Carvey's schtick reminiscent of early Shecky Greene

Dana Carvey and opening act Luke Torres may have set a new Las Vegas showroom record for both quantity and quality of laughs in a 95-minute performance Thursday, opening night in the Desert Inn Crystal Room. The room was full, the audience diverse but unified in its appreciation of the two multi-talented comedians.

Torres took no prisoners and occasionally tested the good-taste boundaries, but was consistently funny as he depicted various characters, some family-types and some celebrities, always with bite and a great sense of caricature. Basically a comedic actor, his body language and movements doubled the effect of his spoken words. Dana Carvey displayed his show business awareness in picking someone so much like himself and that strong as his opener.

The audience was the beneficiary because Carvey came out in high gear and never let up for his full hour. At times we were reminded of the early days of Shecky Greene at the Tropicana and later at the Riviera. Shecky had the same sense of impromptu, that total talent, plus a willingness to change direction in response to his audience, and to improvise his way through any situation.

Carvey's discourse on President Clinton and Kenneth Starr was as current as today's news, hilarious yet not really political. He didn't take sides, he found the humor in both men and everyone else he portrayed including Ross Perot, George Bush, Jimmy Stewart, Andy Rooney and other well known figures. He proved equally adept in discussing his marriage, their children, rock stars at the piano and again on guitar. A completely original song composed onstage for a couple up front, tying in a "non sequitur lady," was worthy of Shecky at his best. The highest compliment. Carvey and Torres are only there through Sunday. If you like to laugh and laugh a lot, call the Desert Inn right now.

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