Columnist Joe Delaney: Risque productions on the Strip gaining exposure

Joe Delaney

Thursday, July 18, 2002 | 8:23 a.m.

Titillation, in the sense that it "excites or stimulates one pleasurably," is a major reason for the proliferation of skin at various Strip hotels ... We differentiate them from long-standing production shows such as Bally's "Jubilee" and "The Best of the Folies Bergere" (Tropicana) ... The first of the skin shows was "Crazy Girls," still hot at the Riviera.

"Midnight Fantasy" (Luxor) came along later; an Anita Mann production, higher in quality and lower in excitement value ... Producer Greg Thompson has two entries: "Skintight" (Harrah's) and "Showgirls" (Rio) ... The first-named is almost exciting at times, while the latter production, with a much larger budget, could be a candidate in the "Jubilee" and "Folies" category.

"La Femme" (MGM Grand) is the only authentic import from the famed Crazy Horse Cabaret in Paris ... We review this in the Sun's Accent section Friday ... "Crazy Girls" was a lift from the original, and there are Crazy Horse gentlemen's clubs, thus the MGM Grand offering is called "La Femme," an odd outcome.

It should be noted that none of the above productions have a midnight starting time ... "Midnight Fantasy's" late show starts at 10:30 p.m., as do most of the others ... "Showgirls" is alone as the latest with an 11 p.m. curtain ... Which brings us to "Tease" at the Blue Note Las Vegas, reviewed last Friday ... The only production with an original score and story line.

Despite its story locale being a gentlemen's club, "Tease" has no nudity ... There are the usual "bicycle clips" making it an eye feast for those whose taste runs to things callipygian ... This is true at all above- mentioned productions ... Why so many of these shows?

The answer is obvious ... It is an attempt to divert hotel guests from spending time at the so-called gentlemen's clubs where the nudity is total and there are lap dances, private rooms and very close to actual -- rather than virtual -- reality ... The number of nightclubs with exclusivity, high-priced drinks, and extravagant decor -- deluxe "meet markets" -- are another attempt.

For ladies on a night out together, there are now three titillating choices: "Thunder From Down Under" (Excalibur); "Men ... Understanding Women" (New Frontier) and "Chippendales: The Show" (Rio) ... We reviewed "Thunder From Down Under" when it was at New Frontier, one of four males in the audience, and the ladies seemed to be having the time of their lives.

Star-policy rundown

It's Gladys Knight (Flamingo Las Vegas); Society of Seven, 8 p.m., Amazing Johnathan, 10 p.m. (Golden Nugget); Mac King afternoons, Clint Holmes evenings (Harrah's); Righteous Brothers and Sheena Easton in separate showrooms (LV Hilton); Blue Man Group (Luxor); Engelbert Humperdinck, plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" followed by Kevin James (MGM Grand).

There's more: Darren Romeo afternoons, Siegfried & Roy evenings, in their own theater, plus Danny Gans, in his theater (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Rita Rudner (New York-New York); Tony Orlando (Orleans); Patti LaBelle (Paris Las Vegas); Ronn Lucas afternoons, Scintas evenings, plus Penn & Teller in the Samba Theatre (Rio).

Still more: Marlene Ricci plus four other shows in the Le Bistro Theatre (Riviera); "Bravo" starring Charo and Steve Wyrick (Sahara); Wayne Newton (Stardust); Air Supply (Suncoast); Rick Thomas (Tropicana); and Melinda, First Lady of Magic (Venetian) ... "Storm," due to depart from Mandalay Bay on July 28, was a drizzle fizzle from the start.

Whatever possessed Steve Wynn -- or whomever -- to give Danny Gans (or anyone) a deal that gave him his own theater at a cost that approximated that of the Siegfried & Roy Theatre at The Mirage to do five out of a possible 14 performances a week, the right of approval over which acts could perform there and exclusivity regarding acts doing impressions?

Danny Gans and Chip Lightman were certainly within their rights to make the best deal they could ... They did ... The Danny Gans Theatre seats 1,265, which gives him a weekly potential of 6,325 ... If the theater was in use twice a night, 14 shows a week, the potential would be 17,700 ... Ten shows a week would still double the potential, making it 12,650.

Assuming they can utilize the theatre for conventions and special events when not occupied by Gans, it would mitigate the situation ... Absent this, the theater is operating at approximately 29 percent of its potential ... Buddy Hackett would be a natural doing Monday nights, a dark night, as he did so successfully at the Desert Inn.

Why not a production show five or six nights a week at 10:30 or 11 ? ... It is so sad and, more important, so is having such a wonderful theater dark 71.5 percent of the time ... Give Gans a piece of the action, if necessary ... This has been a puzzlement from the day the Danny Gans Theatre opened its doors ... If several cages are rattled, so be it.

Please do not neglect the Sun Summer Camp Fund; it is so vital ... Support good jazz wherever it is played ... Check the Las Vegas Jazz Society for complete listings; better yet, become a member ... See you Friday.