Jonathan Clark makes ‘Lasting Impression’ with up-to-date material

There's no way to sort out in advance who's seen a Las Vegas impressionist before and who hasn't. So all things considered, Jonathan Clark does a fair job of appealing to everyone.

This singing impressionist happens to be British, but he follows the familiar playbook. There will be sunglasses, and wigs, and imitations of Ray Charles and Tony Bennett and Sammy Davis Jr. and Elvis. "I am to this day the most impersonated man in the world," Clark notes in his Elvis Presley guise.

These cliches come with the territory, and the territory is still the relatively small world of the live stage. Singing impressions are a rare niche of show business that doesn't translate well to mass media; the illusion dissipates beyond the energy of a live room.

So Clark can still assume it's your first time. And if it is, you are in good hands with fine singing, a high percentage of convincing voices and agreeable humor.

But if you've seen this kind of thing before, I should say now that "A Lasting Impression" also keeps up to date. You can tell he's watched TV and listened to music in the past decade. (Such a labor, I know, but it seems so many impressionists haven't.) And sometimes, you get hints that he is smarter than most of his act. (It's better than the other way around, which I've seen, and it ain't pretty.)

You can't begrudge Clark for making a solid living on the cruise ships before his bid for dry-land success at the Riviera, playing to retirees with rants about the kids today and their saggy pants and their backward baseball caps and their texting. And oh, those piercings: "They look like they fell asleep in a tackle box."

But it's delivered with a British humor -- including a Benny Hill shout-out -- and when he's not pandering, some funny lines and less-obvious bits. As Ozzy Osbourne, he declares "I hate people who take drugs ... customs officers, DEA people."

Or, an impression for just a few of us: Elvis Costello's well-intentioned but mismatched collaboration with Burt Bacharach.

A lot of contemporary subjects turn out to be low-hanging fruit that other mimics have been too slow or set in their ways to pick up on: Dave Matthews, John Mayer, the "Family Guy" characters.

And why is Clark the only entertainer in Las Vegas who realizes Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton aren't still the hot new country stars? He's game to take on Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney. And if he won't quite let go of Willie Nelson, he at least turns the stock impression into "a scratched CD."

Clark struggles with Frank Sinatra as most impressionists do but puts up a better-than-average Davis, Nat King Cole, Tom Jones and Andy Williams. He even throws in Perry Como. What might have impressed me most was his distinct version of younger crooners Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Buble, two guys it always takes a minute for me to sort out on the radio.

The impressions are aided by a nice-looking set and a three-piece band under the helm of Tim Manfredi, who worked with the late Danny Gans and understands the arrangements have to share in the mimicry as well.

Those who have never seen a Las Vegas impressionist would do well to start here. Those who have may need some more reasons why they aren't tired of this stuff. Clark supplies at least a few good ones.

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