09/17/09 Show: Improv Jam - My Review

• Stage Door Theater @ Town Square
• Thursdays 10:30 PM - 1AM+
• $10 includes unlimited soft drinks

This is not really a show as much as a social gathering for upcomming improv comics.  It runs as a bunch of moderated improvisational games.  The audience (of comics) is invited to get involved and make the show.  Imagine "Who's Line Is It Anyway" on crack.

Warning:  These are comics performing for comics and their own enjoyment therefore NOTHING IS TABOO... but if you can handle that fact you will laugh and have a great time.

Show: Sin City Comedy - My Review

• Offered by House Seats
• $5.00 Service Fee
• Planet Hollywood V theatre 9:00 PM

A sexy comedy show featuring comedy and berlesque is how it is advertised.

The headline comic for the evening was Bob Zaney.  His comedy seemed more reactionary than joke driven, probably from years of practice, and that made it all more funny.  He attacks some new angles on subjects and then attacks the audience for their non immediate reaction.  Heck, I even purchased his CDs following the show.

As for the berlesque... it was more tease than strip.  Less sexy than a break from the comedy.  The performer was lovely to behold; but I believe that if you are selling sexy as a product, I'd like to see it.

The space for the show is not well conceived.  The room is too wide for the stage and the wings get an obstructed view.  Also the back is a semi enclosed room (that is where I got seated).  It's bad enough to be behind 8 rows or so of people on the same level, but then also be in a box.
Also, they have an interesting collection of flat screen TVs behind the stage (and two in the room I was in).  Instead of broadcasting the show on those screens so that everyone can see the show, they just display the logo.

Not a bad show, but I can tell you, if I go again I'm going to be there very early to get a better seat.

Show: School House Rock Live

• Offeded by House Seats
• Stage Door Theater @ Town Square
• 11AM & 2PM on Saturdays

First let me state that I know I am biased. I grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons and learned many things from School House Rock. I have many fond memories about the animated shorts and the musical lessons that were imparted. With that in mind, I knew my review of the performance would be extreme in one direction or another. In this case I have to state that I loved it.

Great American Theatricals brought to life my childhood memories in a way I did could believe possible. Using the psychological construct of inner voices, the cast lulled the fears of a new teacher fearing the first day of class. They reminded her, and the audience that learning is an experience that can be fun.

I admit I was singing along with most of the songs like a child mesmerized by the images of his favorite TV show. I laughed, because of the silly humor. I cried because it jerked memories of innocent play back into my soul. I also noticed, although the audience was primarily children, the adults in the audience were just as taken in as I was. Aren’t rose colored glasses amazing?

My only complaint is that they did not microphone the cast. For most songs it did not matter, but for some it made it very difficult to hear the lead performer. I'm not sure the back of the house got a very favorable experience.

The regular prices for tickets are $8 for Students / $14 for Adults. This is a bargain for the experience.

Oh well. Take your kids and/or take yourself to a worthwhile show.

Show: Scarlett and Her Seductive Ladies of Magic - My Review

• Offered by HouseSeats
• Rivera Hotel 10:00 PM
• Cost $0.00

Review of 08/06/09 performance:

Scarlett and her entourage of assistants attempt to wow you with feats of magic with "Abra - ca - sexy".

My thoughts about the show are as follows.

Sexy: I have always had eyes for red-heads… and Scarlett is an amazingly beautiful woman in my humble opinion. Her female dancers, all two of them who are topless for about 40% of their time on the stage, are pretty, but pale to Scarlett. Unfortunately Scarlett does not reveal any endowments during her performance. For the sexy part; Scarlett in a two piece red string bikini soaking wet is HOT!

Magic: The show is unremarkable. Half of the “magic” tricks are cliche and amateurish. I was not impressed with any of the performance. Granted, I was sitting in the third row center and could see everything, but when you can see the mirrors, see the strings and see the obvious failings of the show, you know there is a problem.
Examples:
· Male assistant climbs into an elevated box. The box is covered and in front with a cloth and he sticks his OBVIOUSLY FEMALE hand through the cloth to prove he is there???
· Scarlett magically leans her male assistant forward past his center of gravity… and he falls off the pegs holding his shoes to the floor. (yes, you can see the pegs)
· Scarlet’s assistant shows off a "powerful" industrial fan, spins the case around and reveals a view that shows off the 45 degree angle mirror. Then to demonstrate the fan’s strength, Scarlett puts a piece of newspaper through the fan that shreds it. First off, the fan is going way too slow to support the results, second you can see the pop effect as she shoots the newspaper confetti out of her hand.
· An animated handkerchief where you can see every string.

The one entertaining part of the show was Max Clever, the comic intermission. His animals were cute and his comedy was above par for the remainder of the show.

This show could easily be improved and become a good draw, but by what I saw, and the crowd’s unenthusiastic reaction, this show will probably have a short run and Scarlett will be once again back to entertaining children.

08/25/09: Even with my poor previous experience, I'm going back because I got another free show and I can't resist a beautiful redhead. I'll let ya know if things have gotten better. Let's hope.

OK, a here is how it went.

Prior to the show I happened to spy Scarlett being escorted off of the casino floor. OK, my jaw dropped and I spun to see more. If that was not obvious enough, the audible "Wow!" that came out of my mouth should have been.

There is a major pool tournament going on in the attached convention center so there is lots of activity. That should mean that the showroom will be packed. Wrong. The show must not be doing well... even with the major activity in the building, the front of showroom is less than filled. My ticket was for section B (the tables in the center section) but I am ushered to third row center. Don't get me wrong, I won't complain ever about an upgrade... but it doesn't bode well for the success of the show.

The show met my low expectations... (see above review as there have not been any significant improvements).

• Decent acting, damn sexy Scarlett, 2 pretty topless assistants and poor magic. I'd complain more about what additional illusions were revealed, but I don't want to give away everything in the show.
• Max Clever and his animals, the comedy intermission, got better reactions and crowd approval than the main show. Some quick whited stabs at the audience, three well trained animals and some well used jokes made for a great performance. Oh, and the performance included one of the best Elvis I've seen on stage.

I'm not saying that the show is not entertaining. Heck, the show does have a good pace and keeps you involved. What annoys me is that it could be so easily improved with some lighting changes (go sit in the audience and see what I mean) and a bit more practice. Give the audience some mystery, not the secrets.

Rocky Horror Picture Show

• Onyx Theatre 11:30 PM


• Cost $10.00

The greatest audience participation experience is still available every Saturday from the cast of Divine Decadence. (Warning: The DD site is not work friendly) 1st and 3rd Saturdays

--Flix by Flicks

07/18/09 Show: Rocky Horror Picture Show

• Onyx Theatre 11:30 PM
• Cost $10.00

The greatest audience participation experience is still available every Saturday from the cast of Divine Decadence. (Warning: The DD site is not work friendly) 1st and 3rd Saturdays

--Flix by Flicks

Show: Rocky Horror Picture Show

• Onyx Theatre 11:30 PM
• Cost $10.00

The greatest audience participation experience is still available every Saturday from the cast of Divine Decadence. (Warning: The DD site is not work friendly)1st and 3rd Saturdays

--Flix by Flicks