Latin eye-candy extravaganza

Ricky Martin shakes SkyDome

TORONTO -- He shook his bon bon alright. And then some.

In fact, if that was all Ricky Martin did last night as he performed before a sold-out crowd of 25,000 at SkyDome, the besotted audience probably wouldn't have minded one bit.

Instead, the Latin pop sensation went over-the-top, in terms of his well-oiled, fast-paced and loud Livin' La Vida Loca show.

The concert was one big choreographed, multi-media production number that incorporated the best lighting and sound money can buy, two large video screens and a three-sided video backdrop, several costume changes, rising and falling platforms, and two conveyer belts which moved the singer, his eight scantily clad dancers and 12-piece band around an impressive silver and chrome stage.

EX-MENUDO

Let's put it this way: Martin, who began his career as a member of Menudo and was also a soap opera actor and Broadway musical performer, certainly isn't one to do anything in a small way.

After launching his 90-minute extravaganza in Miami back in October, the 28-year-old Puerto Rican singer's live performance seems to have grown even bigger in scope.

Personally, I preferred his wild dance moves over his heartfelt stage banter, which -- at times --threatened to destroy last night's exuberant and energetic mood.

"I am going to leave my soul on stage tonight and I hope you do the same," said Martin, whose intimate confession seemed a little strange after he kicked off the show shaking his hips in a pair of snug black leather pants atop a gleaming vintage Mustang convertible that rose out of the centre of his stage to the strains of Livin' La Vida Loca.

Forget about Martin's soul, the audience cheered every time he turned his back to them and shook his bottom.

In some ways, it's a wonder the English-speaking world hadn't really heard of him before his 1999 breakthrough performance at the Grammys and his subsequent 15-times-platinum selling, self-titled, English language debut. The record has sold 1.2 million copies in Canada.

The only other time Martin's charm wore thin last night was when he moved away from his fun and infectious up-tempo "Latin sound" numbers, like Spanish Eyes/ LolaLola, Marcia Baila, Shake Your Bon Bon, La Bomba, Por Arriba, Por Abajo; Maria, and The Cup Of Life, and performed schmaltzy ballads like Private Emotion, I Am Made Of You and She's All I Ever Had.

On I Am Made Of You, Martin rose inexplicably above the audience on a silver, circular platform while during She's All I Ever Had, he sang on a couch barefoot and dressed in loose clothes.

SECOND SHOW

Martin plays a second show tonight at SkyDome, for which tickets are still available, before heading to Ottawa for a concert Tuesday. Meanwhile, those not willing to shell out the bucks to see Martin up close and personal -- tickets are $69.50 and $25.50 -- can see him next Sunday (March 26) when he's interviewed on Barbara Walters pre-Oscars TV special (7 p.m., CTV-ABC).