In all my years of observing every kind of cultural event, even going back to when I was a wide-eyed child in New York City, I’ve never seen anything that comes close to a Cirque du Soleil show. I haven’t seen nearly as many of their thirty different versions as I would like, but each one I have been lucky enough to observe has been spectacular. OVO is no exception.

Adding to the spectacle is the venue; it’s back in it’s original Los Angeles spot, the Santa Monica Pier, where it all began back in 1987. (In the U.S.; it was born in Canada and appeared there for years before we were lucky enough for the company to come here). The romance of the event being staged there has endured.

As most of you already know, I absolutely hate e-words, making it hard to even write the word out for you! But, since Ovo means “egg,” I have to tell you that this is the first e-word I’ve ever enjoyed! I did try to avert my eyes when they were carting the giant one around the stage, but it wasn’t often, thank goodness for me. I wonder if Lady Gaga had already seen this show somewhere before she was brought to the stage in a giant one at last year’s Grammys. Hmmm.

I obviously couldn’t take notes during the show as I was riveted to the on-stage action. For the few of you who have never seen any Cirque du Soleil, let me tell you that one of their hallmarks is to have action at all times with no down time and no breaks, save for intermission. There’s constant music and the players do all the set changes, which are seamless and creative.

They do have comedy, of the mainly physical variety, in between the death-defying acts, but it’s still action, which the audience really enjoyed. The man next to me was downright guffawing over some of it! (For full disclosure, I’ve never liked their comedy, but then again, I’m not big into clown acts. When I was in the circus myself, back in the day, I had planned on training to be a clown, while being the star of the sideshow, but realized I’m just not into silliness, so I chose to stay being The Divided Lady and be cut up in a box. Good choice, eh?)

Comedy aside, Ovo’s acts are wonderful. My favorite, (though with so many uber-talented performers, it was hard to choose,) was the final one–frogs jumping on a giant wall. Any humble description I could offer would not do it justice, so you really just have to see it for yourself. The single guy on the most interesting high-wire I’ve even seen is a close second.

I’ve always felt that Cirque’s acts simulate fireworks—they just build and build, and just when you’re sure you’ve just witnessed the finale, they go even deeper. I really can’t figure out the minds of the amazing creators of each show. They constantly out-do themselves!

Each show has it’s own concept, some which I understand, others not so much. But they’re really beside the point. The concept helps fuel the set, costumes, and original music, so each is unique in those aspects, as well as the acts. Ovo is something about insects, and the costumes are stunning. I especially loved the grasshoppers, and how the costumes dictated the movement of the dancers and acrobats.

A couple of people I recommended the show to have told me that they’ve already been to another Cirque du Soleil show. To that I must say—are you nuts? Each one is unique! And even Cirque’s worst show, if there even is one, is better than even the best other entertainment, so you’re missing out big-time if you miss any Cirque du Soleil. One of my dreams is to see all their shows, and if you have the opportunity to do so, I say go for it! Every person in this amazing company always gives it his or her all.

This Sunday, January 29, the one PM show will be Ovo’s 1,000th! Even if they do nothing special for it, you’ll be witnessing history, so it should be a really fun time to attend.

Also, if you’re like most people I know, and worry about getting there, parking, etc., it’s so much easier than you’d think. There’s affordable parking right by the Grand Chapiteau itself, (that’s the colorful moniker for their tent,) and on the Pier. And the portable bathrooms are not gross. And, surprisingly, there really aren’t any bad seats under the big top; we were kind-of high-up and semi-view-obstructed, but the show looked great. The designers make sure that there’s something going on on all levels of the stage, and for trapeze, higher-up is actually better. And the colorful sets and costumes are so entertaining that there’s always something wonderfully visual going on, from every vantage point. I was so busy eyeing the amazements on the stage, that I forgot to peruse the audience! I don’t think there are any other entertainments that can claim that, so extra kudos to Ovo!

Cirque du Soleil: OVO running through March 11, 2012
Santa Monica Pier   www.cirquedusoleil.com/ovo

Back in my hip-hop dance club promoting days, I’d get home late at night and couldn’t sleep because my head would be spinning from all the excitement of the evening. It was actually a really fun feeling. I had not experienced anything like it since I left the clubs behind until I attended opening of night of Ballroom With A Twist at the El Portal Theatre in the valley last week.

