Las Vegas Shows Reviews

By Devon Brooke Clasen

Only in Las Vegas might one find a gathering of politicians, celebrities, icons and even puppets together on one stage…in this case, all these personalities are voiced by a lone performer. Popular comedian and “MadTV” alum Frank Caliendo headlines at the Monte Carlo, presenting his much celebrated and beloved impressions of stars and celebs including John Madden, Dr. Phil, George W. Bush and Al Pacino. Boasting some of the Strip’s most comfortable accommodations, including legroom aplenty, the Lance Burton Theatre houses the impressionist’s show from Thursday through Saturday at 9:30 p.m., as well as Sunday and Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Entering the theatre, guests may purchase cocktails from a handsome bar just outside the showroom. Once the audience is settled in the grand theatre, a live band performs rock classics and campy TV theme songs, warming up the eager audience. The band also occasionally accompanies Caliendo during the show. Next, comedian George Cantor provides the opening act prior to Caliendo’s anticipated appearance.

Inaugurating the show with some political parodies, Caliendo flawlessly feigns Bill Clinton’s bawdy banter with a smooth southern drawl and playfully exaggerates Dubya’s comically confused malapropisms. The two presidents take to the mike as Caliendo croons “I’m Too Sexy” as Clinton and offers an even sillier rendition of “Rubber Ducky” as Bush. Attendees may even be treated to Caliendo’s in-the-works impressions, including a surprisingly accurate proto-Obama.

Caliendo’s sporty send-ups include Taco Bell-peddling “knucklehead” Charles Barkley and fan-favorite John Madden, complete with curiously frequent references to Brett Favre. The comedian skillfully satirizes an obviously smitten Madden, who incorporates Favre into any and every discussion (his favorite number is “Favre thousand, Favre hundred, Favre-ty Favre”).

Some personalities need only be identified with a single sound or slogan, such as Caliendo’s caricature of Dick Cheney, rendered with a contemptible scowl and vulture-like shriek, or b-baller Barkley, who repetitively proclaims this and that to be “turr-ible”. Other impressions require a more physical approach, such as Caliendo’s conception of an intensely animated Al Pacino or his boisterous lampooning of Robin Williams.

At one point, Caliendo reclines on the stage, raises a bare hand to perform as a Kermit hand puppet (sans puppet) and, to his credit, never experiences a lull in laughter from the audience. Later, drawing upon a box of props a la Carrot Top, Caliendo integrates wigs and headpieces into his act, even donning a Snuggie to transform into Yoda or a particularly hilarious Dr. Phil.

Elder attendees will appreciate Caliendo’s spoofs of old timers Jonathan Winters, Andy Rooney and Ted Knight, while impersonations of Chris Rock, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jay Leno, Forrest Gump, Mike Tyson, Robert DeNiro, Jerry Seinfeld, Michael “Kramer” Richards, James Gandolfini, William Shatner, Christopher Walken, Chris Farley, Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler can be enjoyed by young and old alike.

Concluding the show, Caliendo enlists Cantor’s help in a quick-draw performance, rapidly shifting from one character to another in an impressive, high energy grand finale. Following the performance, attendees may meet Caliendo in the lobby for photos and autographs, as well as purchasing the entertainer’s merchandise.

Caliendo’s masterful delivery of topical, political and pop cultural humor as well as his spot-on satires of many of today’s personalities make for a side-splitting show not to be missed!

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By DW Grant

Follow Magician Rick Thomas to the edge of his dreams just for the thrill of it. Its more fun than just another magic show. It’s a trip into a world of imagination and the very art of dreaming itself.

First there are white 500 pound tigers roaring across the stage, birds appearing as singles and doubling into pairs before your eyes, napkins turning into birds, and girls turning into tigers. It’s a classic show full of disappearing motorcycles, beautiful women being levitated and sawn in half, old silver ring tricks, and even some great card tricks. But wait, there’s more!

Suddenly the music comes up and Rick is ballroom dancing with his assistants. Wait, I thought Rick Thomas was just a magician? Well, why not dance since his mother and father spent their lives as dancers and Ballroom dance judges? Rick started his dance career at 5 and was twice crowned US Junior Ball Room champion. It’s a strange mix of two worlds, but somehow it works with the magic, like when he plops a blond wig on a microphone stand, levitates it, and waltzes ‘her’ around his dance floor.

