Friday, Aug. 30, 2002 | 9:17 a.m.
"Beats of Passion" has fallen victim to "The Curse of The Venetian Showroom."
Producer Fernando Quevedo said at the end of Wednesday night's performance that he was told that H&H of Nevada had decided earlier in the day to evict the show to make room for another production.
The last "Beats of Passion" performance will be Sept. 10; it opened July 29.
H&H is the landlord of the showroom, leasing it from The Venetian and subletting it to producers.
The new production that will fill "Passion's" 8 p.m. time slot will be "V," a variety show produced by David Saxe that will debut Sept. 12.
"I had nothing to do with ousting Fernando's show," Saxe said Thursday. "Actually, (H&H) had wanted to put in my show before 'Beats of Passion.' "
Another new production, "Sourire," was to debut at 10 p.m. Thursday. Described as a "lavish French extravaganza," the revue is produced by Claude Thomas.
Richard Heftel, H&H co-owner, did not immediately return telephone calls for this story.
One of the primary symptoms of the showroom's "curse" appears to be severe financial bleeding. When Robert Goulet closed his show at The Venetian last summer he claimed he was losing $200,000 a week.
Other victims of the curse during the past two years have included Charo, impressionist Andre-Philippe Gagnon and the productions "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," "Nebulae: The LifeForce," and "The Main Event."
Melinda Evansvolde, who stars in "Melinda, First Lady of Magic," announced this month that she was leaving the Showroom on Sept. 8 to start a family. However, in interviews prior to the announcement she expressed extreme displeasure about the venue. She has been the room's longest-running tenant, debuting July 27, 2000.
Melinda is the sister of Saxe, who initially produced her show.
Quevedo apparently thought he was immune to the curse. When his show began its second run, he was optimistic about his future at The Venetian.
"They did a good one on me," he said Thursday. "We had a commitment for an indefinite run."
Indefiniteness is in the eye of the beholder.
"I found out it can mean a lot," Quevedo said. "We had an agreement for two months, with an option to renegotiate for different terms."
He said when he was told his show was being ousted to make room for another, he felt betrayed.
"They did the same thing to us last year," he said. "I didn't think they would do it again."
Quevedo said he was amazed H&H would kick out the show when it was doing so well.
"I can't talk numbers," he said. "But we were well beyond covering the cost of the show and the room, and we were increasing sales by a steady 20 percent. We were building an audience."
However, Quevedo said nothing surprises him about the seemingly cursed showroom.
"With the track record there, it's not surprising," he said.
Quevedo says he has already reached an agreement to take the show to another venue on the Strip. He declined to identify the showroom.
Nino Frediani is one of the cast members of "Passion." The 62-year-old juggler said the show's entertainers were disappointed when they heard the announcement.
"The guys who have the showroom only care about getting better deals," he said. "I think it's terrible. Everybody was excited when they saw the audiences growing every week."
Saxe says he has a good working relationship with H&H and doesn't foresee any problems.
"I'm the only one who has had a long-term success there," he said, referring to the show he produced for his sister.
Saxe described his new undertaking as, "the ultimate variety show."
He said the production will include seven acts, which will rotate to keep the show fresh. The acts will include everything from comedy to magic to music.
Saxe compared "V" to "The Ed Sullivan Show." It will be hosted by Jeff Hopson.
Quevedo offered some advice to any producer who puts a show on at The Venetian:
"You're on your own."
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