His haircut is business in the front, party in the back. He’s goofy. He’s crass. He’s lovable. He’s Lonny, played by Mark Shunock, in The Venetian’s musical production, Rock of Ages. Whether he’s swinging nunchucks, dropping sexual innuendos or heckling the audience when he breaks the fourth wall, Lonny leaves a lasting impression. Although he might not be the lead in the show, Lonny is certainly one of the performers who makes the show—Lonny is a scene-stealer.
Without crafty actors to elevate what would seem on paper to be mundane supporting roles, most shows, even ones with A-list leads, would be incomplete. But it is these performances, often in comic relief, that serve as the backbone of any production.
It only takes a handful of masks and some willing audience members to produce the loudest laughs of the evening, thanks to Russ Merlin. The comedian is one of a handful of performers in V—The Ultimate Variety Show at V Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort. The show is filled with amazing acts of contortion, magic, gymnastics, skating and juggling, but it’s Merlin who has people convulsing with laughter because of the masked shenanigans he pulls off onstage. Low-brow? Maybe, but a standout performance nonetheless.
Nicky Dewhurst and Shannan Calcutt
When Beyoncé called on all her “Single Ladies,” it’s not clear if Larry Edwards put his hands up, up in the club, but it is certain that the female impersonator found the most comical way to have fun with Bey’s ubiquitous single. In one of the most memorable vignettes in Frank Marino’s Divas Las Vegas at The Linq, Edwards enters stage left in a black leotard, black heels and long brown wig, busting out the famous steps, matched move for move, from the music video. The comical dance display somehow makes the maddening lyrics of “put a ring on it” fresh and fun again.
Jerry Lee Lewis tickled the ivories like no other, combining talent and a sense of fun and excitement, and Jacob Tolliver brings the charismatic man and his skill to the stage in Million Dollar Quartet at Harrah’s. While the three other impersonators playing Cash, Perkins and Presley do impress, it’s Tolliver’s mastery (and that of the other actor playing Lewis, Martin Kaye) of Lewis’ piano playing that resonates. Matching Lewis’ mannerisms while banging at the keys—including that signature move with his raised leg on the ivories—Tolliver allows the audience to suspend disbelief long enough to think what it’s seeing is the real deal.
Speaking of the real deal, Sean E. Cooper might not be the reason someone chooses to see Fantasy at Luxor, given all the lovely ladies who star in the show. But the comedian’s time onstage in between the topless numbers really does lead to a scene-stealing moment. Mixing stand-up comedy with impressions, Cooper bests himself with an over-the-top tribute to one of pop music’s biggest stars.
Flesh dominates in Zumanity at New York-New York, but it’s the flashy duo known as Dick and Izzy—played by Nicky Dewhurst and Shannan Calcutt—that really pushes the envelope. They want nothing more than to entice and excite the audience with all things sexual, and their interactions—between not only each other but also the audience—are pure R-rated fun. And their raunchy antics (some involving pretty impressive sex toys) leave guests blushing long after the curtain closes on the Cirque du Soleil show.
Perhaps what is most brilliant about Cirque is how it continually creates memorable characters in each of its productions. R.J. Owens as Le Bébé in Mystère at Treasure Island is good at stealing innocent looks that leave the audience collectively chiming with “oohs” and “aahs.” His part among a cast of elite athletes sticks out for its comedic qualities and serves as the symbol of the childlike wonderment audiences experience while watching the world of Mystère unfold.
