THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 28, 1995 TAG: 9503280057
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Music review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
REBA McENTIRE drove onstage in a taxi, surrounded by fireworks, ultra-bright lights, a video and two changes of costume.
That was just the first song.
In fact, there were 14 costume changes in Saturday's sold-out show at Hampton Coliseum.
The customers were happy to part with $28 for a Reba ticket.
The artist proved the cliche that you pay for what you get. The Reba-natics got their money's worth and then some.
The show was a glitzy Vegas-type affair - three back-up singers, 10 dancers, lots of video and almost every other song was a major production.
There was an elevator that took Reba to the second level and a platform that took her above the wildly enthusiastic fans.
It is a far cry from a couple of decades ago when special effects consisted of a gal in a pinafore sittin' on a haystack and singin' her li'l heart out.
The singing part still holds. Reba's voice seems more powerful every year. The trademark Oklahoma twang still hangs in there.
As she sings, she performs. No one in the business can equal her for so dramatically acting out the song-stories she tells and sells.
McEntire, sexily short-skirted at one point, offered a medley of old favorites, later tossing in some good offerings from an album due for July release.
A quilt with the names of AIDS victims was released from the ceiling at one point - large and beautiful, a perfect backdrop for ``She Thinks His Name Is John,'' the song that calls attention to the epidemic.
For pure, straight-ahead singing, though, ``Does He Love You?'' still stands tall, especially with the aid of Linda Davis.
Another McEntire protege, handsome Rhett Akins, opened the show, a 20-minute stint that showed promise.
Next up was the well-established Tracy Byrd.
McEntire offered an exciting, outstanding show that has you wondering what in the world will she do to top this?
Reba will think of something. She does, annually. by CNB