Tony and Tina's Wedding

I was invited to Tony n' Tina's Wedding. I went.

This is a relatively new show in Las Vegas in the Calypso room at the Rio Hotel and Casino. The room has played to other shows in the hotel and a perfect set was laid out for the show.

What is this, you may ask? A very good question indeed! It is basically dinner theatre. I wanted to like it, but I didn't.

Assigned seating, good. They started on time (and went two hours and 9 minutes), good. Food, good. Pageantry, good. Live music, good. But not much content and not much else. We got a nice shot glass as a souvenir, which I liked, and a good program as we exited; a real bad idea. I always like to know the players and we needed this on entry. Also, we could have got the shot glasses on exit. It's pretty hard for a guy that has never had a drink in 57 years to use a shot glass, but I like the souvenir anyways. Thanks.

This is a big production by Artificial Intelligence with a cast of 31, a real support staff, and the four piece (Donny Dulce and Fusion band; they were quite good). I think the acting was good too, but it was the theme I had a problem with.

This is exactly as the title states: a wedding for two Italians. What could be more Italian than Valentina Lynne Vitale and Anthony Angelo Nunzio! The process is the wedding, the reception, and the interaction of the party. It is a farce with family stereotypes and ethnic slurs throughout. The actors are constantly mingling and interacting with the crowd trying to get them to play along and dance, which many did! I am sure I am not the age group for this or have the proper mindset as many contemporary references were made that went by me. When I go to a show I do not go to sing or dance, but only to be a patron. It is not a show with a stage and an audience; the actors are everywhere. Also I am not real crazy about cold pasta and buffet lines! $71.50 and $81.50, what a load! Eight times a week and a cash bar, boy for that you could get the drinks for that price. The show is more expensive than Mystere.

I could not have been to more than three or four weddings in my life and the last one was on 16 August 1974 (mine). No buffet, no crowd, no booze, no insults, no family feud, no pregnant bridesmaids, no rented clothes, no invited guests, no photographer, no name calling, no band, no comedian, no decorations, and no accoutrements; but there was a bride and groom that have loved each other for 28 years. Maybe that is my problem with Tony and Tina's Wedding, it is a farce that may be too close to the real world, but for me it was not in good taste and I did not like it. I have been to Viet Nam for 582 days and I can handle almost everything. The effort was there and I hope the show is successful, as I hope with all shows. This is good for hotel & casino business and entertainment writers.

A weak C+ 77. Sammy Davis Jr. is still the show that all are measured by. There is a big week ahead as I plan reviews of Splash, Lance Burton, Tournament of Kings and Steve Wyrick's magic show.