‘Showgirls’ ready to bust out of San Remo theater

Friday, June 27, 2003 | 9:02 a.m.

What: "Showgirls of Magic."

When: 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. Dark Mondays.

Where: San Remo Showroom.

Tickets: $39, includes two free drinks.

Information: (702) 597-6028

Rating (out of 5 stars): *** 1/2

"Showgirls of Magic" is too good for the showroom at the San Remo, where it has been entertaining fans for the past seven years.

Even though the 180-seat, cabaret-like theater was recently renovated, it is still too claustrophobic for a production that needs room to breathe.

When the female magicians bare their breasts, they need to be able to inhale without bumping into each other. When they kick up their heels during the dance numbers, they shouldn't have to worry about knocking over someone in the front row.

Guests seeing the show for the first time often groan when they enter the small room and sit shoulder-to-shoulder with their neighbors in padded straight-back chairs. But the attitude quickly changes when the curtain goes up.

This is a thoroughly entertaining show by a troupe of talented performers who breeze effortlessly through the show with hardly a misstep.

The four beautiful, sexy dancers performing magic tricks make everyone forget their physical discomfort.

Granted, the tricks are pretty rudimentary, basic shtick from the magic book -- including such illusions as appearing and disappearing pigeons; scarves that fly through the air; women sawed in half.

The girls won't ever be a threat to Siegfried & Roy or Lance Burton. But let's be honest: Does anyone go there to see the magic?

The draw to "Showgirls" is topless entertainment. Anything else is icing on the cake, and there is plenty of icing in this production by veteran producer David Saxe.

Besides magic and scantily clad women, there are two hilarious comedians -- Russ Merlin and 500-pound female impersonator Steve "Tiny Bubbles" Daly -- and a dwarf, Colombia, South America, native Antonio Hoyos.

The 48-inch-tall Hoyos honed his comedic talents with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He has appeared in such films as Mel Brooks' "Spaceballs," "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and "Howard the Duck."

Daly was once the opening act for legendary raunchy comedian Rusty Warren, best known for her 1961 comedy album, "Knockers Up." It was Warren who encouraged Daly to pursue a career as a female impersonator. He spent several years with Kenny Kerr's "Boylesque" in Hawaii.

A personal favorite is Merlin, whose audience participation act is simple, yet brilliant. No matter how often you see it, it will make you laugh to tears.

Merlin brings four volunteers to the stage, sits them in a row of chairs, puts rubber masks on them and and gives each a hand sign to be given only when he touches them on the shoulder.

One volunteer gives a thumbs up, another a so-so wave of the hands, another an OK sign and the fourth waves to the audience and then blows them a kiss.

The hilarity comes when Merlin paces behind the quartet, talking and touching the volunteers, who respond with the signals.

"Do you like women?" he asks, and one man gives the OK sign, another the thumbs up and another the so-so wave.

Merlin also performs his act in a second production by Saxe, "V -- The Ultimate Variety Show," at The Venetian.

Saxe recently made some changes within "Showgirls," including bringing in four new girls and giving them a couple of new magic tricks. Thankfully, he kept Merlin and Daly.

The new cast of gorgeous dancers/magicians includes Kelly Lake, Dawn Davidson (formerly with "Bottoms Up"), Ophelia Covacevich (formerly of "Splash") and Kathleen Pederson ("Midnight Fantasy").

Another change was to make all of the performances topless.

Until a month ago there was a family show at 8 p.m. followed by one for adults at 10:30 p.m. Saxe, acknowledging the latest craze of adult entertainment prompted him to make both performances topless.

The change apparently hasn't hurt attendance. Most shows are near capacity or sold out.

Saxe says he is still fine-tuning the production, bringing in new dance numbers, adding new tricks, trimming here and there.

Choreographer Tiger Martina has done an outstanding job.

Now, if the showgirls could just use their magic to make the room disappear.