Vegas for families? That was so 90s. If
there was any lingering doubt about Las Vegas shift back towards
its inherent adults-only nature, the lineup of topless revues up
and down the Strip is proof-positive that sex is back and sin is
in. And, as the citys ubiquitous taxi-top revue advertisements
reveal, they are big sellers.
For the moment,
though, there is still a line that these casino-hotel shows will
not cross: the invisible -- but impenetrable -- barrier that
divides dancers from the audience. Its strictly look-but-dont-touch
at these titillating adult revues:
"
Fantasy, at the Luxor: Those who fondly remember
this shows predecessor, Midnight Fantasy wont be disappointed by
its current incarnation. Reworked and tighter, Fantasy is more the
same than different.
What hasnt
changed, however, is the refreshing way this show combines sexiness
and fun, never taking itself too seriously.
Lead dancer
Jennifer Ross, heartthrob to many men in the audience, still
dazzles, and Stephanie Jordans sultry vocals continue to ooze
sexuality in the shows dreamlike sequences.
According to the
shows Emmy Award-winning producer, Anita Mann, the essence of
Midnight Fantasy still remains; weve just freshened it up a bit. An
atypical original, Fantasy is a show that appeals equally to
couples and single guys -- a rarity nowadays in Vegas.
"
Erocktica, at the Rio: A driving rock score
provides the beat for producer Greg Thompsons newest adult revue,
Erocktica, now playing at the Rio. Big, blond Gabriella Versace
belts out rock classics, accompanied by southern rocker Ray-J
Raymond Jones, in the Scintas showroom.
A red-velvet love
pit, just steps away from the stage, envelops couples as they watch
and listen to this high-decibel show, which is best described as a
rock show with topless women, rather than a topless show with rock
music.
" Bite,
at the Stratosphere: Starting with the venues roomy table
and booth seating, 
Bite is refreshingly different.
While the special effects are a bit cheesy, the costumes, dancing
and acrobatics are impressive for a show on this intimate a scale.
As for the erotica: If youve got a thing for voluptuous vampires in
S&M costumes occasionally dangling from velvet ropes a few feet
in front of your nose, this is the show for you.
"
Skintight, at Harrahs: Maybe I hit this revue on a
bad night, but the music seemed a bit too loud; the emcee, a tad
creepy; and the acts a little conventional.
To be fair, in
any other market this show would likely pack them in, but this is
Vegas. Its not hard to locate bare,
beautiful bodies willing to gyrate in front of crowds.
Nevertheless,
Skintight does a passable job of reprising some classic show themes
on a small scale: Theres a bit of beefcake a la Chippendales for
the ladies; a Stomp style number for the younger set; classic Vegas
showgirl costumes for the boomer-plus crowd; and a stand-up comic
for the drunken hecklers in the room. Think of it as a medley of
Vegas favorite acts -- unfortunately, not by the original
artists.
" X -- An Erotic Adventure, at the Desert
Passage Shops: Ah, how the mighty have fallen. In its
prior run at the Aladdin, circa 2003, X lived up to its name as the
sexiest show on the Strip. The pulsating score and erotic
choreography pushed the outer edges of the envelope while steaming
up the showroom.
The 2006 edition
-- headquartered at the V Theater in the Desert Passage Shops -- is
a toned-down version of the original. Due to local regulations
governing such shows outside casino-hotels, nudity is
prohibited. The vertical-bed sequence,
however, featuring two performers in a slow, acrobatic gyration, is
a must-see.
" La
Femme, at MGM Grand: The MGM Grands nod to adult
entertainment is an import from the world-famous Crazy Horse in
Paris. Subtle and slightly detached, this professionally produced
show is a direct descendant of the French original.
Dedicated to
worshiping the body beautiful, La Femmes classically trained
dancers, all members of the original Paris troupe, pose and writhe
to a seductive score while being lighted, and backlighted, in a
multitude of hues and shades. Even the theater is a virtual
re-creation of the Parisian original, seating only 340 in an
intimate environment.
" Buck
Wild, at the Sahara: Since the Saharas revamp a few years
back, the budget resort property has settled nicely into its niche
as Vegas unofficial Nascar headquarters. Appropriately,
country-themed revue Buck Wild aims for down-home appeal to its
core audience.
Billing itself as
a country variety show with a rock-and-roll feel, the show may win
an award for covering the most bases with the least amount of
coverage. Featuring a harmonica player, a redneck magician, a
fiddler and a mechanical bull, Buck Wild also boasts an element
that country music fans will never find in a Branson showroom:
topless showgirls.
" Crazy
Girls, at the Riviera: An oldie isnt always a goodie. As
one of the longest-running adult revues on the Strip, this dated
production could stand to be reworked a bit. The troupe of
silicone-enhanced, lip-synching showgirls was a cute gimmick back
when this show opened in 1987. The novelty, however, now quickly
wears off, leaving the mind to wander, which is never a good thing
for a topless show.
To contact
the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to [email protected].