DAMN YANKEES

BY ED BRUCE edbrucevegas@yahoo.com

OPENING NIGHT ! ! !

What a gem !

Richard Adler and Jerry Ross wrote the lyrics and music...its from the book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallup....movie in 1958...Broadway forever and the world eternally...this one of the great American Musicals.

Having been done for decades everywhere, the task of fresh and zippy was at hand ...Super Summer Theatre-Signature Productions answered the call ! It might have been a decade since my last viewing and this play answers the call to why you should continue to produce these great standards.

Super Summer Theatre's third of four productions on opening night just a marvel.

Ray Walston and Gwen Verdon did the movie and Broadway....here in west Las Vegas Traci Kesisian and Keith Dotson were as good as anyone who has ever played the parts.

Kesisian in the temptress role of Lola...all pro with a history of 3500 performances as lead singer in the world famous Les Folies Bergere on the Las Vegas strip...she could sing...see could act and her hall of fame legs were the best ever put on earth. With 3500 shows in Las Vegas she has to have some mileage...from the second row she looked like a first team show girl...truly sensational performance in every way...it seemed the part altho a key one may have been tilted even more her way...IT WAS TILTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Dotson played the Devil and he too was only great...I loved the smoke, red suits and his great sarcasm (some of which many in the audience missed - not me). Dotson my first African American devil and I think this further enhanced his look...his great dancing and great singing...Dotson-Kesisian worked very well together...their performance looked professional, comfortable, obviously well prepared and was perfectly delivered. Dotson a well traveled highly professional talent just gave me a great look.

Remaining cast very solid...as a baseball historian, fan and umpire for 60 years I have some personal observations about the game which pretty well need to be disregarded in what of course is a farce...Jonathan Lee Sangster as Van Buren the manager with his constant cigarette truly farcial...I wish it would have been a real butt with real smoke...Sanster not new to the role...just anchoring a truly outstanding cast...singers and dancers top line and the overall production truly entertaining. Some costume issues, some sound issues and some light issues on opening night allowing for a tish of improvement on a great show...I may see it again.

They hit the mark tonight...started on time...played the National Anthem before the game if not with some audio glitches and cue problems. Tons of costumes for everyone...Lola looked good in red, black and white.

There must be some pay for somebody in this "cheap ticket" treasure...whatever it is its not enough...tickets $12 it runs through August ....www.supersummertheater.com
22 miles West Charleston great night on Thursday you can stay and catch the Perseid Meteor Showers.

The value of talent - production - presentation certainly at a high level here.

Signature and Director Costume Designer Steve Huntsman...thanks for a great show.

98 A+