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.

“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.

“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.

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

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.

At first glance Penn & Teller’s show might seem the anti-Vegas Las Vegas show. With no fancy props, bedazzled showgirls or big-screen video embellishments, the pair cut to the heart of smoke, mirrors and illusions, yet still manage to leave audiences amazed and mystified by their stripped down, inside-out magic, as well as thoroughly amused by the accompanying sidebar antics. 30 years performing throughout the world uniquely prepared these magician/comic/entertainers for their sit-down engagement at The Rio, now in its 5th year (shows 9pm nightly Sat-Wed)

Ticket holders may be seated up to an hour in advance to enjoy the jazzy rhythms of the Mike Jones Duo, a virtual mini-show in itself. Throughout the set, Jones invites audience members up on stage to “look at a box and sign an envelope” – both props to be used later in the show. Just how they are used we won’t give away here. Not that it’s certain Penn & Teller would even mind. After all, their stock and trade, celebrated throughout the show, is all about giving away the secrets – of magicians, mystics and assorted charlatans. As world renowned authors, Broadway and film performers, and stars of their own TV show and specials, Penn’s in–your-face personality along with Teller’s mime-savant persona are well-known in most circles.

In terms of upholding their reputations, the two do not disappoint here at The Rio. Employing a variety of standard magic bits from a simple Cups & Balls
illusion to the more dramatic Sawing a Lady in Halves, Penn & Teller manage to inject their unique take and unexpected punchline every time. Other parts of the act incorporate totally unusual devices, such as an Airport Metal Detector. And Penn’s romantic fire-eating interlude is in a category all its own, as is his nail-biting nail gun routine. Teller, despite his trademark staunch silence, shines every bit as brightly in many acts highlighting his deft sleight of hand skills.

A double-barreled finale fittingly rounds out this evening of magic, mirth and mayhem. Both Penn and Teller have honed their individual styles and abilities of audience interaction to perfection, thus making this anti-Vegas show perhaps the ultimate Vegas experience by creating an intimate and lasting connection with the audience.

“Barbra & Frank, The Concert That Never Was…” at the Riviera Hotel & Casino is pure Vegas entertainment. Imagine if you will, an evening with two of the greatest musical icons of the 20th Century – Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra, together on the same stage. It never happened. It never could have happened. But Sharon Owens and Sebastian Anzaldo will make you feel as if it did, with you
right there in the audience. Frankie starts the night off with the classic “I’ve Got A Crush On You.”

Anzaldo is dapper and debonair as Sinatra and quickly pulls you into the illusion. He’s got Frankie down. The voice and the physicality is unmistakably Sinatra. Owens’ Streisand has all the mannerisms of the real Streisand – the long nails, the hair. But it’s when she opens her mouth that she becomes Barbra. Her nasally speaking voice is true to character. She delivers the songs like a pro.

The relationship between these two is magic. Sinatra is cool and aloof, wanting to do his thing, while Streisand doesn’t let him get away with anything and takes great pleasure in pestering him, ribbing him and delivering the delicious personality she’s famous for.

Streisand wants in on the act and Sinatra tries to snub her, saying he only records alone. That doesn’t stop our stubborn and sassy Babs, who makes sure that she’s heard. Owens butts right in with “Luck Be A Lady” which beautifully showcases her skill. She then belts out some show stoppers, while a long video sequence from “Funny Girl” plays. Songs include “Second Hand Rose,” “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “Woman In Love” You forget that the woman onstage isn’t Barbra Streisand. The musical numbers include ‘60’s Broadway and ‘70’s Disco, including “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” which Streisand performed with Donna Summer.

Before doing some duets with Barbra, Sinatra gives us “I’ve Got The World On A String,” “Strangers In The Night,” “Come Fly With Me,” “My Way” and “That’s Life.” Then the duets begin. Both of them singing “It Was A Very Good Year” while a montage showed the early years of Sinatra’s life was powerful and poignant. While the montage continues, Owens sings “Memories.” The following duet of “The Way We Were” is also memorable.

