I usually don't make a point of posting a blog about a show closing, but I thought this was kind of sad news and wanted to take a moment to discuss it. Since 1959, Folies Bergere has graced the Tropicana on the Las Vegas Strip. Because of the economy, the show will fold in March. Folies was produced in-house at the Trop, so it will not be showing anywhere else.
I saw Folies several years ago, and I'm glad I did. You'll see reviews of the show, and some people will say Folies was way past its prime, that it's a good thing it's closing, that it's about time. Not me. Now don't get the wrong impression. I'm a big fan of the new shows in Vegas, and I'm not one of those people who's convinced that Las Vegas was better off during the Rat Pack era than the Wynn era. But I liked Folies.
I remember it vividly...
In 2002, my girlfriend (now wife, Martha) had never been to Las Vegas, and I had not been in several years. I booked our stay at the MGM Grand, and we had such a great time in Vegas! One night we decided to take in Folies. Martha wanted to see classic Vegas, although she was a little hesitant about seeing a topless show. But, she agreed to go... when in Rome, you know.
We sat at one of those long tables they position at the front of the stage. Our seats were at the very front of the table, practically touching the stage. We chatted very briefly with the couple who sat across from us, and then the show started.
We really enjoyed it. The numbers were fast, vivid, fun, and unique. For one set, the showgirls sat on large swings that swooped across the stage. They seemed to swing dangerously close to my head, although I'm sure those high heels cleared me by a safe distance. Some of the feathers from their boas flew off as they swung, and I joked with Martha that they were tickling my nose. She was worried that I was going to have to marry one of them - if they got any closer on those swings, I would probably become intimately involved with them.
About half way through the show, they brought on the comic relief, typical of the classic Vegas experience. Wally Eastwood - Fast Wally. I'll never forget him. He juggled (really fast, not your typical juggling act), told a few jokes, and played the piano with bouncing balls (targeted as a hoax on YouTube because the piano is apparently pre-recored, but who cares? It looked real enough and was still fun to watch). Great entertainment. What more could you ask for?
I typically stay away from musicals and big number type shows. They're just not my thing. But there was something about Folies that I really liked. Can't exactly explain it, but I think it has more to do with my memory of our time in Vegas than the actual show.
These days, Las Vegas hotels focus a lot on providing big, all-inclusive experiences in a one-stop-shop. They want to provide top-notch entertainment at a reasonable price for the consumer without costing them a lot of overhead. That means that your favorite show, slot machine, club... or casino may not be there next week.
So it's particularly impressive that Folies has been a Vegas mainstay for 50 years. If you haven't seen it, I urge you to do so if you're in Vegas before March. You won't be disappointed.
It isn't big. It isn't extreme. It isn't built in a theater with high-tech acoustics. It is just good, fun entertainment. And I'll miss it when it's gone...
Viva,
Mike
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