CasiNotes: High on the '60s? This show'll bring you down

TROPICANA CASINO and Resort is to be commended for being the only Atlantic City casino that programs traditional production shows on a year-round basis. But that doesn't mean that the Trop gets a pass for its latest effort,

"Celebration of the '60s."

The revusical's problems begin with its title, which, while chronologically accurate, is somewhat misleading. Sure, all of its material was originally recorded between 1960 and '69. But when most people think of what we now consider "the '60s," what is conjured up is that world-changing stretch of the latter half of the decade when popular culture was molded by the "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll" ethos of the counterculture.

However, "Celebration of the '60s" barely tips its bell-bottoms to that era. Instead, the bulk of the 70-minute program, running through June 6, pays tribute to the far more musically and culturally innocent early '60s, when "American Bandstand" set the pop music agenda.

As a result, the likes of Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, the Doors, Jimi Hendrix and other generational titans are ignored in favor of harmless (if phenomenally popular) artists like Neil Sedaka, Connie Francis and the Four Seasons (true, "Twist and Shout," a Beatles' signature, is included, but it was not written or recorded first by them). And the show's two nods to real rock music, The Who's "Pinball Wizard" and "Honky Tonk Woman" by the Rolling Stones, seem totally out of place.

Even the poppier chart-toppers of the late-'60s (e.g. the Monkees, the Association and such Motown legends as the Supremes, Four Tops and Smokey Robinson) are ignored in favor of older artists.

Making matters worse is that "Celebration of the '60s" has no use for anything resembling logic. There is neither narration nor video to put the music into any kind of context, and the set list follows no logical chronological or thematic threads.

Songs are performed willy-nilly; for example, "Crazy," the 1960 country ballad by Patsy Cline, is sandwiched by the Beach Boys' 1964 hit "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "Pinball Wizard," which was released in '69.

And there are more specific problems as well. For instance, there's what has to be the most soulless version ever of Sam & Dave's "Soul Man," and the out-of-place, Temptations-style choreography during the Four Seasons sequence (uh, guys, the Seasons played their own instruments and thus didn't dance).

Most glaring, however, is the rendition of Little Eva's 1962 smash, "The Locomotion," which is reimagined as a smoky, cabaret jazz number. It's safe to say that with this abomination, the year's showbiz nadir has been reached in Atlantic City.

But there are some bright spots. The brief salute to the groundbreaking Broadway musical "Hair" not only hits the right musical notes, but it also gives the 16-member cast of singers and dancers a showcase for their individual and collective talents. (And suggests that "Hair" would be a perfect gaming-hall presentation.)

And, throughout, director-choreographer Alan Harding's dance schemes nicely animate things.

Despite the show's many shortcomings, it's only fair to note that the audience at a recent performance was nothing if not enthusiastic and generous with its responses. But if you're at the Trop and have a hankering for some musical nostalgia, you'll do much better by checking out "Yesterday - A Tribute to the Beatles," in the Liverpool Club, rather than "A Celebration of the '60s" in the big room.

Tropicana, Boardwalk at Brighton Avenue, 9 tomorrow, 7 p.m. Sunday, 8 p.m. Monday, 3:30 and 8 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, $25, 800-736-1420, www.ticketmaster.com.

Speaking of musical nostalgia, Fleetwood Mac is headed back to AyCee.

Tickets go on sale May 2 at 10 a.m. for the Caesars Atlantic City-sponsored, June 13 Boardwalk Hall gig by the pop-rock outfit that dominated the musical world in the latter part of the 1970s.

The Boardwalk stop is part of the group's "Unleashed" tour, serving up a program of "greatest hits." In case you're wondering, Stevie Nicks (vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (guitar), Mick Fleetwood (drums) and John McVie (bass) remain in the band, but singer-keyboardist Christine McVie is no longer performing. *

Boardwalk Hall, 8 p.m. June 13, $149.50, $79.50 and $49.50. 800-736-1420 or www.ticketmaster.com.

Chuck Darrow has covered Atlantic City and the casino industry for more than 20 years. Read his blog at

http://go.philly.com/casinotes. E-mail him at darrowc@phillynews.com. And listen to his Atlantic Cityreport Saturdays at 1:25 a.m. with Steve Trevelise on WIP (610-AM).