The show was amazing! I was up all night just analyzing what had taken place in front of my very own eyes. Seeing these dancers perform on TV shows like Dancing With The Stars (aka DWTS) and So You Think You Can Dance (aka SYTYCD) is one thing, but to witness their magnificence up-close and personal is quite another. It’s unbelievable that some people have this kind of talent, not to mention the dedication it must have taken their whole lives to achieve this level of performance. (Being a former dance, I know what it’s like. Even though I loved dancing, I was too lazy to even change for class sometimes! That these dancers stuck with it through everything they must have gone through is amazing.)

All show photos by Alexander's Photography.

I feel safe in recommending this show to everyone–fans of dance, fans of the aforementioned television shows, fans of beautiful bodies, and those of colorful costumes, personality, and excellent vocals, as well. (More on all those aspects in a bit.)

We in Los Angeles are so lucky to be able to see these people perform in person; the rest of America only wishes it could, and I really feel that we should all take advantage of wonderful opportunities such as this.

Gev Manoukian.

Louis van Amstel, a popular pro on DWTS, conceived and choreographed this dance spectacular. It’s more than just ballroom, although that would be exciting enough on its own. There’s also hip-hop, contemporary, and amazing break-dancing courtesy of one of my SYTYCD favorites, Gev Manoukian. And the show just moves right along from one special number to the next.

The two married couples.

For fans of Dancing With The Stars, we get the added treat of seeing both married couple pros Edyta Sliwinska and Alec Mazo, and Anna Trebunskaya and Jonathan Roberts. I always love seeing real-life couples dance with each other. I was shocked to see that Alec is so much taller than Edyta, (the girl with the body that I’m most jealous of,) even with her heels on! On TV, that doesn’t read at all. Their Spanish number in the second half was the highlight of the night for me. So intense. It was like what Mr. X and I go through on a daily basis, only we’re not dancing.

And on a serious note, I must say this about dancers in general. Mr. X and I are always upset that they get the short end of the stick when it comes to fame. The most goes into their professions of all the talent disciplines, and it’s just so hard to become famous from it. Mediocre singers get fame, many awful actors do, as well, and dancers rarely do. It’s a travesty.

But the funny thing is that the pro dancers on DWTS are so much more famous than most of their “celebrity” partners!!! We all call the pros by first name, (Maks, Derek, Cheryl, etc.) and everyone knows who we mean. For the supposed stars, we have to identify them as “the skateboarder,” “the chef dude,” “the old guy,” “the annoying nasal chick,” etc. None of us even know who half of them are! (And that’s a kind estimate.) Yet, the pros are treated like extras while people we don’t know, who just have good managers and publicity people, get called “stars.” Show business is just not a fair game.

So back to the truly talented cast of Ballroom With A Twist. When I first saw Gev, (who had just accepted the gig, so, unfortunately, he was not listed in the opening night program,) I gasped because that was such a special surprise to me. I spent a good amount chatting with him at the after-party, and he was just adorable and as down to earth as he seemed on SYTYCD. Always lovely to see a talented person who’s lovely, to boot. The numbers he performed with his SYTYCD co-horts, Randi Lynn Evans and Jonathan Platero, were among the best on the El Portal stage.

Louis van Amstel and Niecy Nash.

As an added treat, the “host” that night was comedian Niecy Nash, who was Louis’ celeb partner on DWTS a few seasons ago. (I think she’s rotating with Jane Seymour, so, if that’s really important to you, please check with the theatre to see which nights are which.) Her interactions with Louis were a fun little respite in-between the serious dances.

Another special attraction, (hence the “with a twist” portion of the show’s title, I’m assuming,) is that there are also two live singers who had been Top 12 contestants on American Idol. (Boy, without television talent shows, there would be no BWAT, I guess.) David Hernandez had been one of my favorites the season he was voted off way too early, so I was thrilled that I got to hear his wonderful voice in person. What an added treat.

I also loved seeing the colorful, sparkling costumes. And that was just on the guys! (Ba-dum-bum.) Seriously, I haven’t seen so many sequins since my old wardrobe. I’m not joking about that–once, when my parents were visiting me several years ago, my father opened my closet by accident, instead of the coat closet. He exclaimed, “What are those? Costumes???” No–they were just my regular party dresses. What can I say? I’m a glamour girl.

