Variety acts take the spotlight
By Caroline Fontein
Don't blink, you might miss something. Actually, you might miss a lot. That's what audiences at V - The Ultimate Variety show will want to remember. This fast-paced, high-energy show features an exciting lineup of specialty acts from around the world. During the 75-minute revue you'll see about seven different acts take the stage.
New performers are constantly being added to the show's roster, so you never know exactly who you're going to see that night. Some of the recurring acts include: master juggler Wally Eastwood; the Skating Aratas; The Crazy Gauchos from Argentina Eduardo Lomé and Hugo Latorre; Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast Tamara Yeroffyeva; Melinda - First Lady of Magic; comedian Russ Merlin; and impersonator Joe Trammel.
The show's variety format stems from the days when shows used to feature a specialty act to supplement the main production. In some instances, those specialty acts became the stars of the show. At V - The Ultimate Variety Show, all of those stars get a chance to shine in one amazing revue. The varied lineup makes this show a great option if you're traveling with a group and looking for a show that has a little something for everyone.
Eastwood is both the host and a performer in the show. His infectious energy sets the pace for the whirlwind of talent about to take the stage. Eastwood has been described as having "the fastest hands on Earth," and it's easy to see why. He performs several different routines throughout the show, including juggling ping pong balls with his mouth and playing Beethoven's "Für Elise" by bouncing rubber balls on an electronic keyboard. Not only does he amaze, but Eastwood makes people laugh. His happy-go-lucky attitude paired with his self-deprecating humor is a winning combination.
The Skating Aratas kick things into high gear with their daring acrobatic skating act. Performed by husband and wife Victor and Jenny Arata, their act is done on a small platform on an area of the stage that extends into the crowd. Victor propels the duo in a high-speed spin while lifting and spinning Jenny in the air in a series of awe-inspiring poses. The limited performance space, paired with their risky routine is nothing short of amazing.
Dressed in traditional garb, The Crazy Gauchos perform an exhilarating drum routine. They stomp their feet in perfect time to the upbeat rhythm resounding from their drums. They enliven the audience with their wild sense of humor.
The mood changes from uproarious laughter to awe as Yeroffyeva, a former Olympic gymnast, enters. Tall and lean, her graceful movements enchant the audience as she demonstrates spinning a hula hoop on her legs or arms while contorting into various different postures. Her flexibility is mind-boggling.
After a 10-year hiatus from the stage, Melinda - The First Lady of Magic is back in Vegas amazing audiences. A mother of two, Melinda makes it hard to believe she's ever stopped performing. She was the only female magician to have her own headlining magic show on the Strip in the ’90s. As part of the cast at V, Melinda does three main illusions with the help of her female assistants/dancers.
Merlin performs a comedy act with four volunteers from the audience. Each volunteer is given an outrageous mask to wear and assigned a different gesture to make when Merlin taps them on the shoulder. It's not long before the entire audience is laughing at the hilarious scene he creates on stage.
Trammel is the final act for the night. He does a physical comedy routine where he morphs into various well-known entertainment icons through the use of hilarious props, costumes and music. One second he is Superman and the next he is a member of the Jackson Five. A television rolled on stage acts as a prop cart from which Trammel pulls his wacky contraptions. Laughter arises from the audience at Trammel's ever-changing appearance.
If you are looking for a night of big laughs paired with an assortment of awe-inspiring entertainment, V -The Ultimate Variety Show has it all.
