X at Flamingo: Intimate, budget-friendly topless act still has bounce
I went to the one-year anniversary of X, the topless show at the Flamingo.
(It was actually not the one-year anniversary of the show, only of the show being at the Flamingo for a year.)
The X show originally opened inside Aladdin in 2002. The show has also been at the V Theatre at Aladdin as well as being a touring show outside Vegas. But a year ago X burlesque returned to Vegas and came to the Flamingo to share space with Second City.
The show has shown a surprising resiliency.
As for show quality, X is squarely in the middle of the Strip's current offerings. Crazy Horse at the MGM Grand has the most sophisticated and, many say, the most physically perfect showgirls on the Strip; Cirque's Zumanity, at New York New York, is far more edgy and advanced in its exploration of sexuality.
But for raunchy playfulness and erotic daring, X has Crazy Girls beat. It is also more fun than the slightly more traditional and rigorous Fantasy at the Luxor. But the comedian in X is not particularly funny and Fantasy has as a bonus the phenomenal singer Stephanie Jordan.
But for raunchy playfulness and erotic daring, X has Crazy Girls beat. It is also more fun than the slightly more traditional and rigorous Fantasy at the Luxor. But the comedian in X is not particularly funny and Fantasy has as a bonus the phenomenal singer Stephanie Jordan.
Overall, X has a lot of energy but very little originality.
One number comes from the recently closed "The Producers," and there is a Beatles segment that reminds you that "Love" is in town at the Mirage, and it has too much obligatory Elvis. Chairs and baths are used in the expected ways. Some of the structure is similar to Crazy Horse, and X owner Angela Stabile obviously brought some lessons from her many years as a dancer at Crazy Girls at the Riviera.
The constant in X is Stabile, who, along with her husband, is the producer and owner of X. She is a well-known Vegas fixture.
"My mom is the third butt to the right," says Tiffany Koepp, 24. Koepp is referring to the famous sculpture of the women from Crazy Girls' torsos at the Riviera that tourists to this day love to pose with in photographs. Koepp was in middle school when that advertising campaign came out. By the time her mom had retired from dancing and opened X, Koepp had decided to join the family business: "I was 19 when the show opened in the Aladdin. I was doing wardrobe."
Today she is the company manger for X.
One number comes from the recently closed "The Producers," and there is a Beatles segment that reminds you that "Love" is in town at the Mirage, and it has too much obligatory Elvis. Chairs and baths are used in the expected ways. Some of the structure is similar to Crazy Horse, and X owner Angela Stabile obviously brought some lessons from her many years as a dancer at Crazy Girls at the Riviera.
The constant in X is Stabile, who, along with her husband, is the producer and owner of X. She is a well-known Vegas fixture.
"My mom is the third butt to the right," says Tiffany Koepp, 24. Koepp is referring to the famous sculpture of the women from Crazy Girls' torsos at the Riviera that tourists to this day love to pose with in photographs. Koepp was in middle school when that advertising campaign came out. By the time her mom had retired from dancing and opened X, Koepp had decided to join the family business: "I was 19 when the show opened in the Aladdin. I was doing wardrobe."
Today she is the company manger for X.
I asked Koepp what it was like growing up in Vegas with a mom working on a major show on the Strip (back then Crazy Girls was far more high-profile, as was the Riviera). She laughed:
"First Grade. Mom was a showgirl. Parent day. I knew my mom did not look like the other moms. It always was the same comments about my mom being hot. There was nothing embarrassing. All the boys wanted to come to my house. They had seen my mom advertised on cabs. She helped choreograph a number in my fifth-grade dance show. Then my friends and I would go backstage to Crazy Girls and try on the wigs and outfits."
Since X first opened she has married a lighting designer from a show at Planet Hollywood and she had her first baby four months ago. Koepp decided for herself that behind-the-scenes work was the way to go in Vegas: "I was drafted once onstage in an emergency. I love the glamour of showgirls. But behind the scenes is a lot more fun. I get nervous on stage."
Since X first opened she has married a lighting designer from a show at Planet Hollywood and she had her first baby four months ago. Koepp decided for herself that behind-the-scenes work was the way to go in Vegas: "I was drafted once onstage in an emergency. I love the glamour of showgirls. But behind the scenes is a lot more fun. I get nervous on stage."
As for how growing up around the Vegas Strip affected her, Koepp says, "I love everything about Vegas. I don't think I could ever live anywhere else."
The anniversary performance of X finds the show has changed a great deal since I last saw it. The dancing has been improved by the same choreographer who worked on routines for the recently closed Fashionistas. Also, the music has been updated, including M.I.A. and other sounds of more recent vintage than other topless shows on the Strip offer.
For the anniversary performanance, during an audience participation segment, adult star Sunset Thomas was brought on stage by the X dancers and finished the number topless. I would not count on that happening every night.
Overall, X is stronger now than my previous viewings found the show. But X is not really trying to be the best topless show in Vegas history. Rather, with a small room and a modest budget, X is a show that allows tourists to have fun by providing a surprisingly intimate Vegas topless show experience with all of the standard bases touched at a reasonable price (depending on how you go about getting the tickets).
(Photo of X girls and Tiffany Koepp by Sarah Gerke)
For the anniversary performanance, during an audience participation segment, adult star Sunset Thomas was brought on stage by the X dancers and finished the number topless. I would not count on that happening every night.
Overall, X is stronger now than my previous viewings found the show. But X is not really trying to be the best topless show in Vegas history. Rather, with a small room and a modest budget, X is a show that allows tourists to have fun by providing a surprisingly intimate Vegas topless show experience with all of the standard bases touched at a reasonable price (depending on how you go about getting the tickets).
