Facing ‘off’ switch, ‘Spotlight’ lacks wattage at Bourbon Street

Friday, June 3, 2005 | 8:27 a.m.

"Spotlight" is filled with hyperbole and understatement.

The revue is both more and less than it should be.

More, because the talent of its acts exceeds the expectations one might have of the humble, 120-seat Big Easy Showroom - a space in the corner of the threadbare Bourbon Street casino, separated from the slot machines by curtains.

Less, because some of the talent, though good, probably could not find another venue in which to perform.

While the break-dancing team of Just Us is entertaining, where else would it perform today but in a show such as "Spotlight," a low-budget affair that provides cheap entertainment for tourists who feel comfortable wearing sweats or cut-offs when out on the town?

And what of Sferza, another unusual act that probably would be orphaned if not adopted by producer Will Roya? It consists of a duo - Seth Yudof plays acoustic guitar while Douglas Leferokh performs mundane sleight-of-hand tricks - who create "acoustic magic."

"Spotlight" has a lot of bravado for a bantamweight that sits in the shadow of the Strip on East Flamingo Road. But even if it were a heavyweight, it probably would never be taken seriously at Bourbon Street.

"The best variety show in Las Vegas," says the taped announcement as the show is about to begin, "in its price range."

"Las Vegas' most unbelievable acts," adds the announcer.

One could interpret "unbelievable" in different ways.

Unbelievably bad, or unbelievably good?

For example, vocalist Michael Cagle -- a flamboyant entertainer who bills himself as "Patti LaBelle meets Nathan Lane" -- is unbelievable: Unbelievably good with a powerful, booming voice that seems to billow out the curtain walls of the cramped showroom.

When the show began a year ago, acts were routinely changed. Now, there is very little variety in the variety show.

From time to time a new act is shuffled in and out, such as Sferza, but the core of the production includes Cagle, Just Us and Roya -- the producer who also is a decent comic juggler and magician with a family-oriented sense of humor.

More than anyone, Cagle dominates the show. He is both host and lead performer, singing songs that range from Elton John to Martina McBride to Celine Dion.

Cagle and Roya are personable performers, both of them at ease in front of the crowd, exchanging banter with the fans throughout the show.

But just as they have hit a stride, they have decided to end the show.

"Spotlight's" final performance will be June 30, one month after celebrating its first anniversary.

Roya says the show has gone as far as it can go at Bourbon Street.

And the Strip isn't beckoning.

Roya will perform on cruise ships.

Cagle has lined up several months worth of gigs, mostly on the road -- In July he will be performing at several festivals around the country; in August he will be part of a tour with engagements in South Africa; at the end of August he will be opening for a number of artists at various concerts -- Uncle Kracker, Starship, the Doobie Brothers and Tracy Byrd.

In October he will perform in Japan and Korea.

When Cagle and Roya return near the end of the year they will create a two-man act and look for a venue on the Strip.

If you want to see the budding act in its infancy at Bourbon Street, you have three more weeks -- more or less.