Rudner provides plenty of tasteful laughs

Joe Delaney

Friday, Nov. 27, 1998 | 11:37 a.m.

Rita Rudner, she of the demure demeanor but sometimes deadly comedic delivery, had a goodly crowd in the Sahara Congo Room earlier this week. Truly self-contained in concert, she does her own introduction then proceeds to garner more than her fair share of solid laughs for the next 75 minutes or so. Attractive and tastefully gowned, she had a conversation with her audience, singling out Jeannie, Yvonne, and two Lou's, seated at separate tables.

Rudner creates a friendly atmosphere, a living room ambiance, chatting first about her new dress, dresses in general, Thanksgiving, her aunt, plastic surgery, explains various forms of incipient Alzheimer's disease, always gentle, always in good taste. Check out "Mustard Alzheimer's disease," especially. We don't give away the good laugh lines in our critiques; see the show and enjoy them all.

Next comes a commentary on Bellagio, the Mirage and Siegfried & Roy, other hotels, Hoover Dam, and surrounding areas, with affection but always very funny. After announcing that she will soon be married 10 years, she discusses her husband, men in general, the battle of the sexes, relationships, caring, sleep, counting sheep, her mother and her grandmother.

Her husband has a fixation with supermodels until she tells him the difference between the supermodels and his wife. This punch line alone is worth the $32.95 plus tax admission. They have a new house but no children. She has rather definite thoughts about children. This sets up the entrance of her dog, rescued from the local dog pound, Bonkers, named for an uncle "who was bonkers." Bonkers performs (?) and exits to heavy applause.

Questions from the audience, a nice impromptu, closes the show after which she meets the audience at the theatre entrance and autographs copies of her new book, "Rita Rudner's Guide To Men," with nearly half the audience lining up, purchasing the book and getting her autograph. Nicely done.

Rita Rudner uses words to paint realistic pictures, scenes that strike one funny because each one represents the truth told funny. There is an absence of street vernacular, so rare today, she is proof that this is not necessary. She closes on Dec. 2. Take your wife, please, or someone special if still single or single again. You'll find yourself laughing out loud a lot.