Greg London held over at Harrah's-Greg London

Harrah's Reviews

Sunday, 20 April 2008 00:00

Greg London Held Over at Harrah's
By Mel Shields - Bee Correspondent
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, April 20, 2008
Story appeared in TICKET section, Page 39

Harrah's Reno took a chance last August bringing in unknown Greg London for a six-month engagement in the venerable Sammy's Showroom. It meant abandoning a longtime policy of featuring revues, with early shows for all ages and late shows for adults only. Only one show would be staged most nights, and London only worked five nights a week.

The bet paid off, and London has now been extended through November, adding an additional performance weekly. He has also reworked his show, mastering new impressions and restructuring his quasi-biographical format. Arnold Schwarzenegger still serves as both his muse and his critic, alternately urging and mocking him in voiceovers, one minute telling him to get on with the show, another calling him a "girly boy."
Schwarzenegger doesn't just speak to London. He addresses the audience as well, telling them only to throw clean underwear when London performs Tom Jones (which he does very well indeed) and warning them that they will be exterminated if they don't turn off their cell phones (dream on).

The opening song is "I'm a Believer" as London presents himself as a young performer destined to make it. He convinces himself he can and sets out to make believers out of the audience as well, a nightly task since no matter how much the good word has spread on this show, the fact remains that he is an unknown quantity to most of the audience.

It doesn't take long. In a quick round, London polishes off Dire Straits, Buddy Holly, Rod Stewart, Tony Bennett and Joe Cocker, all in the guise of auditioning for a contract with Capitol Records. He finds himself working a brief stint at "J Mart" (where Schwarzenegger announces a special on human growth hormone) and on a cruise ship. He sinks with the ship and eventually winds up in Reno.

London does not mention his successes elsewhere, like his run in London's West End. His task is not to tell people he's good. It is to be good. After a staggering array of impressions, everybody in the room can testify he is just that.

There are more than 30 impressions in this show, and their range is incredible, from Macy Gray to the Village People. Austin Powers makes an appearance, polishing off some pretty moldy bawdy humor with the girls, and the comic highlight remains Ozzy Osbourne attempting to sing "The Rainbow Connection" with Kermit.

The last time Harrah's brought in a headliner for a trial run, it was Gordie Brown, another impressionist and another relative unknown. He ran for more than two years. It looks like London is off to a great start.

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