throught summer.

In a word, excellent! Perhaps that's the best way to describe the grand finale performance of Greg Thompson's Follies.

Right from the opening moments, a nostalgic look back through slides at the past 20 years of entertainment in Southampton Princess' Empire Room -- such names as Bette Midler, Frankie Avalon, Ray Charles, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, and an endless list of other top names in entertainment -- the show is a well-rounded package of non-stop energy.

The show opened April 23 and runs through October. It's the grand finale performance because this is the last time the Follies will ever grace the stage of the Southampton Princess, Bermuda's home for the show for the last 12 years. In fact this year marks the last time any large stage show will be featured in the Empire Room as it's known today, because the room will un- dergo an extensive remodelling after the end of the season.

The show opens with all of the traditional flash and glitter of the best Las Vegas-style stage shows that so many Bermudians have come to know and enjoy over the last 12 years at the Southampton Princess.

But beautiful women and fabulous dancing are only part of this year's extravaganza.

Regular Follies patrons might expect more dancing from their experience of years gone by. What the show loses in dancing and singing, however, it gains in the hilarious antics of comedian Tony D'Andrea and the audience-wowing fire effects displays and magic tricks of Phelston Jones.

D'Andrea keeps the audience in stitches with everything from his jokes about the abundance of slot machines in Las Vegas -- "They even put them in washroom stalls; if it doesn't come up three prunes, you don't go'' -- to his impersonations of such celebrities as Jack Nicholson, Charles Bronson, and Rodney Dangerfield.

Phelston Jones was discovered performing on the streets of New York, but now brings a long list of credits to the Follies, including stage appearances in more than 100 nightclubs around the world, on television, and at the grand re-opening of New York's famous Apollo Theatre.

For Jones, magic tricks serve only as the props he uses as an excuse to bring out the performer in him, he says. The illusion is acting the part of a magician.

Also equally deserving of special mention are Adagio dance team Lesa and Paul O'Donnell, singers Kirsten Kite and Janice Mitchell, and all of the Mistinquett dancers (with a special "well done'' to Bermudians Wanda Maxwell and Bernadette Wilson).

The act that steals the show, however, is John Stone. He does a fantastic job of singing a mix of soul and Motown favourites that never lose their appeal.

We won't spoil the surprise part of his act, but anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to be in show business might want a seat near the stage.

Bermuda's own six-member Steelers Steel Band do a great job of opening up the show. Other Bermudians that help make it the quality production that it is include four backstage hands, two lighting technicians, and one sound manager.

All in all, Greg Thompson's Follies Grand Finale is a hit. It's a grand and glorious send-off to a tradition that's been a wonderful part of Bermuda for the last 12 years. It will be a sad day in October when the curtain falls for the last time.

The show has something for everyone. There's no thinking or interpretation of plot involved -- just a very relaxing way to spend an evening for little more than the simple excuse of enjoyment's sake.

Book early. You'll likely want to go back for more.

JEFF KOLLER FABULOUS ENTERTAINMENT -- Greg Thompson's Follies Grand Finale features singer John Stone and the beautiful Mistinquett dancers.