Las Vegas entertainment is notable for
many things, and certainly the topless revue is near the head of
the list. Ever since 1957, when producer Harold Minsky introduced
his nightly "Minsky's Follies" show at the Dunes, half-naked women
dancing in lavish stage productions has been a consistent hit. In
fact, despite an uproar in Nevada's state legislature upon its
debut, the Follies broke attendance records its first night out of
the gate.
The tradition
continues to this day, with more than 10 shows featuring
bare-breasted women, from the traditional-style "Jubilee" at
Bally's and "Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana, to Cirque du
Soleil's erotic "Zumanity" at New York-New York and the
tongue-in-cheek "Buck Wild" at the Sahara.
While these all
provide relatively classy ways to satisfy the eternal male urge to
see beautiful young women, times have changed since the late 1950s.
Today, there are just as many women interested in seeing beautiful
young men on stage.
And Las Vegas,
never a city to let any desire go unsatiated, has met this demand
with a trio of male revue shows. Though the men are topless,
nervous husbands and boyfriends can rest assured that, as with the
female revues, the bottoms always stay on.
Aussie
beefcake
Australian import
"Thunder From Down Under," which opened at the New Frontier in
2001, is the city's oldest male revue. Developed by Billy Cross --
who would later go on to create another Vegas male revue, "American
Storm" -- "Thunder" has moved to Excalibur, reeling in bachelorette
parties, divorcees on the mend and groups of girlfriends on weekend
getaways.
The showroom is
best described as "bare bones," designed to be easily transformed
for performances by comedian Louie Anderson, who shares the
"Thunder" stage. On the plus side, the room, being small, does
afford everyone a great view, and there are booths
available.
The show's
production values could also use a shot of steroids, with many of
the music and costume selections coming across as dated and corny
rather than cutting-edge and modern. But, really, everyone is there
for the dancers, not the decor.
The men -- all
prime examples of Australian beef -- are charming and engaging with
the audience and are hired more for their physiques and
personalities than for an ability to perform grands
jetes.
As is typical of
racy male revues, audience members get the chance to see just how
charming and engaging the dancers are when some ladies are selected
for personal attention on stage.
In all, "Thunder
From Down Under" is a show a husband could feel comfortable sending
his wife to. Heck, he could even feel comfortable sending his
mother.
Class
act
Opening in 2002
at the Rio, hot on the heels of "Thunder From Down Under," was
"Chippendales The Show."
Already a hit in
New York under the direction of choreographers Glen Pakard and
Brian Thomas, "Chippendales" features -- now, as then -- a cast of
buff men taking their clothes off to high-energy music. But this
show is far and away the most polished and high-class of Sin City's
male revues.
A recent
relocation from a main casino-level theater at the Rio to their own
dedicated home on the second floor of the hotel has improved the
experience. The new room allows for more sophisticated lighting and
set changes.
Of equal -- or
possibly more -- appeal is the Chippendales Theater's Flirt Lounge.
Located in the theater's anteroom area, the 1,500-square-foot
lounge offers a walk-up bar and cocktail service, with actual
"Chippendales" dancers as waiters.
But the real
action is, of course, inside. The dancers may not be as buff as the
models on the cover of Men's Health magazine, but there's no
denying these guys are in great shape.
The show itself
has production values equal to just about anything else in town,
with well-designed costumes, exciting choreography and breathtaking
sets. In the realm of male revues, "Chippendales" reigns
supreme.
Sex
education
The newest male
revue on the Strip, "American Storm," is produced by the same man
behind the oldest: Billy Cross, the creator of "Thunder From Down
Under."
Running a casting
search that received national notoriety on music channel VH-1 as
the television reality show "Strip Search," choreographer Cross
chose boy-next-door-type amateurs and then molded the resulting
troupe into a surprisingly professional show.
Now, no one is
going to mistake the lads of "American Storm" for Broadway-level
dancers, but the enthusiasm and excitement they exude while on
stage at the Riviera more than makes up for any
missteps.
Using the conceit
of depicting U.S. history through stripping, the men take to the
stage in a various number of historical costumes, dating from the
1600s through modern times. While it may be a little disquieting at
first to see puritanical Pilgrims gyrating and taking their clothes
off, the other numbers dispel any misgivings.
Columnist Martin Stein specializes in Las Vegas arts and
entertainment. To contact Stein, send e-mail to [email protected].