Then he brings children into his dream world and on to the stage. A boy levitates a female assistance he has just hypnotized, and then is offered a DVD teaching him how to make is parents disappear. A little girl flies a table around the stage and then is told “The future belongs to those who believe in the strength of dreams.” Rick gives her a small round box to store the magic and her dreams in.

Oh yes, and don’t miss Rick’s “Amazing Shrinking Tiger” trick. It’s how magic should be done.

The show lasts more than a hour but really, like most great adventures, it’s over too soon. Rick tells me after the show, while greeting his guests, “The audience has to find out who I am in only an hour.” I think he accomplished that trick. Rick Thomas is a charming, classic and imaginative magician offering an original program well worth the time and the moderate price of admission demanded by the Hotel. His show is worthy of any Las Vegas theater and one you may not soon forget, especially in your dreams.

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By Erika Bayer-Polak

It may not seem likely that a show which features three blue, mute men can provide not only live music, skillful comedy, more than a few tidbits of interesting information, and social commentary regarding contemporary issues, but it is true, and can be found in the Blue Man Group at The Venetian.

The show begins once you enter the theater, with the stylishly cool atmosphere and the sardonic yet humorous disclaimers. Before the Blue Men come out, the audience is instructed to follow a few verbal cues to get everyone in an appropriate state of mind. And, if you happen to be one of the rather late arrivals, you may end up blushing a bit.

One may well marvel at the visual and auditory aspects of the show. On top of that, the Blue Men are in fact talented percussionists and physical comedians. While there are plenty of shows that tout themselves as being family-friendly on the Strip, this is a rare gem that nearly anybody could enjoy, even if they are foreign-speaking tourists, seeing that the show is almost exclusively nonverbal.

The show is pure fun, marshmallows are made into art, messiness ensues – the first several rows are given ponchos to prevent their clothing from being splattered with paint, pudding or other such muddle – PVC tubes are turned into musical instruments, the chewing of cereal even becomes a three-part harmony. Audience participation is a necessity with such a performance, while only a couple of audience members are brought onto the stage, all audience members become involved at one point or another.

It proves difficult to describe a show with performers who don’t speak, yet at the same time, it’s easier than summarizing a tedious plot. Expect a lot of props, a moving sea of paper, curious blue men who may or may not be aliens, and sit back and enjoy, surely, you will have fun.

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By Sarah Harris

“Defending The Caveman” is by far one of the funniest shows on the Las Vegas Strip. The fun starts even before the show! Stroll on into the showroom and you’ll be greeted by a caveman and a cavewoman, who will pose for pictures with you. “Defending the Caveman,” a one-man show performed by Kevin Burke, is about the inherent differences between the sexes and how we relate to one another. The show was conceived and written by comedian Rob Becker and has been performed across the country and is now being performed across the world. We’re lucky to have it here in Vegas permanently. “Defending the Caveman” holds the record for the longest running solo show on Broadway.

According to Burke, there are so many basic and primitive differences between men and women that we speak different languages, have different customs, and at times live in different worlds. Separate worlds in fact. And there’s a physical reason. While women have brains that allow us to multi-task – it’s no joke – our corpus callosums works differently. While messages go back and forth between both sides of our brains, this doesn’t occur as much in the brains of men. As a result, men can only focus on one thing at a time.

Kevin Burke takes us back to cavemen times when we had more defined roles. Men were the hunters and women were the gatherers. As a result, we had different jobs and purposes. While modern society has mixed things up a bit in our roles, we relate to each other differently. We relate to each other (men to women, women to men) in what we know and how we’d like the other person to relate to us. This is where the confusion comes in, as well as the comedy in this hilarious show. The first thing that women do when they get together, is compliment each other on how we look. Men, in Burke’s book, insult their friends upon getting together as terms of endearment. The mistake that most couples make in today’s world is thinking that when we marry that we form one gender, instead of facing the inevitable – that there are two.

