Opening Nights Shine Bright
There is something endearing about Elton John and his music. He is wonderfully weird and complicated, but under the layers of bejeweled eyeglasses, sequins, and feathers, I believe, is a kind and loving man. Daniel Celis captures that aspect of Elton John in ‘Rocketman Concert‘ and embodies the sheer joy of entertaining, after first making a big visual impression on an adoring audience.
He had a couple of minor technical difficulties on Opening Night of The Palm Cabaret and Bar‘s 26th season, which will be easily ironed out for next week’s Thursday matinee at 5 pm. Dani’s band, Monaco, provided seamless accompaniment and backup vocals. We can expect a blockbuster concert from them soon, mashing up the music from four musicals, Grease, Footloose, Saturday Night Fever, and one more whose name I have forgotten.
Another second-season debut last night at Coco Cabaret Very close to a sold-out house, eagerly awaited Eva Jimenez and her dancers, in her brand new tribute to Pink.
Clearly, Eva has been training hard, and the addition of Aussie acrobat Woody Fox from BOYS ON FIRE has added a superb layer of strength and motion to her show. The aerials were spectacular, and Eva’s voice didn’t even waver, hanging upside down and spinning. Yipes! (Woody told me after the show that he is opening a school in the Zona Romantica to teach aerial work!)
All of Pink’s hits remained from last season, with some added numbers, new choreography, and all-new costumes for the entire cast. The sound quality in Coco’s has been fine-tuned to perfection.
Eva appeared completely relaxed, well-rehearsed, and comfortable. She is, in turn, as cute as a button, then fierce as a pissed off house cat, and then, that radiant smile makes everything in our world right again. Her soft poignancy brought tears to my eyes more than once.
Her two big brothers were there: Alejandro Balderas (The Art Convention) in the audience and Mau Jimenez (Who’s the Boss? A Bruce Springsteen Tribute) backstage, helping his sister shine even brighter.
The entire audience lined up to congratulate Eva after a masterful performance; how I love her and her siblings. Brava, chica.
Coming up tonight, Roy Cruz stars as, make that channels, Freddie Mercury in ‘The Man, The Voice, The Legend‘ at The Palm at 7 pm, and Musical Dreams premieres at Coco Cabaret at 9 pm.
Saturday night features Dia de Muertos, celebrating Mexico’s Day of the Dead traditions through dance and song, premiering at Coco Cabaret at 5 pm, and Maru Prado Conti will debut as Lady Gaga performing ‘Mother Mayhem‘ at The Palm at 9 pm.
Opening Nights on Sunday at Coco has Madonna (a Chris Lopez Production) starring Waleska at 7 pm, followed by Humans at 9.
Lots of voices and dance this weekend. Enjoy and support our immensely talented locals in their efforts to continue to bring you the caliber of entertainment seen in New York, London, and Los Angeles, right here in our beloved Puerto Vallarta.