And don’t even think of slipping out of the show early (not that anyone ever would–I saw people there till the end who leave every other show at intermission)–the last ten or fifteen minutes are like a fireworks display–it’s bam, bam, bam of excitement! One thing immediately after the other. And, I won’t spoil the second half little surprise, but Louis really knows how to get the crowd’s energy level up at just the right moment. That’s all I’ll say.

Karen Salkin and Gev Manoukian. Photo by Marcia Stein.

I also must really laud the El Portal Theatre itself. It’s very near and dear to my heart because this is the place where I first met Adam Lambert five years ago!!! I think you all know how special to me that makes it! But other than that, every seat is a good one, the lobby is the perfect meeting place at all times, and even the bathrooms are good. (Well, the ladies room is–I don’t know the men’s room particulars.) Also, the NoHo Arts District that it’s a part of is always interesting.

Not the best photo I've ever snapped, but that's Edyta in the blue dress, holding hands with her handsome hubby, Alec, and Jonathan and Anna in the foreground.

After the show, we all went across the side street to party at the not-even-yet-opened Federal restaurant and bar. What a great party space it is! Their mac and cheese balls were so delicious that I sat in the big front room to eat them first before I even ventured into the more happening back room to mingle. (I’ll try to do a real review of it sometime soon, when it officially opens, of course.)

A more fun night I cannot imagine. I rarely see shows twice, but I hope to repeat this evening before the end of their run.

Ballroom With A Twist running through February 13, 2011
5269 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood
818-508-4200 www.elportaltheatre.com

I took copious notes during All That Skate’s opening night at the Staples Center this past week-end, because the way the show was done gave me the perfect opportunity to jot down my thoughts quickly in-between acts, but now I decided that it doesn’t have to be inspected that closely.

All you really need to know is that this is a fun show with a stellar cast of great skaters, all of whom, with the exception of newcomer Ashley Wagner, have been Champions of either Nationals, Worlds, or Olympics. Outside of the amazing Chinese pair of Shen Xue & Zhao Hongbo and thirty-year-old Michelle Kwan, who looks absolutely fantastic, this is a very young cast. And their vital performances reflect that youth and exuberance.

Karen with Men's Champion Johnny Weir at a previous event.

Each time I deemed someone to be my favorite, it changed with the next number. The largely Korean audience went wild for their own current Olympic Champion, Yuna Kim, who’s a beautiful lyrical skater. But aside from her popularity, which was no surprise, and the audience’s overwhelming reaction to perennial crowd favorite Johnny Weir, of whom I’m a major fan, both professionally and personally (I used to know him during the Champion On Ice days, and he’s just adorable and charming,) of whom my guest exclaimed after his first number, “I don’t have to see another skater,“ the real surprise to me was former World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist, Stephane Lambiel. (How’s that for a run-on sentence???)

I wasn’t surprised by his fabulous performance because I’ve long been a fan of this Swiss spinning master. I was pleasantly surprised that the audience went so wild for him, leaping to our feet as one after both of his solo numbers. Great to see such a knowledgeable crowd in attendance. Stephane even made me not miss the gorgeous Brian Joubert, who was listed in the original press materials and who I reported to you would be in the show. I don’t know what happened there, but with all the major talent we saw, he was not missed at all.

Karen with Ice Dance Champion Ben Agosto at a previous event.

I was planning on going backstage after the show, as I’ve always done with all ice shows forever, to say hi to the athletes I’ve known over the years, like Johnny, Stepane, and the lovely Ben Agosto, who, with his partner, is a four-time world medalist in Ice Dance, but for some reason unbeknownst to me, it didn’t happen this time. (Luckily, I got to greet other legends in the skating world, like Champions On Ice founder Tommy Collins, looking better than ever, I might add, and the never-aging Mr. Debonair from my childhood, Richard Dwyer, at half-time. I hope they didn’t think me rude or uncaring to not meet them backstage post-show, but rather realize it was out of my control.)

I do have one small gossip tidbit for you skating fans, but as a blind item, I’m afraid, which I’ve never done before, but I want to still protect the skating fam in general. There was one man in the audience, whom I’ve also known for years, who sat there like a supreme sourpuss. In the front row! He didn’t applaud for one single act! Including at the finale, when the rest of us were on our feet, whooping and hollering like lunatics. And, almost more than anyone else, he should know better. I hate it when people from the same world show-up at performances and don’t support their fellow whatevers. Even if I don’t like another actor’s performance, if I’m in the audience, I always at least put my hands together to be a good sport. I was really shocked by the negativity he was projecting.