In between their witty and comedic bantering, Streisand and Sinatra entertain us with “The Way You Were,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” “All Of Me and “Witchcraft.” The show ends with some more beautiful duets: “I Love You,” “When Somebody Knows You,” “Happy Days Are Here Again (Get Happy”) and“Somewhere (There’s A Place For Us).” With the accompaniment of pianist Joey Singer, you can’t go wrong with “Barbra & Frank, The Concert That Never Was…” No matter what your age, If you’re a fan of this era – this is a show you won’t want to miss. With two strong personalities onstage, it shouldn’t come as any surprise when they argue about who will close the show. You will want to know. So, come on down to the Riviera and find out.

With the Credit Crunch/ Down Turn/ Recession (call it what you will) slowly draining away everyones hard earned cash as well as their morale and patience one wonders if the big fish on The Strip are getting at all nervous. At around $190 Dollars a ticket those members of the public both brave and rich enough to be visiting Sin-City must be having second thoughts about venturing into the MGM, The Mirage or the soon to be open Las Vegas CityCenter. But this is the Land of Opportunity and where some shows may be experiencing a down turn in their ticket sales others may be experiencing a joyful increase in their bank balance. X-Burlesque may still be going and the Brat Pack may allegedly be back but the Stratosphere Hotel and casino is packing their audience in thanks to a coven of so called gorgeous looking topless vampire love angels who passionately perform a titilating and roller coaster ride of a show called BITE.

These beautiful vampirish femm-fetales are a lovable and sexy looking mixture of Daisy Dukes and Victoria beckham lookalikes who all answer to such names as Tush or Pain. Naturally the leader of the coven is a beautiful and sexy adonis of man who with his false fangs and light blue contact lenses turns out to be the Vampire King. A vampire king that is who strikes a not so surprisingly similar look to that of the James Bond character DR-Death from the movie Live and Let Die. Throw in some magic coffins that make women disappear, a large black grand piano that helps the vampire ladies appear and some rather predictable rock tunes (Born to be Wild) and you have an erotic but decently priced show that caters to an audience who are very comfortably accomodated in an excellent cocktail lounge.

The girls though beautiful and very sexy also contrast well with each other while the show is further complimented by an excellent ariel act not to mention a lead vocalist with the perfect voice for such a show. One could however be forgiven that the false fangs and rock music is just an excuse for the ladies to show off their best assets, but as the evening progresses so does the action.

The creators of BITE I think should be congratulated for choosing the right kind of theme that would compliment a group of Artists like this, however one bizarre moment occurs when towards the end of the night the all girl coven suddenly burst into their own vampire ballet. This puzzled the audience as for most of the night the girls seemed to be performing dance that was more exotic than balletic. Eventually however the conclusion emerges in the guise of the adonis Vampire King finally finding his erotic Vampire Queen.

It wasn’t until I saw the 1980’s movie The-Howling did I finally appreciate the hotness of the topless vampire. Being seduced by a young and nubile female vampire coven I thought must be the ultimate fantasy for men (and women) who wish to grow old disgracefully. And, it must also be the ultimate secret weapon that downtown Las Vegas can deploy against the big boys in up town Sin-City.

While Bite is only a small topless revue it does possess (other than heart, passion and beautiful women) seats at affordable prices And for this you get comfort, good service and excellent entertainment.

Fresh and mature is the oxymoron that best describes Emmy award winning comedian Dana Carvey. This comic who enjoyed a seven year run on Saturday Night Live and may best be known for his portrayal of “Garth” in Wayne’s World, has matured with his comedy, bringing wisdom to his stand-up performance that attracts a diverse crowd. Entertaining young adults to senior citizens, Carvey delivers laughter on almost every subject, drawing inspiration from current events as well as his own life.

Before entering the stage, the audience giggles at a short video of Carvey’s earlier work, which includes the Church Lady, Hans of Hans and Franz, as well as his impressions of George Bush, Sr.

