Fax A/E event submissions to the Mercury at 387-5211 or send e-mail to calendar@lasvegasmercury.com. Dulcie Younger Milton Esterow Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express Lewis Black Tom Jones McAvoy Layne, renowned Twain impersonator Midget wrestling at Gilley's

Thursday, January 15, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

A/E Highlights

Spawning disturbing thoughts

Right off the bat, let's state that Dulcie Younger is a kick-ass rockabilly performer who seems way more dangerous and sexy than any of the Stray Cats ever did. Especially that bass player with the big poodle puff sprouting out of the top of his scalp. What was that guy's deal? Younger makes that shapeless '50s dress look hot, but when you think about it, she's dressed like your grandmother's high school yearbook picture. Was Granny a hottie at some point? Well, of course she was, or you probably wouldn't be here. That means that sweet old lady with the cookies and the horrendous perfume used to cover up the smell of decaying flesh had, you know, relations. Knowing your family, probably not that missionary style, get-it-over-quick kind, either. Aieee...mind flooded with images of Granny going at it like a Schnauzer in heat. Wet shots, tea bags, the Mongolian bubble stretch. Argh. Must take scalding shower with wire brush. Will never feel clean again. Uh, anyway, Dulcie Younger will be appearing with the Bop Kings at the Double Down at 4640 Paradise Road. Friday. Free. Info: 791-5775.

Before the drunken revelry

We'll give the organizers of this event a point for sheer chutzpah. It's Saturday night in Las Vegas, when all the struggling L.A. thespians are in town blowing off steam (and other things). With a thousand venues for scantily clad hotness and flashy nightlife, the Las Vegas Art Museum is hosting a free lecture by Milton Esterow, editor and publisher of ARTnews, titled "How to Look at Art." We'll end the smart-ass portion of this commentary by noting that we'd always assumed it involved the eyes in some way or another. All that baggage aside, it's probably just the sort of thing the city needs. By all accounts, Esterow is a sharp, funny speaker. He deciphers the code of "artspeak," reducing the gibberish that often passes as art criticism to a message normal people can understand. Plus, the whole thing will probably be over by 9, so you can head down to the club and burn out any brain cells you developed by sucking Jell-O shots off an attractive stranger's chest. Sorry, that whole smart-ass thing slipped out again. The free lecture is at 7 p.m. at the Las Vegas Art Museum, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Info: 360-8000.

They lost their train of thought

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express pulls into town this week. We swear we're not making this up; it's essentially a musical version of The Little Engine That Could with all the actors on rollerskates. There's a love story as well, but think of it as roller derby without the body slams and a little less plot. Actually, it's sort of the perfect Broadway show for Las Vegas tourists, lightweight and flashy with cool costumes and sets. So take your visiting cousin from Scratch Ankle, Ark., and get her to stop hanging out at the Siegfried and Roy statue sobbing. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. with additional shows Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $27.80 -$82.80. Info: 785-5000.

On the road and ticked off about it

Actually, we don't know if being on the road for the first-ever Comedy Central Live tour ticks off Lewis Black, but it's a safe bet. Very little doesn't tick him off. In fact, we're pretty sure just mentioning in this paper that things tick him off will tick him off. Fortunately, he and fellow comedians Dave Attell and Mitch Hedburg are at their best and funniest when ticked off. They're much funnier than writing the phrase "ticked off" over and over, but doing so just gives us a weird little thrill we don't want to discuss right now. Comedy Central Live is at the House of Blues Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m. Tickets are $32.50 to $50. Info: 632-7600.

Another brilliant money maker

Why didn't we think of this before, when we were riffing on David Copperfield? It's brilliant. We need an audiobook version of Henry Fielding's hilarious 18th century romp Tom Jones, read by Tom Jones. We'd buy it. We know a lot of other people who'd buy it. Come on, Tom, fulfill this little fantasy for us and we'll stop bugging you about our other little fantasy, the one with the Cool Whip and the rubber bands. Meanwhile, Tom is singing and swinging at the MGM Grand at 9 p.m. through Wednesday. Tickets $70. Info: 891-7777.

Dead and back in Vegas

Wow, Mark Twain is coming back to Vegas. Why, he hasn't been here since the 1950s. Oh, it's just McAvoy Layne, renowned Twain impersonator. He's okay too, we guess. It sure would be swell to get the original back in town again. Do you suppose he and Elvis ever hung out? Layne will perform "Mark Twain: Wild Humorist of the Pacific Slope" on Friday from noon to 1 p.m. in the jury selection room at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse, 333 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Visitors may bring a sack lunch or partake of light refreshments that will be available. Admission is free. Info: 229-1087.

Subtle, dignified entertainment

Presumably, they decided on midget wrestling and comedy because midget Shakespearean tragedy wasn't selling many tickets. It's going on at Gilley's, in the New Frontier, Wednesday at 10 p.m. Call for ticket prices. Info: 704-8434.