Burke’s analogy of the Caveman trying to tell us something about men and women is brilliant and quite true. The way he conveys it is truly funny and entertaining. He invites us to take a look at children. Women when they’re little girls will play house, which consists of pretending to do chores. Young girls, he also observes, enjoy playing jump rope. It doesn’t occur to a girl to tie someone up with that rope.

“Defending the Caveman” lets us laugh at ourselves about the ways men and women fight, and ultimately love each other. Do yourself a favor – whether you’re visiting Las Vegas or if you live here – go see “Defending the Caveman” at Excalibur. It’s a gem of a show.

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By Denise Almas

“The Lion King”

Lumbering down the aisles towards the stage, life-size puppets of elephants and rhinoceroses gather with giraffes and gazelles to greet Simba, the future Lion King of Pride Rock. With the renewal of life, the jungle is alive with hope as King Mufasa’s son is presented to the animals.

“The Lion King” is truly a unique addition to Las Vegas. By bringing this award winning show to a town that is not always “kid friendly,” Disney has given visitors and locals alike an opportunity for a truly unforgettable night with the entire family. It is also an excellent choice for a romantic night out.

As the story progresses, we see young Simba fall into trouble as his evil Uncle, Scar, would like to be king. Scar readily admits that he is no physical match to Simba’s father, Mufasa; however, he insists that he got the brains in the family and should be the rightful king. Unfortunately for Scar, Simba’s birth meant that he would never have the opportunity. So, Scar leads the playful young Simba into danger. While Simba is rescued by his father from a stampede, Mufasa is not so lucky. After convincing the young lion that his father’s death is his fault, Scar urges Simba to run away.

Predictably, Scar becomes king and Pride Rock begins to fall apart. In the midst of this darkness, Simba’s wanderings with some new friends allow him to forget his troubles, as well as lose himself, for a while. As Simba grew, he became restless and tired of wandering. When his childhood friend Nala, the lioness to whom he was betrothed, finds him and reminds him of who he is, Simba begins to find what he lost – himself.

Like all coming of age stories, there is a moment in which a child becomes an adult and is ready to take his place in the world. After much reflection, Simba returns to Pride Rock, confronts his past, and reclaims his thrown.

Though most people are familiar with Disney’s “The Lion King,” the stage version is both breathtaking and wondrous. This simple coming of age story is transformed into a spectacular event through vibrant costumes, puppetry, dancing, and music. The blending of African rhythms with music created by Elton John and Tim Rice makes this production truly fabulous.

This show is definitely suitable for all ages and, most remarkably, this production does an excellent job of conveying themes such as life and death, as well as good versus evil, without scaring the children. Instead, younger children will be amazed at the elephants walking down the aisle next to them and delighted by the music and dancing. As my four-year-old daughter commented with delight, “The Lion King is wonderful!” I could not agree more.

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By Guy Chapman

Nestled deep within the outskirts of the Venetian Hotel and Casino is a chance to meet and mingle with some of the greatest celebrities and historical figures of our time. It doesn’t matter if they are still alive or not, or even if they’re from this century. They’ll be waiting for eager visitors to hang around them, or even snap as many playful photos as one wants with them, and they won’t even say a word. Of course, the fact that these “celebrities” are made from wax could have something to do with all of this.

Madame Tussauds of Las Vegas is the Venetian’s official branch of the venerable and revered wax museum. From the moment visitors walk in, they are given the full star treatment, complete with a red carpet appearance of a statuette of Joan Rivers and a full paparazzi ready to “snap photos” of their visitors. And that’s before the admission ticket is even scanned.

The attraction starts with a selection of some of the best and brightest from television, films, politics, sports, and media, each with sections highlighting these stars and important figures from various time periods, and there are a number of celebrities in attendance. Among the number of figures present range from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Britney Spears, Evel Knievel, Jessica Simpson, Michael Jackson, Paul Newman, Michael Jordan, and President Obama.

The attention to detail is remarkable and somewhat jarring in its realism. There are times that a quick glance can surprise visitors into thinking that there is another actual person standing right next to them, and the sense of a physical presence is remarkable. The sculptors of these figures capture every facet of a personality in the most meticulous of detail.

