Fantasy

“A minimum height of 5ft 6, and skilled in the art of sexy”. Well that's what the recruitment communiqué for a new brood of “Fantasy” dancers might as well have read. A straight up in your face blend of street, hip-hop and oddly – ballet experience, are the prerequisites for aspiring revue dancers. Oh, and the ability to perform for a whopping seventeen numbers without spiking your ankle with a six inch heel, or falling on your face due to lactic acid build up in your knees! Superwomen? They might as well be! Supercharged? Definitely!

There's no escaping the abundance of itsy bitsy bikini flaunting revues along the Strip, however there is more than an evidential class divide among them. Burlesque and bunny-girls tend to feature quite prominently among the 'favorites', while the 'flag down a taxi, I need a quick fix' clubs are predominantly of the pole and lap variety. Emerging from a decade when Vegas entertainment took a brief detour into 'family friendly' territory, “Fantasy” has ridden out the “Disney era” and maintained pole position as one of the top-selling sin shows on the Strip.

As obscure venues go, The Luxor Hotel Resort is definitely up there for it's present conglomeration of productions. “Fantasy” shares it's resident Atrium Theater with satirical music parody “Menopause: The Musical” and Cirque-inspired illusionist Criss Angel (“Believe”). Here, there is no buff male troupe to even out the gender allure – so it comes as a bit of a surprise to learn that “Fantasy” is billed as suitable for both singles AND couples! Delve a little deeper into the nature of the show, and all becomes apparent with singer Lorena Peril (the recent replacement for ex-Baywatch beauty Angelica Bridges) tipped to break up the booty-bouncing with James Brown's “It's A Man's World”. The former star of “Sin City's Bad Girls” brings an off the scale vocal range, and feisty Latino spirit to the show – in which she playfully adopts the egos of both host, and seductive temptress.

The reason for the height stipulations upon “Fantasy” recruitment adverts becomes apparent, when the first of twenty-two lingerie clad performers unzips the show upon a giant king-size bed. It might fair to mention at this point, that “Fantasy” was formerly known as “Midnight Fantasy”, it's intention being that of a loose dream/ fantasy sequence. As a result, you'll find cowgirl line-dancing, accompanied by an all cast rendition of Big and Rich's “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy” segueing into a swinging silk aerial solo in the blink of an eye.
One-time significant other of superstar Jennifer Lopez; choreographer Cris Judd brings an astoundingly diverse array of fancy footwork to the show, ranging from a Cuban salsa solo, to an in-sync 'work that booty' street number featuring nearly all of the troupe. Once a lead dancer for Michael Jackson's “HIStory” world tour, many critics have concurred Cris Judd's dancers could lick the floor with any of Las Vegas' showgirls, and still have the va-va voom to perform an entire show!

For voyeurs who enjoy the kind of peak and tease revue that takes a slow and sultry descent into erotic, this probably wouldn't be the kind of show for you. With seventeen numbers to kill in just over 90 minutes, plus a 15-minute catch your breath/ lower your pulse respite period of stand-up from Sean E. Cooper - the dynamic of the show never ceases pace. The “Born To Do It, Die Doing It” philosophy of Cooper becomes apparent through his daring attempts at Michael Jackson impressionism – a vignette which did not cease to be included, despite the star's untimely death. To be fair, it's far more honorary than many Jackson spoofs in Vegas!

Cooper's defining act has to be his transformation, and subsequent coverage of James Brown “I Feel Good”. Like an excitable puppy he bounds around the stage replicating the 60's dance moves with utter finesse. Could Judd have had a hand in his development too? It's likely, since the choreographer cum creative director likes to keep a tight reign on the visuals! With the departure of Angelica Bridges, “Fantasy” courted a brief period of speculation over whether it could survive without it's Baywatch pin-up persuasion. Now in it's eleventh year, Lorena Peril appears to have brought a fresh injection of sensuality to an already steaming hot fantasy revue. This is one visual that promises more than just your average striptease!