Olivia shimmies and shakes
Olivia Newton-John, a lean, lanky Australian lass all dressed up in an evening gown and gold boots, sang country rock to a packed house of followers Thursday night when she opened a limited one-week stand in the Versailles Theatre of the Riviera Hotel.
Musically supported by the Dick Palombi Orchestra and her own rhythm section including a pedal steel guitarist who was “spaced” to the left of the stage, Olivia offered opening nighters more than a baker’s dozen of her hits. She opened with “Love Song” and 60 minutes later closed with “I Honestly Love You.” Her fans, who include a large number of young ‘studs’ rose to the occasion and afforded Olivia a standing ovation.
The stage was all dressed up too! Hanging ferns and potted desert plants were suspended in mid-air above Ms. Newton-John. Adding to the floral flurry were arrangements of Baby’s Breath which sat firmly on the heads of three female vocalists who also accompanied the star of the show. Set design and lighting was the work of Chip Largman.
Olivia told her audience she had just returned from a tour of Japan. “Here’s a song which was a big hit for me over there and was a big hit for someone (John Denver) else here,” she said. The song, “Country Roads.” Other Newton-John hits which won the fans’ fancies included “Let It Shine,” “Let Me Be There,” “Sam,” “If You Love Me,” “Please Mister, Please” and “Jolene.”
Somewhat at a loss in between offerings, Olivia seemed to rely heavily on a shimmy and shake to communicate with the diners at the early show. In an era when lean and lanky females are reputed to arouse male feelings, Olivia appeared to be leaning on “sex.”
Robert Shields and Lorene Yarnell of Shields and Yarnell opened up the show with 20 minutes of excellent mime. Thi talented twosome did a series of sketches but the topper was the Princess and the Frog. Shields opened as the frog, in a deep squat and displaying facial features of a frog. Yarnell entered as the Princess. She kissed the frog and Shields sprang at least 10 feet in the air from his deep squat. He then became a Prince, kissed Lorene and she sank into the frog position.
Olivia brought the mimes back on stage during her act. The three performers did a comedy routine which found Olivia doing a very good frog too. Neil Sedaka opens Thursday night.