Revamped ‘Showgirls’ at San Remo is an improvement

Joe Delaney

Friday, May 11, 2001 | 8:55 a.m.

The mostly all-new David Saxe production of "Showgirls of Magic" at the San Remo richly deserves its billing as "The Biggest Little Show in Las Vegas."

Saxe also serves as the producer for his sister, Melinda, the First Lady of Magic, doing 10 performances a week at the Venetian. Saxe is a born-and-raised Las Vegan and a 1993 graduate of the UNLV College of Hotel Administration.

In "Showgirls of Magic" Theresa Marie King is the only showgirl holdover and there are now four comely, talented showgirl magicians with newcomers Jennifer Knorr, Melania De Los Santos and Inna Bashia. The magic is greatly improved overall, and Tiger Martina's choreography is another huge plus.

Comedian Joe Trammel has sharpened and enhanced his frenetic approach to physical comedy, sans dialogue, relying heavily on movement and rapid costume changes. Slotted at the midway point, Trammel, another holdover, gives the show a fresh momentum, a higher energy level that is sustained the rest of the way.

The Great Antoine, Antonio Hoyas, a small person, is the third holdover and he, too, is used much more effectively in this new edition. Hoyas as Sonny and Trammel as Cher perform a hilarious spoof sequence later in the show.

Nathan Burton and Sarah are new here, a class magic act with copious theater and television credits worldwide. Burton and Sarah are featured in two scenes and score heavily in both.

There are 16 scenes in all in the nonstop 70-minute production. The first two feature the showgirls, including a number with a cooperative male from the audience that worked nicely. The Great Antoine does his comedy magic -- few of the tricks work -- assisted by Theresa Marie.

Next is a Western number that does include a worthy example of the Houdini classic, Metamorphosis, done as well as I've seen it recently. Burton and Sarah return; the next scene features the showgirls in "walkaway dresses," that would certainly be more effective in the 10:30 p.m. show, which is topless.

Trammel's comedic decathlon is followed by the showgirls, who make the most of the other scenes with the entire cast onstage for the finale. There was a goodly assemblage and a rousing response for the 8 p.m. weeknight performance of the show caught.