‘Crazy Girls’ provide plenty of ‘tease’

Joe Delaney

Friday, Feb. 9, 2001 | 9:45 a.m.

The Riviera is offering an all-new edition of its "Crazy Girls Fantasy Revue," starring comedian Carole Montgomery plus 10 comely, well-endowed dancer-performers in a rapid-paced romp, heavy on titillation, and a feast for the senses for those whose female form preferences are callipygian.

The first edition, "Crazy Girls: Fantasie de Paris," opened at the Riviera in September 1987, forerunner of what is now enjoying proliferation with "Midnight Fantasy" at the Luxor, "Skintight" more recently at Harrah's, and "Naked Angels" at the Plaza. The original premise came from the French "Crazy Horse" revue, with a version of that show due soon in the MGM Grand Cabaret Theatre.

Montgomery has two segments, one very early and one just past the halfway mark, both mercifully short, each relying too heavily on graphic discussion of sexual relationships, with overuse of the f-word, really not necessary as we know her to be an excellent comedian. It should be noted, however, that she did get her fair share of laughs.

Kelly Adkins, Rayma Alfred, Heidi Deering, Chris Gilbride, Maria Gomes, Andrea Rebecca Guevara, Eva Texico LeTourneau, Eliset Lobato, Karen Lee Raider and Tammie Rankin are the Crazy Girls, with Raider doubling as company manager. Band leader-musician-songwriter Lon Bronson assembled the music for the show; most of the lyrics were lip-synched.

Adolph Von Spee and Gean Corporon designed the minimal costumes, while Jean Pierre Reggiori and Aki and Rayma Alfred choreographed the show under the supervision of Marlene Aleman. The choreography ranged from very tasteful to blatant and, too often, in your face. The obligatory lesbian scene is included, as it is in just about every other show of this type.

The show caught had a march-type opener, Montgomery's first five minutes, "Daddy," "You Gotta Have Boobs," an adagio solo in a rotating neon-lit ring, "Never Gonna Get It," "Women in Love," "I Can't Quit You, Baby," a solo effort, Montgomery's sex lecture, "Pink is the Color of Passion," "Express Yourself," "Bensonhurst Blues" and "I'm in Chains."

Plus there was an arousing solo effort on "How Can You Believe Me When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life" and a Crazy Girls finale with Montgomery handling the introductions for just over an hour's worth of mostly tease -- some well done, some tasteless. If this is your pleasure, the Riviera's new "Crazy Girls Fantasy Revue" is the one to watch.