Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 December 2009 15:13 Written by Sandy Zimmerman Saturday, 19 December 2009 06:34
"It's Murder with a Dinner and Show"
I have reviewed many interactive shows of all types, but “Pageants can be Murder” is different!
These genres of theatrical productions usually bring the audience into the story throughout the play.
The person sitting next to you might either be the murderer or the one who is poisoned!
We watch for clues and suspect everybody! Then someone suddenly screams, falls down, and it is time to call the police. (Photos: Sandy Zimmerman)
But in “Pageants”, we know the actors right away while they walk around and joke with the audience before the show and between acts.
“Pageants” is a separate story from the audience interaction, but just like all of the interactive plays it is a “show within a show”. The pageant theme spoof is modeled after those famous beauty pageants which are so popular today.
When the MC Beau Tythe welcomes everyone to the “Miss Cactus Flower Beauty Pageant”, the show begins.
There is singing, dancing, a little comedy and of course, murder!
First the contestants performed a lively country western-style line dance, an indication of versatility as they showed their other talents throughout the evening.
The show is tied together with the MC’s comments and songs as it moves from the swim suit to the talent competition, and to all of the other contests in which the entrants had to participate in order to win. 
All of the elements of a real beauty pageant are present but exaggerated.
The doting mother of one of the contestants continually interrupts the show by bragging about her daughter and running up to the stage.
Finally one of the contestants was murdered!
Who is the murderer?
The audience has a chance to fill out a slip of paper to answer that question with the “how and why” of the crime. There are prizes if you can guess.
Usually in most plays/novels the writer includes hints for the audience in order for them to work out the puzzle and figure the mystery of “Who did it?” but not in this play.
The murder had nothing to do with the story line; it was contrived and just seemed to be thrown together at the last minute.
Stand out performance by the truly Marilyn Monroe look-alike, impressionist Bambi Jones. In fact, each of the beauty contestants is attractive and t
alented.
The writer David Bach mentioned that the dinner was written into the script, but all the MC did was to say “We will eat now while the contestants are changing for the next contest.”
I had expected a clever way of including the dinner.
One of the few dinner shows in Las Vegas, the Alexis Park Resort is known for their food. The meal was great with minestrone soup, salad, a large chicken entrée, and sinful chocolate dessert.
I would rate this play as a much simpler version of the interactive dinner theatre productions when compared with the other hit interactive shows playing here in Las Vegas- “Tony n’ Tina’s wedding”, “Marriage can be Murder”, “Tournament of Kings”, “Sopranos Last Supper”, etc.
Another surprise which I have never se
en before, the cast served the dinner!
Jeffrey Taylor has produced several independent films and now is currently the producer of “Pageants can be Murder”.
“Pageants can be Murder” appears Tuesday thru Saturday, at 7 pm, in the Alexis Park Hotel, 375 E. Harmon.
Sandy Zimmerman is a Syndicated Features Columnist with articles published in Japan, Dubai, England, Columbia, and other countries around the world as well as in the United States. Sandy is an award winning Talk Show Host of the “Las Vegas Today Show” programs and “Discover the Ultimate Vacation” travel specials. She writes for Discover the Ultimate Travel, Dining, Entertainment, Health and Spas and a world travel guide.SUGGESTIONS:
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