Versatile
one-man show
covers
everything
from Nat to
Natalie
PRESS OF
ATLANTIC
CITY
— It's fun
to watch an
entertainer
develop.
When Tony
Pace
performed
two years
ago on
Resorts
Atlantic
City's small
Screening
Room stage,
his act was
inconsistent,
full of
cliche and
worn-out
material and
sprinkled
with
impersonations
that simply
weren't that
good.
What a
difference
two years
can make.
Now
appearing
for a long
engagement
in the
Atlantic
City
Hilton's
much larger
showroom,
Pace's show
is more
fluid and
entertaining,
his material
is better,
and the
performer
seems much
more sure of
himself.
Unfortunately,
those who
saw Pace's
show at
Resorts will
find the
Hilton show
very
familiar.
While there
are some new
elements
thrown in,
most of
Pace's
Hilton show
mirrors his
previous
appearance
at Resorts,
which is
surprising
since so
much time
has gone by
between his
engagements.
Pace must
have used
the time
wisely to
hone his
act,
however, as
his
75-minute
show flies
by.
Billed as
the “man
with the
voice who
happens to
be funny,”
Pace really
does possess
a remarkable
voice, which
he shows off
throughout
the entire
show. Pace's
voice
particularly
shined
during a
powerful
rendition of
“Music of
the Night”
from
“Phantom of
the Opera,”
and a
passionate
rendition of
Elton John's
“Your Song,”
in which
Pace showed
off his own
stellar
voice
instead of
impersonating
Sir Elton.
But most of
the night
was devoted
to his
musical
impressions.
Like Danny
Gans, Pace
has a knack
for nailing
celebrity
voices and
inserting
some humor
to break
things up.
While some
weren't the
greatest,
like his
Kermit the
Frog doing
“Rainbow
Connection”
and Ray
Charles
singing
“Georgia,”
Pace was
dead-on
impersonating
Johnny
Mathis in
“Misty,”
Louis
Armstrong's
raspy style
in “What A
Wonderful
World,” Rod
Stewart's
“Have I Told
You Lately”
and Neil
Diamond's
“Sweet
Caroline.”
Pace really
blew the
crowd away
when he
stretched
the
boundaries.
Offering a
superb Nat
King Cole
would have
been enough
in his
rendition of
“Unforgettable,”
but Pace
sang the
song as a
one-man
duet, wowing
the crowd by
also singing
Natalie
Cole's part
in perfect
register.
Pace's Cher
was also
noteworthy,
singing “If
I Could Turn
Back Time.”
Pace's voice
is strong
and
impressive,
but
sometimes
the
performer's
material
seemed a
little
hokey,
especially
when he
acted like
his
flatulent
old uncle in
a bid for
cheap
laughs. And,
for some
reason, Pace
still
insisted on
bringing
audience
members on
stage to
make fools
of
themselves,
which never
works.
That said,
Pace had
some very
funny
routines.
As Elvis,
Pace's voice
sounded just
like The
King singing
“Dixieland”
and “The
Battle Hymn
of the
Republic,”
but it was
also
hysterical
as Pace
emulated the
crazy
kung-fu side
of Elvis
battling his
cape.
The
show-stopper,
just like it
was at
Resorts, was
his Michael
Jackson.
Pace can
moonwalk
with the
best of
them, the
jokes were
funny, and
his Jackson
voice was
perfectly
high-pitched,
including
the
trademark
yelps.
Pulling off
a one-man
act is
difficult.
Pace almost
made it work
two years
ago. This
time around,
he succeeds.
It should be
amazing to
see what he
can do in
another two
years.
|
