That Time I Was a Star at V – The Ultimate Variety Show

Review: V- The Ultimate Variety Show

Recently I had the pleasure of taking in a viewing of V – The Ultimate Variety Show. Honestly, this was a show that I usually passed up. I’m not sure why; maybe it was the painted face guy.

I remember I would be in a taxi and grab the complimentary 24/7 Guide. I’d flip through the pages looking for some ideas on what to do on my trips. I’d see the ad; I’d go “meh” and pass it by. Just before my anniversary trip, while trying to get info about a future “Spoofical the Musical” article, I received an invite to see V. I didn’t want to be rude by declining, and if anything I’d get an article out of the experience. Free show? Good or bad, at least it would be free. Now I wish I had paid for it. The show would have been more than worth the ticket cost.

As the V theater sits right in the Miracle Mile shops, you’re surrounded by places to eat, places to shop, lots of stores. It’s a great location to grab a bite or a drink (or both) before or after the show. Theater location: a plus.

My wife and I headed inside for the 7 pm show. The show starts with Wally Eastwood, he is the show’s MC and does various juggling acts. Wally is the constant that holds the show together. His story is the story arc of the show. Very entertaining, very, very funny. One of the best things about V is that a new act happens every 7 minutes, or so it seems. One act comes on, amazes and leaves, followed by another act and so on. You’re always entertained by something new.

There’s Turf the Contortionist, and if wince-worthy could be a good thing, it was in this instance.

He did some things with his body that would otherwise seem otherworldly. We cringed but in “oh..OOOOHHH, oh my goodness…how the $%^# is he doing–OHH!” kind of way, thoroughly surprising. Iouri and Gabor were these two guys with amazing feats of strength (not the Festivus kind) that were able to balance and lift each other, with skill and dexterity that seemed to defy the laws of physics.

The Quiddlers were a silly trio, dressed as members of The Village People and performing a comical dance routine to the music.

There was a former Olympian, Gymnast Tamara Yerofeeva. Her act involved hoops and dancing, and spinning hoops from various places on her body…many…many hoops. Although it has been 16 years since her Olympic run, you wouldn’t know it. She’s very agile and light on her feet; gracefully entertaining.

Then there was Russ Merlin…

I didn’t see his act from the perspective of the audience. I had, unbeknownst to me (and others like me) volunteered myself to be on stage. I was behind a mask, well, two masks at first. Judging by the audience’s reaction, whatever happened was hysterical. I remember conducting music, and giving “okie-dokie” signs, and inflating balloons. I got off the stage when my part ended and audience members were saying “You guys were so funny!” so I’ll take that as a good thing. Russ did give us “volunteers” tickets to Marc Savard so expect a review in coming months.

The next act, The Skating Aratas, a couple on skates who risked breaking their necks, multiple times. I don’t want to spoil it, but, wow! I could count a number of occasions where I thought one of them (particularly the female) could have been injured. When each scene ended, I felt a combination of thoroughly impressed with them, and, relieved that no one got hurt. When they weren’t risking each other’s lives, they took a moment or two to look sexy.

Wally Eastwood came out and closed the show with juggling, and a piano, he managed to combine the two, brilliantly. V-The Ultimate Variety Show is safe for the whole family; there were many kids in attendance, as well as adults, who enjoyed the show regardless of age. I, for one, had an unexpectedly great time. The show I had judged by a cover–admittedly, wrongly–turned out to be one of the best shows I had seen in a long time. I think V-The Ultimate Variety Show is probably one of the most under-rated and unexpected shows on the strip. I would highly recommend this show to others.

Tickets are on sale at the V Theater Box Office

[Images: Courtesy of  V – The Ultimate Variety Show \ Theater Exterior: Michael Movestro]

Michael Movestro

Michael Movestro founded Vegas Bright to continue the tradition when Vegas Chatter cashed out. Michael pays the bills, maintains the site, writes articles, hosts VBN – Vegas Bright Newscast.