But this isn’t the standard museum experience where one is expected to look but not touch. The museum encourages visitors to “play” with the sculptures for photo opportunities. This includes the chance to lie in bed with Hugh Hefner, shooting hoops with Shaq, to having Simon Cowell critique a music performance during karaoke. And for the ladies, one can complete their fantasy of marrying George Clooney at the altar, complete with putting on a wedding dress. The immersion in the experience brings the fun of the museum’s experience to a whole new level.

Speaking of a “whole new level”, braver visiting souls have a chance to visit the “Scream Spook Show”. Once going down the stairs and past an agile looking Spider-Man sculpture, guests can participate in this interactive horror tour. This section substitutes the wax sculptures for jumps and scares, as a group of visitors must brave a twisting maze of fast moving ghouls, dark corridors, and flashing light effects. For those guests looking for a more casual less intense experience, never fear: This section of the museum is completely optional.

Among the highlights of the tour includes an entire section devoted to the names and faces of Las Vegas who has built the reputation of the city as one of the greatest entertainment capitals of the world, complete with a sculpture of Mayor Oscar Goodman greeting all newcomers. Visitors can encounter, and play with The Rat Pack, Liberace, Wayne Newton, Elton John, Elvis, and many others.

The overall tour will keep delighted guests busy with photo opportunities and celebrity encounters unlike what can be found anywhere else. As visitors turn each corner, they will never know who they may run into next, so keep that camera ready!

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By DW Grant

Donny and Marie, HOT? Oh, yes, and hand me a tissue to wipe my brow.

Donny and Marie Osmond are sizzling at the 750 seat Flamingo Showroom on the Las Vegas strip. They are still incredibly energetic and entertaining at ages 49 and 51, even after more than 5 decades of stage performances all over the world, on TV, in movies, and on Broadway. Despite premium ticket pricing and killer economic times they are playing to full houses, and really giving their all for their screaming teen-like forty to fiftyish baby-boomer fans.

The show is amazing and wonderfully exhausting. Nutra-Marie walks out on stage appearing more svelte that a mother of eight ever should look, and all over the room men gulp the word “wow,” under their breaths. Ageless Donny walks out and women become 12 or 13 again, jumping from their seats to stretch out their hands and scream for his touch. Somehow after all these years they’ve gone from a cute brother and sister act to sexy and sazzy sex symbols. Both Donnie and Marie stir up the madness further by singing in the audience and walking on tables to touch and torture their D&Maniacs.

We can’t help remember who they were before this show because forever behind them play video reminders of their journey. We see pictures of 4 year old Marie sitting on Uncle Andy’s lap, performing with almost every star of the last 5 decades, and her wilting performance on “Dancing With The Stars.” We also see 5 year old Donny dueting with Uncle Andy, rocking with his brothers to hit record after hit record, his Dreamcoat years on Broadway, wearing long hair and Elvis-like costumes, winking at screaming teens, and promoting his fifty-first and latest album.

Not that younger people wouldn’t enjoy the show, it’s a great clean family experience. But maybe being able to understand the lyrics and watching older folks swoon like ‘tweens would put them off just a bit. Let’s rate it “E-13″ for “Everyone, but minors should have a driver’s license so they can transport their intoxicated parents home.”

After opening with Donny, Marie solos first singing her greatest hit “Paper Roses,” of course. Next she goes step for step with backup dancers who are young enough to be her grandchildren, and they have to keep up with her. She dances, sings, jokes and teases the audience and works her way through Boogie-Woogie, show tunes, and edgy pop rock numbers. Her most surprising offering, however, is the introduction of the newest love of her life, Opera. Marie is amazing again and beautiful in voice and style.

Donny’s solo set is pure charisma and a joyous outpouring of zesty showmanship. Donny is well trained and properly voiced in every song. He never “croons,” but still delivers every familiar tune with deep affection and feeling. His adoring audience responds in kind. After “Puppy Love,” “Soldier of Love,” and “Any Dream Will Do” Donny gets to break out and whack the audience with a little Acid Osmond-Rock. “Crazy Horses” slams and spins out over the edge of conservative sanity and really delivers the fun, if not the absurdity of harder rock songs.