(Photo of X girls and Tiffany Koepp by Sarah Gerke)
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George Wallace gets Vegas market
Comedian George Wallace, the headliner at the Flamingo, offered a new joke proclaiming O.J. Simpson's obvious innocence on the grounds that everybody knows the man uses knives, not guns. It was tasteless. But I laughed. That is why I went to see a comic last night. After a few days on the O.J. Simpson story, it felt good to be back in a showroom on the Strip. George Wallace has been a headliner at the Flamingo for nearly four years and, he announced to the audience last night, he recently renewed his contract with the property. A former marketing major, Wallace oversees all aspects of selling his shows. And not in a distant way. Once while I was interviewing him for a story, Wallace had to take a call from a billboard company. I got to overhear Wallace win an argument with a salesman over the placement of his billboards in certain prime locations. It is just that sort of tenacity that helps a headliner survive and thrive in the brutally competitive environment of the Strip. So I wasn't surprised that even on a Tuesday night, though the room was not sold out, the audience was large enough to pass for a good-sized weekend crowd.
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Toni Braxton sued over Vegas outfits
AP is reporting today that Flamingo headliner Toni Braxton is being sued in a Los Angeles court by a wardrobe designer for her show at the Harrah's owned resort. In the suit, designer Anthony Franco claims Braxton still owes $15,000 for the creation of outfits worn in the Flamingo show: "Toni Braxton: Revealed." This happens at a time when locally things are going well for Braxton. Braxton's show, which had a rocky opening, celebrates a year on the Strip this month. Also, the Flamingo is said to have just extended her contract through February 2008.
So far Braxton's people have issued no comment on the wardrobe suit. But I will try to reach the Flamingo or Harrah's for comment when their offices open later this morning. It is curious that the resort does not seem to be named as a defendant. This suggests, but does not prove, that the Flamingo/Harrah's is not an investor in the Braxton production. In the past, the Flamingo has been known to four-wall its showroom. This is a practice where the artist essentially rents the room and does everything from pay for the production to pay for the marketing. Robert Goulet told me he lost a small fortune trying this at the Venetian a few years ago. Less harsh variations on these arrangements (often called a two-wall) are endless and can include the resort contributing marketing money or even a straight split of ticket revenue between artist and casino. But for some reason I thought Braxton was a more traditional headliner working for the resort. Maybe it is the large banner of her that adorns the exterior of the Flamingo. Now I realize I do not know Braxton's arrangement and status with the Flamingo/Harrah's. But I will try to find out as I look into the other issue.
(photo by Sarah Gerke)
UPDATE: The Flamingo referred me to Toni Braxton's attorney for all questions. I was asked to leave a message. I did.
(photo by Sarah Gerke)
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Sly Stone shows for show!
I knew I should have been there. Never bet against the impossible in Las
Vegas! But Saturday night was too busy: Spamalot had its red (more a cow) carpet
opening at Wynn, it was the one year belated anniversary celebration at Jet
at MIrage and the Tropicana was celebrating 50 years on the Strip. My work had
me at the Wynn for the print column of Movable Buffet instead of chasing
specters like I wanted to do. So, I was not there to witness, George Wallace,
the best stand-up comedian currently working the Strip, make his debut as an
amateur magician.
And, of course, Wallace goes and turns out to do something amazing. On
Saturday night as he predicted he would, Wallace performed a trick that is
beyond the powers of Lance Burton, Criss Angel and David Copperfield combined.
All of those magicians can easily make people disappear. But George
Wallace successfully conjured up onto the stage at the Flamingo the legendarily
reclusive Sly Stone for a concert. The current line-up of the Family Stone
opened with a few songs and then it happened: Sly Stone joined the band.
According to reports, for about 30 minutes Sly sang his hits and banged on his
keyboard while appearing a little rusty yet very enthusiastic. Tricks always are
a little less fun when you know the secret. John Kastilometes (smarter
than I, as he was there) reveals some of the backstage of how Wallace managed to
get more out of Sly than the Grammy Awards broadcast:
"One source said Wallace spent much of Saturday telling a hungover St
one
jokes to keep him pacified, but Wallace said he was only making sure the
performer was 'kept comfortable' in his suite."
one
jokes to keep him pacified, but Wallace said he was only making sure the
performer was 'kept comfortable' in his suite."I am guessing Wallace didn't leave Stone alone for a second. I wish I had
seen it. I am now a total believer in the unlimited powers of George Wallace and
am hoping for his next trick he can please summon Bob Dylan for an interview
with me.
(Photo by Phototechnik courtesy of George Wallace)
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Classic Rock Poker in Vegas
The "VH1 Classic Rock 'n' Roll Celebrity Poker Tournament" will take place Nov. 2 at the Flamingo. Promised in the press release are some of the "top names" in rock, though delivered for the game will be Sully Erna, Vinnie Paul, Ace Frehley, Dusty Hill and Scott Ian. OK, without looking it up, who can place all these "top" names in a band? I am good for the guy from Kiss, ZZ Top and Anthrax.
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Writer Slammed by Braxton Responds
I just spoke to Review-Journal critic Mike Weatherford about singer Toni Braxton's complaints. Weatherford wrote a column about the overwhelmingly negative response to Braxton's opening night performance at the Flamingo. Braxton implies that racism and sexism were factors in Weatherford's coverage. "That's just weird," an incredulous Weatherford said by phone after reading the quote from Braxton for the first time.
Weatherford then elaborated. "I can't even imagine where" Braxton's comment came from, he said. "But the easy thing to point out is that none of the comments in that column were mine. I wasn't there opening night and I say that in the column. All those comments came from other people, and a wide range of people at that. If she cares, my review runs in Friday's Neon section and I mostly liked" Braxton's show.
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