But that weirdness aside, All That Skate is a really fun show, with all skaters who are known to current audiences. From the spectacular costumes (especially Yuna’s stunning dress in the second half) to the colorful videos that were projected on the backdrop the whole time (which was honestly sometimes a little distracting, but usually fun) to the hip-hop dancers and young Korean girl singer, there was not a moment of boredom.

So, if the show comes to a city near you, I recommend seeing it. The only problem for you is that you guys won’t have my favorite usher of all time, the always-pleasant-and-willing-to-help Luis Ayala at your venue because the Staples Center is his lucky home base.

www.allthatskate.com

Okay, so I lied about giving you guys the US Open updates. But I didn’t mean to. I’m just so busy watching every second of the tournament that I haven’t had time to write about it! So, I’ll put all the highlights in the wrap-up column at the beginning of next week.

Michelle Kwan and Yuna Kim. Photo by Todd Harrison/Yaskal.

But I have a fabulous sporting event to give you a preview of today, All That Skate LA. Those of you in Southern California should be especially interested because tickets just went on sale and believe me, you don’t want to miss this one!

The other day, I wrote about a female athlete I don’t respect on any level. (Serena Williams, in case you missed it.) So, now it’s more than my pleasure to tell about two I couldn’t revere more. They’re ice skating champions Michelle Kwan and Yuna Kim, and they’ve teamed-up to bring us this live event that I, the ice show maven, am jumping out of my skin over.

Michelle Kwan. Photo by Todd Harrison/Yaskal.

I attended their press conference at Pickwick Ice Rink in Burbank the other morning. (Yes, you read that right–I did leave watching the US Open for it, but don’t worry–I recorded it all and watched in the middle of the night.)

Yuna Kim and Michelle Kwan. Photo by Todd Harrison/Yaskal.

Let me tell you–I’ve never seen so much gorgeous hair in one room! (I’m counting myself in this, too, but only because Mr. X flat-ironed it that morning. Michelle’s and Yuna’s manes are naturally fabulous.) Seriously, they both look great, and I’m especially impressed with Michelle, who at the age of thirty, looks the same as the just-turned-twenty-years-old Yuna! It’s mind-boggling that she’s kept in such great shape when she’s been focusing on getting a Masters degree from Tufts University’s Fletcher School in Boston. I love that these two lovely ladies are now working together. What a treat for skating fans!

All That Skate started with a successful run in Yuna’s home country of South Korea. Now, I consider us privileged to get to see the show live here at Staples Center on October 2nd and 3^rd. It will feature three of the four current Olympic Champions, (Ladies, Pairs, and Dance,) and the other one I don’t like, so it doesn’t matter.

Karen with Johnny Weir, both rocking those bangs!

I’ve been lucky enough to see live performances by most of these athletes over the years, and I can attest to their greatness. Yuna Kim, the Ladies Olympic Champion, is considered by many to be the most magnificent female skater of all time, and to get the chance to see her move in person is a spectacular experience. The married couple Pairs Champions, Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao, are absolutely incredible, and usually reduce me to tears, as does the always fabulous nine-time World Champion Michelle Kwan, who’s happy to be returning to her hometown of Los Angeles with this show.

Brian Joubert, backstage after a long week at the 2009 World Championships. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Of course, my favorites are the guys. What else is new? Finally, we get to see three-time US Champion Johnny Weir on the ice again. He’s an amazing artist, and also, when I met him a few years ago, he laughed at everything I said, so of course I love him! And former world Champion Brian Joubert is as gorgeous as his skating is amazing.

I could tell you about all the acts, but I’ll do that in the review. In the meantime, please look-up the whole cast on All That Skate’s website: www.allthatskate.com.

I believe that Michelle got her professional start with Champions On Ice, which we skating fans were devastated to see close shop a couple of years ago, so I’m especially anxious to see All That Skate because it sounds like a similar concept. I asked Michelle how her new show compares to the old one, and she told me that it’s kind-of like Champions, but with “a modern twist.” She said there will also be singing, (I know that Yuna is also a famous singer in Korea, so hopefully we’ll get to hear her, in addition to others,) and that the lighting “is a star and performance in itself.”

I can’t wait! I’m so grateful to have a new skating show option, especially one with all performers who are familiar to the audience from this year’s Olympics. But if you sit next to me, don’t be surprised to see me crying all the way through it because great beauty does that to me. So, bring your hankies. For both of us.

