Piff, Tape Face find way to stay onstage
UNDER normal circumstances, the turbulence in Caesars Entertainment this week would have seemed abnormal. But hey, it’s 2020, it’s COVID-19, and this is showbiz in Vegas.
The company lost “Absinthe” at Caesars Palace for the rest of this year and possibly longer because of the pandemic-induced economic crisis. But even as that show took down its dates Monday, we have learned
Piff the Magic Dragon is coming back to the Flamingo Showroom for 2½ weeks, and Tape Face has added eight matinee shows at the Harrah’s Showroom through Jan. 2.
Both headliners are playing to just 50 fans per show, of course. But no matter, that’s entertainment.
Piff had been sidelined since Gov. Steve Sisolak’s “pause” on Nov. 22 restricted the size of public gatherings. But after some quiet reflection and talks with Caesars officials and producers Matt and Angela Stabile of Stabile Productions, the costumed dragon opted to fire it up through the end of the year.
“After putting our cast and crew on hiatus for three weeks during the pause, they are now facing the holiday without work,” John Van der Put, who portrays Piff, texted Monday night. “As the pause has been extended, we will perform our remaining shows between now and the end of the year. We hope to be able to provide work to those we call family and bring a little happiness to guests coming to the show.”
Piff, along with co-stars Showgirl Jade Simone, Squire Brett Alters and
King Matt Donnelly, had reopened at the Flamingo Showroom on Oct. 27, when capacity restrictions were limited to 250. The show has moved from Bugsy’s Cabaret to the larger showroom so folks can space out.
“To put the 50-people rule in perspective, that’s the cutoff point for our meetand-greet when we’re on the road,” Piff said. “Now it’s the whole audience.”
Angela Stabile says she hopes Sisolak can up the capacity to 100, 200 or back to 250 and drop the 25-foot distance between the audience and stage. Stabile said 6 to 10 feet would be sufficient “so other shows are able to reopen and get the entertainment industry at least working again.”
At Harrah’s, Tape Face has continued through the “pause,” without pause. The comic mime put an octet of 4:3o p.m. shows on sale beginning Friday. Those shows are in addition to his scheduled 7:30 p.m. performances.
Tape Face, whose legal name is Sam Wills, said in a text, “We feel pretty good knowing that we are not only THE FUNNIEST SHOW IN LAS VEGAS but also that we are maintaining an incredibly high standard of health and safety at all of our shows.” (Uppercase treatment is from the mime.)
Along with comedic sidekick Christina Balonek as Phyllis Vanillis, Tape Face has set up 100 mannequin heads atop theater seats in the showroom’s front section. This is to fill seats in the restricted 25-foot “Entertainment Moat.”
Those figures don’t count against the venue’s 50-person capacity, at least not yet. But check back Jan. 15.
Pin her up Sabina Kelley
is guest-starring in “X Country” at Harrah’s Cabaret on Friday and Saturday nights. This is a return to the “X” empire for Kelley, who appeared in “X Burlesque” at the Flamingo in February.
Kelley co-stars in four shows over the two nights (7 and 10 p.m.). She is featured in three solo numbers, delivers some comedy and is in the finale. “X Country” is one of four Caesars Entertainment shows currently performing, joining “Extravaganza” in the Jubilee Theater as well as Piff and Tape Face.
Kelley’s Vegas stage career dates to “Jubilee” at Bally’s. We met when she was a guest star in “Pin Up” at the Stratosphere (now called The Strat). Kelley was also a judge on the competition show “Best Ink,” which she could have won herself.
Great Moments in Social Media
What do Elvis, Liberace and David Christensen
( Cami Christensen’s father) have in common? They have all graced the marquee at what is now Westgate Las Vegas, formerly the International and then the Las Vegas Hilton.
Cami Christensen, Westgate’s president and general manager, posted photos on Facebook of her father on the marquee hovering above Paradise Road on Monday. She pulled this surprise to celebrate his 80th birthday.
David was referred to as “David L.” on the message, for his nickname around the hotel. His middle name is Lee.
Christensen sprung the surprise on her dad by telling him she needed to make sure a new sushi special at Benihana/riki Tiki Sushi restaurant was being promoted on the marquee. Christensen says, “He was very surprised, and very humbled by the attention.”