Opium –A Hilarious, Erotic Adventure in Space

I went into this show with only one preconceived notion – it is going to be a bit naughty.  I didn’t know how mild that statement would be.  Walking into the theater, you feel transported back into a 50’s sci-fi film.  Surprisingly, the tasty drink menu (the drinks are tasty, not the menu itself – I did not sample that), are served in bags.  It does make them a little awkward to carry and they may be a little cold in your hands but the show will warm you up quickly enough.  My drink came with Pop Rocks and I highly suggest it.

I love the intimate theater, glowing in neon colors inside the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino.  The stage area is very small by typical Vegas standards but is absolutely perfect for this show.  Certainly a throwback to the old days of smaller venues and feeling more connected to the show instead of just a spectator. 

The premise of the show is that you are on Uranus (a joke that does get slightly overplayed) and you are headed to Las Vegas.  You meet the crew and experience their special talents along the way.  There is a lovely merger between classic show skills and new, inventive ways of performance displayed here.  In particular, the juggler, for example.  I have seen lots of jugglers over the years but I have never seen one work in this style before and it is quite impressive.  The contortionist was not only enjoyable but absolutely hilarious.  Those two alone are well worth the price of admission.

That isn’t to say the rest of the performance wasn’t fantastic, because it was.  From start to finish, if I wasn’t laughing from the jokes, I was in awe of the performances.  All backed by a very solid band, playing a good amount of familiar music that you will clap your hands to (don’t worry, they’ll let you know when to do this).   My stomach is actually sore today from laughing so much.

If you are planning on coming to town or already there, take a couple hours and have a rip roaring good time at Opium.  Beware, one way or another, you may get wet.

For tickets:

https://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/entertainment/exclusives/opium

Jabbawockeez: Jreamz – Journey Within

Tonight, for the first time, I attended Jabbawockeez at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.  I had walked by the theater dozens of times and never thought much of it.  From what little I knew, it was a hip-hop dance show, neither of which held any interest for me.   Much like opera, I have the greatest respect for those who work hard and do it well, but I wasn’t excited to experience it.  Less than ten minutes in, I was so glad I went.

The setting is intimate.  Certainly comfortable seating (I was treated to the front row, where the long bench was comfortable and my ticket also came with a gift, free drink and popcorn (always remember to tip your bartender and wait staff)).  Even being nearly directly in front of the stage left speakers, the sound was not overbearing.  In all fairness, I did wear my Eargasm Ear Plugs, as I do in any venue.  Hip-hop, by nature, can be bass heavy and driving with percussion so I always suggest bringing ear plugs.

I don’t want to give away too much about the show because it really is simply an amazing experience with a fantastic message.  The story line is generally easy to follow.  It does get slightly abstract at points but always comes back quickly.  That is just the nature of the art but it is tastefully done with some fascinating dance moves and simple but powerful costuming.  The music, lights, and effects do not disappoint in any way; very tasteful and compliment the show well.  There are many musical favorites and even the sound of Mario grabbing coins in the basement.

Being the private, sheltered individual that I am, there is one thing I didn’t like.  I realize I may be in the minority on that so I will preface my statement with that going in.  There is some crowd participation involved.  Clapping, stand up (aside from the standing ovation) and two people are even brought to the stage.  My take on this is that I prefer to be fairly anonymous at an event.  I like to observe and enjoy and though this is common practice is some of the major shows, I prefer concert style, where I know I can go in, watch in my own way (which usually just tapping my foot while I watch and listen, taking it all in).  Again, I will say, that is just me.  There are plenty of people that jumped up immediately and I thought one girl might even start twerking.

Overall, I wish I had taken advantage and seen this show much sooner.  If you like talented dancers, a well put together evening and surprises around every corner, go see this show!

https://www.mgmgrand.com/en/entertainment/jabbawockeez.html

As of this writing, the show performs Thursday through Monday but that is always subject to change.  Enjoy!

A Night at the Edge of the Water: “O” By Cirque Du Soleil

Maybe there is just something about the particular shade of blue that Cirque Du Soleil uses in their promotional material for “O” at The Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, but there is a deep coolness that touches your skin and draws you in to want to know what it is all about.  It had been about 8 years or so since I had seen the show from a seat that gave away a lot of secrets to how this masterpiece is achieved.  When I saw it again last week, I wished I had gone more often.

From what I remember about my first visit, some things in the show had changed.  Not surprising as shows are revamped from time to time.  For one, the sound in the theater is absolutely fantastic.  The music sounds larger than life and was crystal clear to this audio engineer’s ear.  The score by Benoit Jutras has some very ethnic touches among the ballads and power pieces that make a great balance and truly enhance the show.

Equally impressive is the talent on stage and the stage itself, which is constantly transforming.  The timing of the talent was virtually flawless and there are a lot of moving parts to this show.  A great deal of work goes into each and every one of these large scale productions but the water shows have another element (forgive the pun) altogether.

As if all that wasn’t enough, there is a perfect balance of music to show to comedy as a couple clowns bring levity when things are getting on the edge of too intense.

While a bit more expensive (that water doesn’t maintain itself, you know) than the majority of the rest of the shows, it remains a must see for Vegas.  For the best deals, check out www.cirquedusoleil.com and join the Cirque Club for free and doors to special pricing will be opened.

Warning… people in the first few rows may get wet…

What Happened in Vegas...

Las Vegas, Nevada.  Known for the 24 hour party life and that is exactly what you get when you are here.  Well… almost.  The casinos and some supportive places, like most bars and sundry shops, are open 24 hours as well as some restaurants.    On the Strip, though, you can take a walk anytime and see the colorful lights and roaming visitors.  People tend to let loose here a little more than other places because of the party vibe.

Since moving to Las Vegas a year ago, I’ve been taking walks down the strip 2-3 nights a week.  This book contains a collection of 450 things I actually heard people say during my journeys.  Woven in between the quotes are some pictures I took but they aren’t the usual photo book pictures you will find elsewhere.

To give you an idea, here are a couple examples of what you will find inside:

Man: “You might be my soulmate!”

Woman, “Just don’t start crying.”

And…

“I consider lying to be the same as not being truthful.”

And…

“You know, you’re the kind of girl that is going to end up being a hockey mom.”

Take a walk down one of the most famous streets in the world and discover What Happened in Vegas…

Now available now on Amazon in both Kindle (free on Amazon Prime) and print edition through Amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/What-Happened-Vegas-Scott-Haskin-ebook/dp/B01E2AL28M/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1461024512&sr=1-1&keywords=scott+haskin

If you would like a PDF copy, you can purchase that on my website at www.scotthaskin.com.

Enter the Amazon Giveaway for a Kindle copy!  Don't have a Kindle?  No problem, Amazon hosts a free plugin to read on any device!
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/c34bb4fab467992c