It does the theater-loving, drama-devoted, song-swelling heart good. In a world where plays shutter on opening night, or after the first week, or sometimes even before the curtains raise, "Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara" has just had more dates added at the Geffen Playhouse, which has happened a few times already.
Probably the reason is that it is so good. Period. If you've bemoaned where old-style, belt-it-out (but belt-it-out well) singing went, you'll do no bemoaning after seeing it. And Vanessa Claire Smith truly captures Keely Smith's hard-but-funny little expressions and slightly hunched, so-bored stance. And dresses. Floofy dresses. We want them.
Fans of old Vegas, new Vegas, anything Vegas, and that sweet vintage '60s sound, should head straight for the Geffen, where the play is now running through early August. We're hoping it might eventually tour, so friends in different cities can see it, or land on the Strip for a couple of years.
Plus, Taylor Hackford, the director of "Ray," helmed it. So the play's biopic-y cred is high indeed.
