John Katsilometes

[The Kats Report]

Explaining the lure of 5-year-old ‘Absinthe’ at Caesars Palace

Image
Melody Sweets keeps ‘em coming back to Absinthe.
Don Spiro

There was a time, almost five years ago at Caesars Palace’s Roman Plaza, when the question about Absinthe was not about the show’s quality. The production was nails. Terrific. After six months, the quirky Absinthe family had won us over.

But what about the Absinthe home? That aged tent? As Absinthe became a sturdy prospect on the Strip, its home venue was about falling apart.

Like the show it housed, the original Spiegeltent was only built for a six-month run. By the fall of 2011, that tent was cratering for October winds and rain that caved in the top and knocked out electricity. What would that mean to a show growing in popularity?

A new, reinforced tent at a cost of more than $2 million. And a new commitment from Caesars Palace to its raunchy mix of cabaret, circus and comedy.

Absinthe charges along, rife with changes since it opened in 2011 but still a production partnership at Caesars between Spiegelworld and its founder, the “Improssario” Ross Mollison, and BASE Entertainment. The show opened on April 1, 2011 and celebrates its anniversary with a March 31 performance and afterparty at Omnia nightclub.

The show has been a personal favorite since it opened, and in a regretful case of literary confession back in March 2015, I noted I’d seen the show 35 times over the years. That number’s 40 now, which tops any production show in the city. I’ve known all 10 remaining original cast members of Absinthe for a long time, so seeing the show is often just a fun hang at Caesars. That, and I just dig the show immensely.

What I’ve loved about Absinthe over those five years:

Gazillionaire’s announcement, “If you are offended by words like f*ck or sh*t, you’re probably in the wrong f*cking show.”

The downbeat that leads to Melody Sweets’ opening number, “Slice of Heaven,” the song that sets the groove.

Sweets’ question of the chair tower stacked by Maxim Popazov: “What’s a girl to do with all that wood?”

Joy Jenkins’ quick quiz: “How many Germans does it take to fix a light bulb? Nine!”

Gaz’s warning, “You guys in the front row are in what we call the ‘cock seats.” … You’re going to have a lotta crotch in your faces tonight.”

How Alexa can hold Ming with no support during their aerial act, knowing that these two are married in real life.

Duo Vector’s Misha “10-Pack” Furmanczyk, a man who must be stopped.

Jenkins’ post-monologue announcement: “Wait. That’s not pee.”

The moment where Gaz halts the sock-puppet show, and not a moment too soon.

From Penny Pibbets, regarding that act: “It was like they were connected by a strand of spaghetti, like the dogs from Lady and the Tramp!”

The mix of saliva and pink lipstick that stains Pibbets’ face after every performance.

The blithe dance performed by the boys from Atlantis as Jenkins tries to wave them from the stage.

The smashed rose pulled from Ivan Chekov-Jones’ shorts, presented to Ivana Chekov-Jones, then tossed to a flinching audience member.

More from Gaz, after the “What Would You Do for Some Free Alcohol?” segment: “The Republicans hate this, because the black guy won again!”

And yet more from Gaz: “Nothing says ‘I hate gays’ like a Western leather jacket and cowboy boots!”

When Ivana Chekov-Jones slams her head into the wooden pillar as she leaves the stage.

The oversized absinthe glass used in Sweets’ “Up All Night” number, and that entire act, in fact.

The table-top tapping of twin hoofers Sean & John.

The odd sexual tension between sibling skaters Emily and Billy England.

The moment Emily sheds her nun costume for that act.

The entire Frat Pack high-wire team. To paraphrase Bill Murray in Stripes: “I wanna party with you guys.”

From Frat Packer Almas Meirmanov: “I’m not Chinese!”

From Gaz: “Not a word of English.”

Gaz’s onstage undressing of Fat Frank: “You’re a circus performer, for Christ’s sake. Do a sit-up once in a while.”

Fat Frank’s green, bedazzled G-string.

The dissimilar height but unfailing precision of Cadence Alexia and Linde Hartman of the aerial act Duo Fevrier.

The incident at the end of the Chekov-Jones’ silk act, when Ivana’s foot pulled down Ivan’s shorts for some free-willie action. This was an accident, the dozen or so times it happened. Gazillionaire swears to that, and in Absinthe, you have to believe it.

Absinthe Wednesday-Sunday, 8 & 10 p.m.; $99-$139. Spiegeltent at Caesars Palace, 800-745-3000.

Share
Photo of John Katsilometes

John Katsilometes

Get more John Katsilometes
Top of Story