "Arraignment" puts Madriani in with his old pal Nick, a lawyer who has moved up to the top legal firm in San Diego. Nick is killed in a drive-by shooting, along with a client that Madriani has rejected after Nick asked him to take him on. Madriani winds up with Nick's electronic notebook with all kinds of clues in it, which he slowly works out. A trip to San Francisco widens the mystery and Madriani is gradually taken in by the top dog in Nick's law firm. A weird trip to Mexico via corporate jet winds up in Mayan ruins with a climax that is artful. It has been telegraphed to aware readers, however.
FILM: I first saw "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," based on a book by Milan Kundera, back in Minnesota in 1988 and was overwhelmed by it. We debated the meaning of the ending endlessly. Happily, it has held up well in the new two-DVD set.
Philip Kaufman directed this sort of innocent film about the "Prague Spring" and the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. Daniel Day Lewis and Lena Olin are excellent. Olin's performance has received much attention and commentary because of her high-octane sex scenes I remember Sabina's hat, the quiet moments between her and the doctor Tomas, and the feeling that life is fleeting, happiness elusive, and life-altering changes lurk around every corner. This is a movie about freedom, who can handle it, and who can't. This is a movie about courage, who has it and who doesn't.
This film was made back before Juliette Binoche's marvelous performance in "The English Patient." But back then it was clear that she was something truly unique. Binoche's performance is so right in every aspect. Rated R, it runs 172 minutes. Not a wasted one among them.
• Contact Sam Bauman at 881-11236 or at sbauman@nevadaappeal.com.