Friday, Dec. 19, 1997 | 10 a.m.
"Showgirls of Magic" is a well put-together, rapid-paced romp, combining music, dance, comedy and magic in a 70-minute revue format, twice nightly, except Monday in the San Remo Hotel's 200-seat Parisian Cabaret -- and now offering a hint of holiday cheer.
Bonnie Saxe, mother of, and ex-producer for, Melinda, First Lady of Magic, excels as producer, director and choreographer.
Saxe is also a master at making a modest-budget show look like it cost more than it does. At $19.95, she has put together one of Las Vegas' best entertainment bargains. This is a production to be enjoyed, not compared to others that cost three or four times as much.
Helen Rachel Dickens, Julie Northrup, Lisa Wadley, Teresa Serge and Cheryl Murphy are the showgirls, attractive and talented. The magic is simple and well-performed. Northrup has a strong outing with a take-off on Janet Jackson. Antonio Hoyas, a small person, makes an effective miniature Charlie Chaplin in one scene and is a hilarious Sonny to outsized Steve Daley's Cher.
Daley in feminine garb as "Tiny Bubbles" does stand-up, then produces a magic drawing board, cartoons someone in the audience and sings a duet with the cartoon on the board. Los Latin Cowboys, Hugo and Jorge, are sure-fire laugh- makers in addition to being effective with the drums and bolos.
The Christmas finale is a nice seasonal touch, complete with snow and appropriate music. Dave Rio does a good job with sound and lights while Jimmy Racey keeps good time, but much too heavily. He needs to lighten up.
"Showgirls of Magic" is a family show at 8 p.m. and adult (topless) at 10:30. For the budget-minded, looking for a quality return on your money, this is the show.
JOE DELANEY is a SUN entertainment critic.
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