All That Skate LA on October 2 and 3, 2010   www.allthatskate.com
Staples Center   www.staplescenter.com   800-745-3000

Even though I’ll always be heart-broken over my precious Clarence, I realize that it’s time to start getting back to life.  To that end, I just spent a week in New York with my little mother and a few pals, to chill. (Well, actually, more like fry in that record heat, which I hate!)

I took this shot from my seat, with no special equipment. That's how intimate this venue is!

And what better way to start enjoying life again than with a circus?! I mean it–laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone. (Well, by many of the comments you guys left, and emails, cards, and calls, it appears that I wasn’t crying alone, so thanks again for them. You have no idea how much they helped.) But I really did need some good entertainment, and Ringling Bros. Coney Island Illuscination certainly delivered! It’s just the easiest, yet special, event–exactly what I needed.

Before the actual review, this: I hate repeating myself, but in case you missed my previous circus write-ups, here’s a quick background. My regular readers and viewers probably know by now that I ran away and joined the circus as a teen-ager. (No joke.) And, though it was not my classiest moment in life, I still always love the circus in general, and have seen as many as possible since then. And in the past year, Coney Island has become my favorite circus venue.

I brought the same kids as last year, to help me compare the two shows, and they were thrilled to find-out that it was a completely different show. I think that they thought a circus is always the same year-after-year. All three of them agreed that this show was even better than the first edition. I loved them both.

The Coney Island Ringling Bros. show is like “Circus 101” in that it’s such an easy-going, unintimidating experience, and is great for dates or an outing with pals, as well as being the perfect family fun day. I’m really grateful to Ringling Bros. for going to the trouble of mounting a show in that area to bring circus to the masses of people who either can’t make it to bigger arenas or can’t afford to bring a family elsewhere.

This Coney Island production is unbelievably affordable, (entertainment in general can get very pricey for families,) lots of fun for the whole family, and a great way to keep the kids entertained for very many hours. And, there are no bad seats under this big top, which is also perfectly air-conditioned, thank goodness. And great news for others of you in the eastern United States: this same show is going to many cities when it leaves Brooklyn, so check their site for the tour dates.

Okay, so here are some deets: This is a one-ring circus, as opposed to the three that are needed to perform in bigger venues. And every seat is basically up-close. (Of course, I still used binos when the male performers were shirtless.) The fun starts an hour and a half before curtain time, with the All-Access Pre-show, which is free to ticket holders. First, we went outside to see the animals chilling. You’ve never seen an elephant until you see one so close you can almost touch it! (But trust me–don’t. Just feel the skin of someone who’s sat in the sun their whole life, and you’ll get the same tactile knowledge.)

Then came our favorite part–we all got to sit right on the ring, and not only watch most of these very talented performers do their thing right in front of our eyes, but the kids get to participate! Actually, we grown-ups even learned how to balance a feather on our fingers, too.

Steve, the clown, with Sharon, Betsy, and Isaac Abramova. What a cool dude--he has his hands around both girls! (And is rocking the same shorts as Isaac.) Look closely at his crazy spiky hair.

Finally, we took our seats and were treated to a fabulous over-two-hour show of pure enjoyment. Even though the magician, who doubled as the ringmaster, of-sorts, had the kind of cute guy looks I love, the highlight for me was the young Italian clown, named simply “Steve.” That was brilliant, actually, because having such an elementary moniker made it easy for all the kids to feel close to him. Every time we spied him running around the audience, we all got to say, “Hey, look–there’s Steve!” Very clever. I got to chat with him after, and because I used to be pals with David Larible, a very famous clown from Italy, we bonded over our mutual acquaintance. He’s adorable. (Steven, not David. Though I’m sure David is, as well, but you know me and the young ones!)

What I liked most about this show, in general, is that, in addition to the de rigueur acrobats, clowns, lions, and elephants, there were acts that you usually don’t find in a circus: a quick-change woman, bird and cat acts, martial arts, and magic, to name a few.

Here’s a bit of what my “junior reviewers” had to say:

These are the high-wire brothers performing up-close and personal in the pre-show, with Steve in the background.

Sharon, 11: “My favorite act was the two brothers on the high wire. When they were jumping on top of each other, it was so scary! I thought they would fall but they didn’t. I also liked how Steve was juggling in the pre-show and I got to jump rope and got a cool red nose to take home.” [Karen’s note: the circus personnel made sure that everyone who attended the pre-show got a clown nose. I gave mine up, though, because I already have my own big nose, thank you very much.]

