Nov. 21--ALL INDICATIONS are that it's not going to be a particularly jolly Yuletide season this year in Atlantic City -- or anywhere else for that matter, thanks to the tanked economy. But the folks at Tropicana Casino and Resort are certainly doing their part to bring some Christmas cheer to the Great Wood Way.

The casino has turned the restaurant area of The Quarter -- its Havana-in-the-'50s-themed retail, dining and entertainment complex -- into a winter wonderland, complete with gigantic Christmas tree and eye-popping light and music display. And the Trop's 2,000-seat theater is hosting its annual holiday revusical, "Sounds of the Season."

Running through Dec. 20, "Sounds of the Season" is pretty much what we've come to expect from Tropicana: A breezy, simply (read: cheaply) staged affair that knows its audience and gives it exactly what it wants. In this case, that would be 65 minutes of Christmas and seasonal songs that trend mostly toward the secular rather than the sacred.

For those familiar with recent Christmas pageants at the Trop staged by French Canadian impresario Mario Bazinet, the difference this year will be apparent in the show's opening minutes, during which the entire cast appears.

In the past, the ensemble has numbered between 15 and 20 dancers as well as four featured vocalists. This time out, there are nine female and two male dancers, and only three singers.

Not that it really matters, as the performers -- all veterans of other Tropicana production shows -- turn in typically fine work.

Leading the trio is Nancy Fortin, who at this point has been in so many Trop presentations she qualifies as the closest thing Atlantic City has to a resident performer.

Fortin's versatile vocal chords bring life to every tune she delivers. She is particularly effective on her moving reading of "Ave Maria" and on "I'll Be Home for Christmas." The latter, incidentally, boasts a schizo arrangement that starts the song in its traditional ballad format, then turns it into an upbeat dance number complete with wah-wah guitar and thumping bass drum.

Actually, a lot of material is presented in unusual ways, including "Joy to the World," which features a contemporary vocal arrangement (done by Fortin, Martin Lacasse and Yoland Sirard) over a percussion-intensive groove.

Choreography plays a large role in "Sounds of the Season" as well, as the dance team runs through various pleasing, if typical, routines highlighted by the crowd-pleasing kick line during the segment saluting Radio City's famed Rockettes.

None of this is great art, or bound to leave a lasting impression on those who see it. But it certainly succeeds as wholly enjoyable, if lightweight, fare designed to get folks in an appropriate holiday mood, and as a bit of a brightener for what promises to be a relatively grim holiday season in Atlantic City.

Tropicana, Boardwalk at Brighton Avenue, 8 p.m. Monday, 3:30 and 8 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 p.m. Saturday, $25, 800-736-1420, www.ticketmaster.com.

Yes man

Yes, the 40-year-old British progressive-rock band, had to cancel its summertime anniversary tour because of the serious respiratory problems plaguing choirboy-voiced lead singer Jon Anderson.

Anderson still isn't ready to go, but that didn't keep core band members Chris Squire (bass) Steve Howe (guitar) and Alan White (drums) from mounting a fall tour that tonight brings Yes to Borgata.

Subbing for Anderson is Benoit David of the Montreal-based Yes tribute band, Close to the Edge. If you doubt anyone can duplicate Anderson's gossamer vocal style, check out a clip of Benoit at www.youtube.com/

watch?v=c3BFuxBayxg.

Rounding out the 2008 version of the band is keyboardist Oliver Wakeman, whose dad, Rick, has been an on-and-off member of the group since the early '70s.

Borgata, One Borgata Way, 8 tonight, $95, $75 and $65, 866-900-4849, www.theborgata.com.

Chuck Darrow has covered Atlantic City and the casino industry for more than 20 years. Read his blog at

>http://go.philly.com/casinotes. Or e-mail him at darrowc@phillynews.com.

-----

To see more of the Philadelphia Daily News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.philly.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, Philadelphia Daily News

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.