Saxe’s solo ‘V’ looks OK at The Venetian

Friday, Sept. 27, 2002 | 9:16 a.m.

Hype for "V" calls it the "Ultimate Variety Show."

Producer David Saxe is hoping "V" stands for "victory."

After so many losers have fallen victim to the snake-bitten Showroom at The Venetian, the law of averages should dictate that something is going to work.

And if audience reaction at a recent performance is any indication, something finally has.

Saxe came up with a concept so old it's almost new. He likens it to the Fox series "30 Seconds to Fame," in which a variety of young wannabe entertainers are paraded before an audience in an intense competitive format.

But "V" is closer to "The Ed Sullivan Show" -- or, judging by some of the corny jokes, vaudeville.

"I woke up this morning and poured prune juice on my Rice Krispies and took a snap, crackle and poop," quipped host Jeff Hobson, a comic magician who performs as he introduces each act.

Saxe is no stranger to the pitfalls of the Showroom, where Charo, Robert Goulet and a host of others have been unable to survive what some have described as draconian business deals dictated by the room's managers, H&H of Nevada. But Saxe brought his sister's act, "Melinda, First Lady of Magic," to the venue and made it work for more than two years.

When Melinda announced she was pulling out of The Venetian to concentrate on starting a family (and the Latin-themed variety show "Beats of Passion" was given the ax by H&H), it gave Saxe an opportunity to flash the "V" sign.

The idea is good -- after all, it has worked in one form or another since the days of Shakespeare.

However, the show, as conceived by Saxe, is difficult to review. Acts will rotate, some will come and go and return, others will just come and go. Consequently, the quality of "V" will vary from week to week.

If the producer is going to continue to draw friendly and enthusiastic audiences, as he did this week, he will have to pay close attention to the influx of acts.

Saxe did a good job for his opening -- amassing a cast of veterans who delighted a full house (albeit, one filled with many comps).

The only tyro on the bill was Brittany Smiley, winner of a talent contest sponsored by KLUC 98.5-FM.

Smiley, a 15-year-old who has a voice mature far beyond her years, is reminiscent of LeAnn Rimes, who signed a record contract in 1993 at age 11. Smiley captured the audience's affection with "Break It to Me Gently," followed by "Cowboy Spirit" (which allowed her to show off her yodeling talent).

Hobson is a riot, performing fire-eating routines, card tricks and other illusions. He cracked up the audience with a gay routine that had people wondering about his own preferences.

"Look at me," he pranced around the stage showing off a sparking costume. "I call it my Liberace starter kit. Isn't it wonderful? I shouldn't wear it. People might think I'm a little, you know ... but I'm not. Not anymore. But I could be again, sir. I woke up this morning and said to my wife, I said, 'Chuck ...' "

Among the performers were the magic act of Nathan Burton & Sarah, a troupe of Chinese-pole acrobats, Aerial Expressions (two men who perform on a bungee cord), Wally Eastwood (billed as "The World's Fastest Juggler") and Fusion Riders (three men who ride motorcycles in a giant globe).

One of the highlights of the evening was Russ Merlin, whose audience participation act had fans in stitches -- but it is difficult to capture the essence of the humor in print.

Merlin brought four volunteers onstage, sat them in straight-back chairs, put funny rubber masks on them and gave each a hand sign he was to repeat when touched on the shoulder (a thumbs up, a so-so wave of the hands, an OK sign, and a wave to the audience followed by a kiss).

The hand signs became a form of communication. Merlin walked behind the volunteers, talking and touching them on the shoulder, and they would respond with the appropriate sign.

It has to be seen to be appreciated.

If the other acts seem vaguely familiar, it might be because there are variations of them all over town. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. They haven't reached epidemic proportions, as impersonators have.

While the motorcycles-in-a-globe routine was exciting, it has been around state fairs almost since the invention of the motorcycle.

And the routine on the bungee cord has become just that -- routine: There are similar acts at other venues ("Mystere" at Treasure Island, for one).

Pole acrobatics can also be seen in "Mystere," but that doesn't detract from the physical prowess and the agility of the performers in "V." It is amazing to see someone climb a pole using only his hands and then extend his body parallel to the floor.

The show, running approximately 75 minutes, passed very quickly. There were plenty of laughs and thrills, but as they say about variety shows, if you don't like the act you're seeing, wait a few minutes and there will be another.