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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

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Palm Springs Follies bring live theater to escape the desert People

When you control the list of reasons why you should plan a visit to Palm Springs - sunshine, Great - resorts, shopping, outdoor sports and spectacular scenery - do not neglect the theater live music. We are talking specifically about the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, a professionally produced show that has been so successful it is now in its 19th season.

The distribution of folly is a very talented group of older people - somehow the term "elderly" just does not apply here - who have all had a long career performing on Broadway, on national television and in some of the best troops theater in the country. The 16 cast members were all at the top of their profession, singing and dancing their whole heart in big productions the best venues in the country.

Now, with ages ranging from late 50s to the oldest working showgirl at 86 years young, artists have found a way to continue performing their roles in a physically demanding time of life when many people consider walking the dog a serious physical accomplishment.

Make no mistake, this is not just a group of elderly people pretending to be young - not by any means. These leaders are the real deal, just as energetic as the dancers that you saw in those old movies Gene Kelly and execution routines so hard that even young people should get in shape to remove them.

And without doubt these extensive dance numbers must be victims. As master of ceremonies Riff Markowitz put down at the end of the show: "You all need to go home because we have to take a nap."

This year, show is a revue of popular songs of the 40's, 50's and 60's. On a medley of the group may be dressed in costumes and hairstyles of the time the Second World War, while in another part of the show is all about Elvis and the styles of the 50s. Music of the Beatles and other elements of 60s are created in yet another part of the show.

There are also numbers that feature glitzy showgirl cast members lady dressed in elaborate costumes decorated with flowers and frilly feathered headdresses and more than half the ladies. Skin tight body suits and give the impression they expose much flesh covered by a few bright ornaments placed at strategic locations. Regardless of age, all performers performers are in stunning form and proud to show it.

The exhibition of three hours is extremely rhythmic, broken by the user performance which are generally famous names in show business. During our visit, the guests were the Four Aces, a male vocal group popular for years 1950 which saw 30 of their songs reach the Top 40. Another guest was Brad Cummings, a very talented ventriloquist who kept the audience in stitches and was proved to be a highlight of the show.

At the center of this production is Markowitz, who is actually a co-founder of the Follies. Markowitz, who has a background in television production, said he learned to work an audience when he Would go out and do the warm-up before a live recording television. Today, Markowitz has jokes and when the fingertips and is an obvious stand-up talent that could go toe of the foot with Leno or one large. His monologues are frequently spread throughout the evening and often poke fun of old - about the older-than-average audience understands.

But if you think this show is just for seniors it really is not. It's hilarious and entertaining to mid-teens to go, but especially for those middle-aged and elderly. While the songs and costumes may be dated, the humor is contagious and performance is breathtaking.

On this, our most recent visit to Palm Springs, we focused on the downtown Palm Springs (site of Follies), where we have enjoyed browsing the shops and north along South Palm Canyon Drive. Everything is within walking distance and a very good suggestion is to plan to take lunch at a sidewalk cafés.

While the desert communities are famous for their mega resorts with golf courses and a wide ground, we enjoyed a more "close in" the experience this time staying at the Holiday Inn Resort just a mile or so from the shopping area of downtown. A few Holiday Inns nationwide that are authorized to use the "resort" designation in its name, this hotel has undergone a major renovation in the last couple of years and is built around an Olympic size swimming pool and spacious and the neighborhood pool patio. Children will enjoy "dive in" movies shown outdoors each night in the pool.

The complex is surrounded by palm trees and has a Moroccan style fountain. Holiday Inn Resort offers a free shuttle to downtown Palm Springs and if you want dinner Property, Billy D's Restaurant has a sports bar feel and is popular with customers who want to watch sports on one of the many TV big screen.

The rooms at the Holiday Inn Resort also have large flat screen televisions and other resort amenities style such as mini-toiletries, high quality beds and linens, refrigerators, poolside or balcony views, workstations and tables where you can dine in the room. Best of all, prices at the Holiday Inn Resort are quite competitive.

During this trip particular, we had fun outside in an area known as Indian Canyons. Only 10 minutes drive from downtown Palm Springs, Indian Canyons are canyons have been retained by the Agua Caliente Cahuilla Indians and open - for a price - for the general public for hiking, horseback riding and picnicking. There are four canyons in all, each with different characteristics.

We spent one afternoon walking in the 15-mile long Palm Canyon a fascinating landscape with its indigenous flora and fauna that make it seem so far from the glitz and glamor of Palm Springs. This feature trail groves of palm trees fans in California, a dramatic tree provides shade and scenic beauty along this moderate increase. The grade is gradual and part of the road is paved foot, it takes place in the canyon for a picnic near the creek and up the canyon, where visitors can find much of interest training rocky and colorful landscapes to explore. Also check the trading post where the tribe has produced many interesting Indian artifacts.

For more information on the Palm Springs area, telephone 800-347-7746.

About the Author

Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com , covering California spa vacations and other Golden State destinations, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering Washington vacation ideas as well as other Pacific Northwest travel destinations.

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