By Andrea Cannistraci, Luxury Lifestyle & Travel Blogger, journeyPod.com
Playing in a circular tent atop the parking deck at LA Live is the touring version of a show that has played on the Vegas Strip for years. I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect about this show, other than the disclaimer “Contains adult language. No one under 18 admitted.” It’s uncomfortable. It’s offensive. It’s hilarious. It’s good. The grease ball MC known as the Gazillionaire and his raunchy sidekick Daisy Dibbles spare no restraint. They call out “the Gays,” “the Asians”, “the Republicans,” “The Boring White Guys”. It’s politically incorrect. And that is OK. The show forces you out of your comfort zone. After awhile, the crass language is a bit overused and eventually loses much of its original, intended shock value.
The tight, intimate venue means there is not a bad seat in the house. In fact, it feels like the performers are right on top of you—and well, sometimes they are—literally. Like Cirque, the show features perfect, chiseled bodies doing death-defying acts. But instead of being “artsy fartsy” and upscale glamorous—Absinthe is down and dirty. No fancy costumes—you get men in jeans with no shirt, women in lingerie. Hot body after hot body, with costumes meant to accentuate body parts. I’d like to interview any of the performers and find out their dietary regiment. (Can you say no carbs, no sugar, no alcohol?)
The “Moscow City Rollers,” act invoked flashbacks of Xanadu. They spun around in circles in old school roller skates so fast that the first row audience was warned to remain seated. I actually became quite nauseated just watching them. Lady Bubblelicious, an aerialist who performs dances in and out of a giant plastic bubble, was my favorite act. The verdict: Go see it.
Absinthe LA runs through May 28 at Spiegelworld Tent at L.A. LIVE’s Event Deck, 1005 Chick Hearn Ct., L.A. AbsintheLA.com; Running time: Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. Use code: COMEBACK for a 15% discount.
