Stage: Bite

Toothless

By Barbara Scherzer

Bite is an erotic rock opera that unfolds its plot points without using any dialogue. It is created, written, directed and produced by Tim Molyneux, who is marking his first foray into the Vegas market. Based on one viewing, this production about the undead needs a bit more life.

During the brief prologue, we learn that the Lord Vampire (Garin Bader) is seeking his Queen of the Night. The show's taped tracks start the rocking score--everything from hip hop to rock 'n' roll--while a coven of seven erotic rock angels sporting fangs and black leather bustiers dance and cavort to the music.

The angels each perform individually. As Ice takes to the stage, her theme song "You're As Cold As Ice" starts its beat. The angel Fire is introduced via her tune "Hot Blooded." You get the idea. Although this show is widely touted as topless, it seems odd that it takes eight numbers before any of the cast gets to take it off.

Bader, who plays the main character, is a professional magician. As the plot progresses, this vampire performs typical illusions--he levitates, he causes his assistants to disappear and reappear, and he tears and restores a sheet of music. Having a magical vampire is fine, but Bader lacks charisma and fails to make us care about his tragic character. More importantly, he postures too frequently and when he is called upon to nibble a girl's neck, these sequences lack the prerequisite, er, bite.

Other show elements include the aerial act of Ceese De Kok and Catie Perquin, who, as always, are engaging performers. Yet their presence in this show is puzzling because it fails to connect to the plot. Other aerial acrobats intricately perform on cloth banners suspended from the ceiling, but they are almost hidden from view as no one bothers to shine a spotlight on them. But then again, their plot relevance is not readily conveyed either.

The costumes are fine but the castle set design is a little too sparse. Bite's score certainly rocks, but does little to advance the action because the tunes are all unconnected to each other and to the activities onstage. Many audience members will be surprised when the 70-minute show suddenly ends. Bite could use some retooling to help instill some life into a dead subject.