Her name is Kelly, she lives in Boca
She danced with Barry Manilow, in the front row of his show ...
 

Yes, An Evening of Music and Passion, the road version of Barry Manilow's Las Vegas Hilton show is a tastefully over-the-top spectacle capable of inspiring a little goofy spectacle in anyone.

Not that there were likely any unconverted folks among the packed house Saturday night at the BankAtlantic Center, singing along and waving their Barry Manilow glow sticks in time to the music. Much like Kelly - the aforementioned Boca Raton resident, who the singer pulled into a slow dance during "Ready to Take a Chance Again" - the whole crowd appeared to be ready to faint from all the excitement.

Reliable excitement is what Manilow does, and as a consummate showman he excelled Saturday by injecting just enough surprises - a piano that rose on hydraulics, a sweet recording of Manilow's grandfather's voice encouraging young Barry to sing at a 10-cent recording booth in New York - into the wonderfully expected comfort food that is his music.

From the big entrance to "It's a Miracle" to the gorgeously grand "I Write the Songs," Manilow gave the fans what they wanted. And I'm fairly sure that at that moment, they would have elected him president if he'd asked. Or Grand Poobah. It wouldn't have mattered.

Among the highlights:

• A Manhattan Transfer-esque scat rendition of Rossini's "William Tell Overture" performed with his backup singers.
• The story of his grandfather giving him a standing ovation during his Carnegie Hall debut, interspersed with the rousing "I Made It Through the Rain" (and if that didn't bring a tear to your eyes, you have no tear ducts).
• The romantic "Weekend in New England," which he referred to as the "main course" after the "foreplay" of "Ready to Take a Chance" (cheeky!).

Manilow was in impressively strong voice last night and danced around, hoisted himself onto the piano like Michelle Pfeiffer in The Fabulous Baker Boys and did a lot of grand arm flourishes. He's such a mixture of razzle-dazzle and undisputed musical chops.