When Donny and Marie come back together they joke and tease and poke at each other like brothers and sisters, and compete against each other in a “Westside Story” like dance competition that even takes their breath away. Here the question is answered that everyone is dying to ask. Yes, Donny is thinking about competing on “Dancing With The Stars,” and the crowd goes wild.

The show literally ends with a bang as party string is shot out over the showroom and the audience screams for more. Of course they get their encore, and the sizzle continues in the hearts of the D&Maniacs as they pour out the showroom door.

“What Las Vegas has been missing is a true variety show that conveys the real essence of America and the country’s love of homegrown talent,” said the late Danny Gans, winner of numerous “Entertainer of the Year” accolades, and producer of this show. “When you couple that element with the current Las Vegas entertainment landscape, we feel Donny and Marie provide the perfect combination and something no one else is making available.”

Donnie and Marie perform at 7:30pm Tuesday through Saturday at the Flamingo Hotel.

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By: Nicole Acevedo

When you say “Art”, many will think of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”, Michelangelo’s “Sistine Chapel”, or even The Golden Gate Bridge, but almost no one will ever think of ventriloquism. Except for maybe one man, 8 puppets, an auditorium full of people 5 nights a week on the Las Vegas Strip, and millions of American viewers who voted Terry Fator the winner of the 2007 America’s Got Talent show on NBC. Art is not only talent it is imaginative and fun, soulful and straight from the heart. It is exactly what Fator delivers night after night to an audience echoing shouts of laughter and cheer.

Fator immediately impresses the audience with an impersonation of the great Etta James singing “At Last”, by his puppet Emma. Following Emma came one of his most popular puppets, Winston The Impersonating Turtle. Winston undoubtedly wins audiences over with his humorous charm along with impersonations of Maroon 5 singing “This Love” and the Bee Gees singing “Stayin’ Alive”.

This is not an ordinary hand puppet show for the kids. Fator’s show is unique in his ability to accurately impersonate and sing with a wide vocal range of popular artists and hit songs using ventriloquism. His art is so polished that it is easy to forget that he is doing all the voices. There were long periods where I would find myself being so carried away by the chemistry between Fator and the puppets that I forgot the puppets were not real, like a child watching Sesame Street believing that the puppets are really talking and interacting with other people.

Soon after each puppet is introduced in the segment there is a sense that each one undoubtedly has its own unique personality, completely separate from Fator. Even though Fator is demonstrably handling the puppets himself and singing and talking for them, his transitions between voices are so smooth and his interaction with them so natural, that the whole performance seems effortless and “real”. One such puppet is Maynard Tompkins the Elvis Impersonator.

Others have personalities all their own. Maynard is shy in front of audiences and has a speech impediment so he tends to stutter. Another example is the heavy metal puppet, Dougie, with long hair, torn jeans and a black AC/DC shirt. Also known as “the annoying neighbor”, Dougie rocks audiences by singing Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, but when Terry Fator tries to rock audiences with Z.Z. Top, Dougie falls asleep on Terry’s shoulder. Dougie gets the crowd going again with the whole audience singing along to “Sweet Home Alabama”.

Accompanied by an amazing live band playing many more hits than I was able to mention, Terry Fator has so many unique characters, each one charming and entertaining audience members with their humor and uncanny impersonations of classic hit songs. Even Fator himself does a hysterical impersonation of Michael Jackson followed by a side-splittingly funny dialogue and duet with Walter The Country Man. Don’t let the mere idea of a ventriloquism show fool you. This is more than ventriloquism, but an artful performance of humor, creativity, and fun. Fator is a one-man show of a multitude of voices and talents as he fills the night with non-stop laughter!

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by Denise Almas

Photo Credit: Denise Truscello

Scantily clad, the performers of Planet Hollywood”s Peepshow bring high energy to an array of sexual fantasies. At the start of the show, we see a short video about a young woman who comes home to a dog and an empty house. As she falls to sleep, she is enveloped by the sexual fantasies of her dreams and her quest to find a man.

The cast, currently led by former Spice Girl Mel B and Kelly Monaco, bring these fantasies alive through dance and song. Throughout the show, the performers are careful not to bare it all. Instead, they attempt to tease audience members by showing just enough flesh to augment the fantasies they are portraying.

