“Twisted Vegas” At Westgate Floats On A Silly Sea

“Twisted Vegas…an uneven but satisfying blend of good-natured (and mostly clean) entertainment”…

With the advent of multi-million-dollar production shows, high-end nightclubs and exclusive restaurants, Las Vegas has become super-serious about itself. Take a step backwards and you’ll see that this current attitude is ripe for skewering.

That’s what the new show Twisted Vegas at Westgate Resort is all about.

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Handsome and hunky French actor/comedian Alex Goude is the creator and guiding force behind Twisted Vegas. A longtime fan (and current resident) of Sin City, Goude bubbles with enthusiasm when speaking about the City of Neon.

The reverence and fond memories of Vegas that he shares with the audience go way back to his visits during childhood. Goude (pronounced “good”) weaves those elements into the new production, albeit from a decidedly French point of view.

“French humor” isn’t always well-received by American audiences. After all, this is the culture that considers Jerry Lewis to be a comedic genius. So it’s interesting that Alex is eager and willing to poke so much fun at Cirque du Soleil, the hoity-toity French-Canadian acrobatic troupe that transformed Vegas entertainment.

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Look out, “Mystere”…

Then again, nothing is sacred in Twisted Vegas. Celine Dion gets the most frequent (and best) ribbing, faithfully recreated onstage by “Costic“, a male performer who has the songstress’s voice and mannerisms down to a stunningly authentic…and hysterical…degree.

Twisted Vegas takes the audience on a journey up and down the Strip, with a few hops backward in time. Goude narrates from different points on the enormous stage, often participating in skits that poke fun at resorts, attractions, fads…and Criss Angel (yes!).

One amusing sequence recreates the Bellagio Fountains using audience members, hose nozzles and a long-armed orchestra conductor, all positioned in front of a projected backdrop of the Bellagio. Sure, it’s silly and childish, but what spoof isn’t? If you feel guilty for laughing, it’s your own fault.

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The cast is a veritable laundry list of veteran performers, accomplished athletes, singers, acrobats…and even a little person or two. Mix in a sinking Titanic (farewell, Jubilee!), a remote-controlled airplane, lowbrow humor and some clever video segments, and you’ve got an uneven but satisfying blend of good-natured (and mostly clean) entertainment.

Not to say that everything in Twisted Vegas works. The performance that I attended on the official opening night (after a few weeks of previews) revealed a production that could use plenty of tweaks and streamlining.

Aside from a few understandable technical gaffes and a couple of acts that seemed oddly out-of-synch with the parody theme (we were told that cast injuries before the premiere necessitated last-minute scrambling), Twisted Vegas isn’t entirely cohesive.

And yet, this writer has to stand up and applaud whenever a show offers something that I’ve never seen onstage before. During a skit skewering nightclubs, Goude’s campy dance moves morph into a light-and-laser set piece that alone is worth the ticket price. It was jaw-dropping and unforgettable.

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Opening night crowd lines up for “Twisted Vegas”

At an after-party inside Westgate’s Verona Sky Villa, Goude and I chatted about the various shows he enjoys here in town. One of his favorites is Le Reve at Wynn, which lands in the crosshairs alongside Zumanity and Ka. All are given deliberately awful…but loving…interpretations.

Goude himself turns out to be an infectiously likable man. His energy and enthusiasm draw you in and makes you eager to accompany him on his joy-filled romps through Vegas.

Alex is also determined to make his name…and brand of entertainment…familiar to American audiences. Whether or not his Westgate effort succeeds, the multi-hyphenate let slip that he has at least one more Vegas production on the horizon.

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For now, Twisted Vegas might be riding a choppy sea. But as Captain of this silly vessel, Goude is determined to make it sail for awhile.  Given some time (and fine tuning), this production could become a solid contender for your entertainment dollars.

Let’s hope that happens. Las Vegas needs to laugh at itself once more.

Twisted Vegas performs Tuesday through Sunday at 7pm in the Westgate International Theater. Prices start at $59 inclusive and can be ordered by following this link  or calling 800-222-5361. We also found a Groupon offer starting at $35, good through August 6th.  

Suitable for all ages.

Photos: [Sammasseur]

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