The Carvey of “Then” is still much a part of Carvey today, as he still enjoys impersonating Bush Sr., as well as Bush Jr., even making himself giggle “What a freak show that was!,” Carvey exclaims about the most recent Bush Administration. Of course, he then quipped that the current Congressional leadership is a “freak show” as well, and he admits he is not quite sure what to make of Obama, a President who can give a ten-minute answer to a single question.

Carvey’s appeal however is not in his ability to portray Presidents, but rather in his ability to keep his material fresh and up-to-date. Unlike many comedians, Carvey has evolved with his art and allows his maturity into his act, making his comedy more real and accessible as he discusses the trials and tribulations of having teen age children, as well as the realization of the passing of time when he received his AARP card. Glimpses into Carvey’s personal life makes his show more enjoyable and entertaining. The older crowd can relate to having teen children who have suddenly decided that their parents know nothing. The younger crowd can remember thinking that their parents knew nothing when they were in high school. Is this really fresh Absolutely. Carvey is keenly aware of current events and this shines through as he touches on the universal experience of family life.

From politicians to ordinary people, no one is safe from Carvey’s incredible voices, quick wit, and improvisation. As a caveat, if you do not want to be picked on, do not sit in the front row at his show. Like many comedians, he will ask about your life and turn it into a joke; however, he may also want to sing about it. Carvey has an incredible knack for quickly turning personal information into a fun folk song. Indeed, Carvey loves to strum the guitar and sing a tale of woe. As Carvey would say, “What a freak show!”

George Wallace has been thinkin’, and his audience is privy to the hilarious results in his show, I Be Thinkin’, in the Flamingo Hotel Showroom.

Attendees are treated to a classic show experience similar to what visitors of Vegas’ heyday must have experienced. Guests aren’t merely herded into a huge theatre constructed with hundreds of seats. Instead, a more genteel, supper club atmosphere is arranged in the showroom, more conducive to a comedy or variety show. The line meanders through the casino and into the showroom, a testament to Wallace’s popularity (as witnessed by his show having been voted best 10 pm show). A tuxedoed maitre ‘D greets guests and politely ushers audience members into the intimate yet comfortably sized showroom, where vintage banquette seating houses groups of three to eight, ideal for attending with family, friends and coworkers.

Additionally, several long tables flank the stage and provide seating for about 20 people each, no doubt providing prime material for Wallace’s largely improvised performance. Be warned: if you choose stage-side seating, you may become funny fodder for the comedian’s act.

Opening the show, an a capella band of six young men called Mosaic serve to warm up the audience for 10-15 minutes with impressive musical melodies performed entirely without instruments, after which time a dashingly dressed Wallace joins the group on stage and begins his comedic banter. After his good-natured assault on the band, Wallace turns his attention to his audience. (Editors Note: Wallace may or may not have an opening act and the act is subject to change).

Wallace playfully teases a select few audience members, usually the ones making the most noise. If you’d prefer to be excluded from his mockery, don’t draw attention to yourself or sit further back in the theatre. But Wallace’s jokes and jibes always remain innocuous and well placed, and offense need never be taken.

Running the gamut from topical humor and regional ridicule to commonplace curiosities and Seinfeldian observation, it seems Wallace can make fun of anything. Sometimes sharp, sometimes silly but always funny, Wallace also ventures into more edgy comedic territory, and no one is safe from his onslaught. From midgets to the elderly, from cops to yo ‘mama, Wallace’s material remains relatable and relevant yet uproariously raucous. Touching on religious humor, Wallace often invites self-described gospel singers from the audience to join him on stage and belt out a spiritual hymn, an unexpected but uplifting departure from his biting barbs.

Closing the show, a few lucky audience members are rewarded with giveaways such as DVDs, gas cards and even cash; evidence of Wallace’s appreciation and generosity towards his fans. Wallace then stages outside the theatre to meet and greet his fans in a gesture of accessibility and availability not often found elsewhere in Las Vegas.

A refreshing and nostalgic departure from the “New Vegas”, George Wallace’s show and indeed the whole experience recall the retro days of supper clubs, variety shows and pure, unrehearsed, unscripted entertainment. Its Las Vegas as it was and should be again: The Entertainment Capital of the World, indeed.