Review: Viva Ricky Martin! Singer goes ‘All In,’ hits jackpot — PHOTOS
Full disclosure: I’ve been a fan boy of Ricky Martin for nearly two decades dating back to the shrine for Martin in my bedroom (I’m not kidding, and I swear that I’m not a creeper) and the farewell book of Ricky Martin photographs that my colleagues at The Orange County Register in Southern California signed for me like a yearbook when I left in 1999.
Who says journalists don’t cover serious news, or, in the opposite extreme, that we’re automatons? Martin, the longtime singer-songwriter, actor, author and father of two sons, kicked off his residency, “All In,” at Park Theater at Monte Carlo on Wednesday night, and it was a phenomenal debut to say the least. Martin pulls out all the stops and goes all in for “All In” — and he hits the jackpot.
There are many reasons to love “All In.” Big kudos to Martin and his longtime collaborator director Jamie King — whose endless string of success includes Madonna, Caesars Palace headliner Celine Dion, Axis at Planet Hollywood headliner Britney Spears and Rihanna — for creating a quintessential Las Vegas show that also injects much-needed doses of sexiness, high energy and diversity onto the Strip.
The opening video of Martin preparing for the show — at one point the fit-and-sexy 45-year-old’s body is covered in only a white towel — signals that “All In” is going to be a sexy night, and it is 100 percent. Another video of Martin, in tight black leather pants from the show’s designer, Dsquared2, being arrested and frisked by a male and a female cop while “Viva Las Vegas” played in the background, is muy caliente.
While the bilingual setlist includes ballads, including Martin’s hits “She’s All I Ever Had” and “Nobody Wants to Be Lonely,” the duet with Christina Aguilera (in video form during “All In”), “All In’s” focus is on high-energy dance songs, and it is delivered in spades. The setlist includes “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” “This Is Good,” “Shake Your Bon Bon” and a wonderful Las Vegas and Frank Sinatra nod with a “Luck Be a Lady” and “The Lady Is a Tramp” mashup.
Also, “It’s Alright,” “Private Emotion,” “She’s All I Ever Had,” “Drop It On Me,” “Vente Pa Ca” (his hit collaboration with Maluma), “She Bangs,” “Loaded,” “Nobody Wants to Be Lonely,” “Maria” and “La Copa de la Vida (The Cup of Life).” “All In” made me really want to learn Spanish. Regardless, the emotion and power of the Spanish ballads and songs still register strongly for this longtime, English-only-speaking, gay Asian-American journalist.
Another reason that Martin and “All In” stand out is because he remains a trailblazer in 2017 as a Puerto Rican and openly gay headliner in Las Vegas, joining a far-too-small list that includes Axis headliner Jennifer Lopez and The Linq Hotel headliner Frank Marino. Martin is to be commended and celebrated for reminding us of the importance of diversity and inclusiveness — cultural, ethnic, sexual orientation and more. Many talk the talk, but Martin walks the talk.
A quote in his final video says it all: “Be free. Be you. With music, I celebrate life.” Big kudos also to the energetic band and incredible dancers and percussionists adding to the explosive production. Sadly, the upper third of Park Theater was curtained off opening night probably because of lackluster ticket sales. Let’s hope that glowing reviews and strong word-of-mouth boost Martin’s sales because he deserves Strip success. “He was himself and owned it,” friend Shane Warner said post-concert.
Longtime colleague and friend the ubiquitous Robin Leach, never shy as a fiscal conservative to inject politics into his entertainment coverage (but I usually edit it out), loved the show, too, and had the last word: “Not even a Trump wall would keep our Mexican neighbors from this.” (Be sure to check out Mr. Leach’s Q+A with Martin posted Monday.)
Thanks to Denise Truscello of WireImage for her photo gallery. Martin continues the 90-minute “All In” at Park Theater on select dates through the weekend and Sept. 23. Martin is “All In” for his Strip residency. Here’s hoping that his fans and other ticket-buyers are, too.