Mel B

Kelly Monaco

It is clear that this show is designed for both men and women. Prior to the show starting, Mel B reassures the audience that there is plenty of flesh for both everyone. Though the performers are primarily female, there are several men who sing and dance for the delight of the women of the audience. Their role is not just to entertain the women, but to allow the young woman to transform herself from a state of near innocence to learning that being naughty can be fun.

As the story progresses, we watch the young woman gradually lose her clothes along with her inhibitions. She is the true tease of the show, as the audience awaits her transformation from nice to naughty. Throughout her transformation, she is witness to sexual fantasies such as “Three Men in a Tub” and “The Big Bad Wolf.” Because of the show”s quick pace, nearly every possible fantasy is explored, giving this show wide range appeal. There is truly something for everyone, including bachelors, bachelorettes, desperate housewives, and couples that simply want to spice up their night.

Highlights abound! First, the vocalists have tremendous talent. It is clear that Mel B is still an outstanding singer and the other singers in the show are equally talented. The dancers are also quite skilled. The dance routines are demanding and complex; tremendous physical strength and talent are an absolute necessity for these performers. Also, the choreography is well matched to the fantasies being portrayed and these dancers do not miss a beat.

Photo Credit: John Ganun

At the end of the show, Mel B”s enthusiasm is boundless as she urges the audience to “go home and get laid!” If you are interested in a romp Sin City style, this is certainly the show to see. So, get your “peeps” and enjoy the show.

Photo Credit: John Ganun

Photo Credit: John Ganun

• PeepShow Las Vegas Tickets

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by Sara Steinberg

Impressionist, singer and entertainer Gordie Brown takes you on a wild ride, in his show “Gordie Brown Live” at the Golden Nugget, and you won’t want to get off. Most of the show is made up of songs heralded by famous musicians and spoofed by this amazing talent. In addition to his phenomenal mimicry, Gordie replaces the song lyrics with his own and you can’t stop laughing. Brown is backed by a talented band.

He nails Randy Travis singing without moving his lips, jumps around the stage as an aging Mick Jagger, shows us what an oversexed Tom Jones looks like and hurts himself in order to reach the high notes as Joe Cocker. We hear Bruce Springsteen’s take on Internet Dating, Barenaked Ladies ordering a meal with Chris Isaac finding a roach in his soup. Brown moves seamlessly from performer to performer, poking fun at the idiosyncrasies that set each one apart. One of the highlights of the show is of Sean Connery, Ray Romano, Nicolas Cage, John Travolta, Christopher Walken and Chris Rock all auditioning for the role of Batman.

Brown doesn’t let the politicians off the hook either. During a hilarious spoof between Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, who has trouble reading and needs “Hooked On Phonics,” and George Bush who lacks brain cells, Gordie Brown’s genius lets loose. The result of his clever and quick mind is humorthat is a delight to watch. His impersonation of our new president, Barack Obama, talking with his hands is dead-on. If Jesse Jackson had become our first black President, he’d still be giving his inaugural speech. We also get to see what it would’ve been like if Bill Cosby had been elected. And the best part is – none of it is offensive as it’s done in great fun.

Then it’s back to the music. Brown’s take on the Rat Pack include a cross-eyed Sammy Davis Jr. singing “Mr. Bojangles” and Frank Sinatra crooning “I’ll Do It My Way.” Impersonations of Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn are hilarious. Louis Armstrong’s “It’s a Wonderful World” sung by Gordie is flat-out amazing.

This talented performer shows us what it would’ve been like if Coldplay had written the soundtrack to “Brokeback Mountain.” We see how Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart” could morph into the Barney theme song, and instead of Willie Nelson singing “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before,” it’s much funnier when he replaces the lyrics with “To All The Plants I’ve Smoked Before.” Imagine Usher as a theater usher, Vanilla Ice as a white rapper and a white dancer, and Neil Young – not so young, but practically on his deathbed. Vegas Icon Wayne Newton is made fun of for building a $30 million fence for his penguins who can’t fly.

Brown has received rave reviews by both critics and audiences alike and you’ll see why. This is one of the best shows in Las Vegas which you won’t want to miss. Gordie Brown can be seen at the Golden Nugget every Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

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