Stage
Showstopper
‘Record-smashing’ Rickles still a necessary comic catharsis
January 24th, 2013
Etched in entertainment lore as “Mr. Warmth”—or our favorite endearment, “The Merchant of Venom”—the 86-year-old insult comic was heralded atop a recent press release for headlining in Vegas for “a record-smashing 54th year straight year” after inking a deal to appear for two weekends (April 13-14, Sept. 28-29) at the Orleans. Read more »
Stage
A Stand-Up ‘Jackass’
The Original Pranksters of comedy try to grow up
January 24th, 2013
At the Riviera’s Starlite Theatre January 17, Steve-O kicked off his Original Pranksters Comedy Tour performance with “Who has two thumbs and loves blowjobs?” as he ripped off his shirt to show the tattoo of himself inked on his back. So. That should give you an idea of how the rest of the set went. Read more »
Stage
Sirc du Soiree
While throwing a bloody party every weekend at Evil Dead the Musical, Sirc Michaels plots his Strip takeover … and he’s only half-kidding
January 24th, 2013
Impresario of Evil Dead the Musical 4-D and a local theater presence only since 2011, he engineered a Vegas entertainment first in June when that shock-schlock show migrated from the modest Onyx Theatre in a Sahara Avenue fetish shop to Planet Hollywood. Voila!—the first successful crossover of a community theater production to the Strip. Read more »
Stage
Singer, Songwriter, Stripper
Absinthe’s Green Fairy makes her own melody
January 17th, 2013
On this weekday morning in the Burlesque Hall of Fame, Melody Sweets looks like a rocker chick with an incongruous interest. Her black-leather jacket contrasts with the feathery pink puff adorning her hair, long dangly earrings and glamorous makeup. As she flits from display to display, a graceful elfin enthusiasm reveals this fan of the art to also be a participant. Read more »
Showstopper
Coco Austin brings more than breasts to Peepshow
January 3rd, 2013
Searching for acting in Peepshow is like looking for a Monet at a paintball match. That said, adding Coco Austin and those twin planets between her neck and navel lend this sex-tease-on-steroids the sense there’s a person inside Bo Peep’s corset, not just marquee mammaries. Read more »
Stage
Vegas Loves Coco
Holly Madison’s replacement brings bigger curves, dance experience and an exhibitionist personality to Peepshow
December 20th, 2012
Coco Austin would like to set the record straight about something. And no, it’s not her butt for once. “Listen, I don’t go to the grocery store with a bikini on,” she says in her sweet, breathy chirp of a voice, which has the endearing, little-girl quality of sounding awestruck by every word that tumbles out of her mouth. “I’m not, like, completely naked walking down the Strip!” Read more »
Stage
Come On, Feel the Noise
Broadway’s Rock of Ages, undaunted by its eponymous Hollywood flop, gets ready to melt faces at the Venetian
December 13th, 2012
The Helen Hayes, nestled deep in the marquee maze of midtown Manhattan, is Broadway’s smallest theater. With just less than 600 seats, delicate 1920s molding and blood-red walls that seem to close in like velvet drapes, it looks like the perfect setting for a ragtime revue, or maybe a children’s puppet show. Read more »
Stage
Nostalgia: The Musical!
December 13th, 2012
These peans to pop culture—some already onstage, and some just twinkles in the eyes of savvy producers—would kill in Vegas. Just sayin.’ Read more »
Showstopper
Phanning the flames of showmanship at the Plaza
December 6th, 2012
Thrice-weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) in the modest Plaza Showroom now dwells The Phat Pack, the standard-setter for Vegas variety entertainment, throwback division. Featuring a tag team of talents, they couldn’t put more ya-ain’t-seen-nuttin-yet verve into pleasing audiences if they were all Al Jolson reborn. Read more »
Stage
Clown Jewel
An appreciation of Jerry Lewis—flaws and all—and a plea to see his missing movie that became an unsolved Hollywood mystery
November 15th, 2012
Anyone requiring a refresher on the career of one of America’s signature comedians can find it Nov. 18 at the Orleans Showroom, where the 86-year-old Las Vegas resident will reminisce about his life and work, aided by video clips and music, and answer audience questions. Titled An Evening with Jerry Lewis—Live from Las Vegas! (yes, with an exclamation point!), it will be taped by PBS for a special in March coinciding with his 87th birthday. Read more »
