The line of people waiting to get into ROUGE curved all the way around the perimeter of The STRAT Theater’s lobby, extending into the retail area eight minutes before the scheduled start time. The self-identifying “sexiest show in Las Vegas” has attracted a diverse demographic on this evening, with a good many dressed in smart-casual evening wear. The queue moves quickly though, into a mid-size venue where cast members writhe sensually on twin platforms set amidst the VIP booths.
Our emcee is Dr. Libido, a mustachioed steampunk sexpert in a top hat and red pinstripe pants who delivers raucous rhetoric with a Big Easy accent. His assistant is hyper-sexual Nurse Naughty, a Southern hellion who will team up with the good doctor to demonstrate formations rarely seen in public such as the “bald eagle.” Strength, agility and enthusiasm are amply demonstrated.
There will be toplessness, but first a pair of platinum blonde aerialists engage in tandem strap act physicality that is both sensual and next level. Several acts demonstrate superhuman abilities, including a trio of well-muscled men who really know how to use their heads and form a human tower that almost reaches the ceiling.
There is top-speed skating, spinning and quite a bit of bawdiness. There are gladiators, ballerinas and bare derrieres. There is Nina Simone’s version of “I Put a Spell on You.” There is a cast member with a passing resemblance to Jason Momoa.
Eighteen performers in all will step onstage as Dr. Libido provides crowd-work interludes and finds out guests’ deepest, darkest secrets. This is a part of the show where one should expect the unexpected, free speech reigns, and descriptions of audience participation may not be appropriate for a family magazine.
That said, ROUGE is more about celebrating the beauty of the human body than titillation. There is tease before toplessness, and both men and women are given equal time in the spotlights. Audience enthusiasm builds until hoots and hollers accompany every impressive move and motion. The enthusiasm tempts guests to take unauthorized images or video, but those urges should be resisted as the last five minutes are reserved for capturing content with Nurse Naughty’s consent.
The STRAT, 18+. tickets.thestrat.com
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