ON THE MEDITERRANEAN — It was opening night in the theater on the new Oceania Riviera. No doubt there would be stage jitters, if not fright. The show was the music of Sir Elton John and Billy Joel and never mind that the performers wouldn't look like EJ and BJ, as long as they more or less sounded like them the audience would understand.
Audience? What audience?
We looked around the Riviera theater that was being used for the first time, and estimated it would hold about 400 people. Smallish, even by cruise line standards. With the curtain about to go up, there were maybe 50 seats taken…60 tops…including ours.
Admittedly, it was the early show, 7 p.m. Lots of people don't want to wait until eight for dinner. Early birds, you know.
Plus, we had been forewarned. Oceania, we were told, is all about food. Entertainment is far down the priority list. We lowered our expectations accordingly.
Up came the curtain. The performers did not look like Elton John nor Billy Joel. "Elton" (Eric Reid) was black and "Billy" (Ian Parmenter) was probably young enough to be the Real Thing's grandson. They didn't even sound a lot like younger versions of the masters, but they didn't have to because the show they 
put on — accompanied by two female voices (Camille Mesnard [far left] and Kelsey Youmans) and six dancers — was thoroughly entertaining.
Here's how good it was…
For the late show, after all the early-bird tummies had been filled, there was a full house. Two nights later the same cast did Now and Forever, the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and the change in material only elevated their collective talents. Two nights after that it was Flower Power, the hippy music of the '60s, before any of them was born. Another standout performance and, this time, a sellout.
In the midst of it came a version of Beatlemania, four "mop tops" was served as reasonable facsimiles of John, Paul, George and Ringo, and the music of the performers' parents (or grandparents). They did a credible job. They had the mannerisms down pat.
"John" had the same touch of arrogance, nose slightly elevated, and the raspy tinge to his voice. "Paul" crooned like McCartney on times and continued the long line of Beatles tribute 
acts of finding left-handed bass players…who knew there were that many? "George" was baby-faced (he was the youngest Beatle) and had all the subtle "dance steps", or whatever it was George Harrison did with his feet. "Ringo" was, well, Ringo except that this one lost his whiskers halfway through Sargeant Pepper.
Admittedly, we were attracted by shows that suited our tastes — we skipped a string quartet, among others.
In the end, we were attracted by the talent of the staff entertainment.
And in the end, it was very professional…and very good.
Carnival Victory
7 nights
August 26, 2012
San Juan (return): St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Maarten
Inside: $539
Cost per day: $77
www.carnival.com