Cautious approach to lineup changes pays off for ‘Legends’

The Strip’s second longest-running show is all about pop culture, but there is that pesky title to deal with. A video preamble reminds us radio hits come and go, but only a fraction of pop singers deserve to be called a legend.

Still, if it waits for every performer to stand the test of time, the original tribute show can fall behind the curve. “Legends” at long last, finally, finally, debuted a Lady Gaga tribute this month — just in time for the real Gaga to be trounced by Adele in year-to-date album sales.

Pity management, already nervous about Gaga’s being too young for the show’s average audience demographic: “There are a few of you in here this evening who would not consider yourselves to be one of my little monsters,” Kate Steele’s Gaga wryly points out in a rich understatement.

Now, the “Legends” brass also has to worry about pop tastes swinging from Gaga’s affected kitsch to something more real. Should they start auditioning Adele impersonators now, to debut in three years?

Based on the current summer lineup at Harrah’s Las Vegas, however, the cautious approach pays off.

Gaga and a salute to Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler are the novelties, but Art Vargas as Bobby Darin and Grahame Patrick’s Elvis bring it home with the assured showmanship that’s been the revue’s real strength over the years.

A recent night’s edition was off to a fun start with Terry Forsythe as Stevie Wonder, since replaced by John Anthony as Rod Stewart. Hopefully Anthony isn’t quite as susceptible to medley mania, which Forsythe fell prey to in trying to pack too many snippets into 15 minutes.

Chris VanDahl’s take on Tyler owes the singer’s new gig on “American Idol.” But pulling him from a band called Aeromyth actually marries “Legends” to the real tribute explosion away from the Strip: long-form rock shows devoted to a single act.

VanDahl is a near-enough ringer that you forgive his not reaching Tyler’s full power-ballad range on “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” The real drawback is that he looks a little lonesome; the dextrous house band keeps its distance, lacking either the time or inclination to suit up as Joe Perry and the boys.

Former “Legends” ensemble dancer Steele steps up next as Gaga, carted in on a white throne for perfunctory run-throughs of “Paparazzi” and “Bad Romance.” Part of the whole Gaga phenomenon is that anyone with lipstick and a YouTube upload can paint on her blank-slate canvas. So the sculpted Steele only begins to own the impression when she sits down to really play a grand piano on a “Poker Face” breakdown.

The Gaga segment brings out the limitations of a stationary bandstand set, which can’t move aside for full-stage production numbers. Video side screens also compete with the live action at times. It’s amazing that “Legends” has endured for 28 years at a bargain ticket price, but you have to wonder where the profits are going when they’re not reinvested into production values.

All is forgiven when the show shifts to the old school. Vargas, a locals favorite off the Strip, inhabits the Bobby Darin persona with such confidence that you don’t care how much he sounds like the real deal. And Patrick proves himself worthy of one of the best Elvis gigs in show business on the quiet first verse of “My Way,” where he separates an uncanny impression from all the karaoke clowns.

The temporary absence of a Michael Jackson tribute eliminated the issue of whether he or Elvis should be the closer, but Jackson is kind of hard not to miss at this point. After all, we have the real Rod Stewart playing Vegas. But the modular format keeps “Legends” running smoothly in practical terms, and there are plenty of strong tributes to choose from until Adele is ready.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.