Isaac, 13 (but really tall!): “I liked this show even better than last year’s! My favorites were the acrobats because they did crazy stunts with the see-saw which was very interesting. The pre-show was interesting because of all the animals we got to see and got a sneak peek of the people who will be performing.”

Betsy, 19 (and my New York intern): “I really enjoyed the Illuscination circus.” [Karen’s note: we thought it was the Hallucination circus because we couldn’t believe what we were seeing sometimes! Like this next one that Betsy describes, which was girls spinning in the air, attached by…their hair!!!] “My favorite act was the two girls that were going up in the air upside-down with their hair attached to the wire! I was amazed because I couldn’t understand how they could tolerate getting their hair pulled like that. It was worth coming to the circus early for the pre-show because we got to see the animals, and met Steve, who kept me laughing throughout the whole show. I really enjoyed this year’s circus and found the stunts crazier than last year’s–I would get scared and think some of them won’t make it and than they proved me wrong!” [Karen’s note: Knock on wood to that last comment!]

I have to add my thoughts about the two girls spinning by their hair. Betsy and I both have waist-length hair, and say “owww!” if a ponytail band is pulled too tight! So we really couldn’t understand how girls can be hanging by theirs, and smiling all the way. This particular act was something different than the norm, for sure.

Add to all of the above colorful costumes, (my mouth was watering over the blue and pink ones,) excellent musicians, and tons of confetti, and you have the perfect circus experience. The only way it could have been better is if I were still being cut-up in a box. Well, better for you maybe, definitely not for me!

Can’t wait till next year’s show! It’s even worth it to me to brave the horrible east coast heat just to see what the Ringling Bros. come up with. And hopefully then I’ll remember to save some time to review their food items for you, as well. If I recall correctly, no popcorn ever tastes as good as at the circus!

I rarely rush a review out to you guys because I need time to mull over what I just experienced. But, as this spectacular show is in town for this week-end only, I had to get this posted pronto, especially because this is a must-see for dance and culture aficionados.

This number is NOT from this year's show, but is represntative of the Shen Yun Troupe repetroire.

It’s Shen Yun, and runs July 8-11 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The press release describes it thusly: “Shen Yun Performing Arts takes you on a magical journey spanning 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture, with a breathtaking blend of music, costumes and performers, transporting you through China’s magnificent dynasties via song and dance.”

I had forgotten that the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is an intimate, wonderful venue, especially fabulous for dance shows. All seats provide excellent views, and this particular show is so colorful, and has so many performers, that everyone has something great to look at, no matter the angle or their location.

I missed the pre-show VIP reception because I just had to watch Lebron’s announcement, (my thoughts on that whole spectacle on Monday,) so I stuck around for the after-party in the same old school room in the theatre. But the show itself is the only part of the evening I cared about, for once!

It’s comprised of many clever dance numbers, with four musical interludes. I could have done without the three singing ones, but a girl playing an erhu, which is a Chinese instrument akin to a violin, but with just two strings and played upright, (and sounding sort-of like a flute to me) was breath-taking! You could have heard a pin drop in the theatre. Even the often cynical Mr. X was enthralled. (He’s almost strictly krump and hip-hop in his tastes.)

The dancing was wonderful! Two corny announcers, who spoke in-between each number, let us know that this was “Classical Chinese dance,” which is a cross between ballet and acrobatics, and where flips and such originated. As stilted, Disneyland-presenter-style, and annoying as the speakers’ delivery was, they were definitely educational, and I appreciated their information. It helped to know what each dance was portraying, though the beauty of most of the numbers would have been the same with no knowledge of what it meant.

My favorite number was entitled simply Handkerchief. I was mesmerized. And I loved that, throughout the show, the dancers made music out of simple items, such as chopsticks and jewelry. And every single number had beautiful colorful costumes and backdrops. The latter were not sophisticated, but very fun, and occasionally magical.

Of interest to me is, that as gorgeous as it all was, I didn’t get the feel of the precision of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, for which the Chinese are widely known. It turns out that all of these performers are from the West! This is not a function of China, as explained by the announcers. I’m glad they told us that, because there were two anti-government numbers, and I was wondering how that got sanctioned. I was worried that they’d all be imprisoned when they got home! But, despite the dancers not being from China, they all had that incredible Asian grace. Even their hand movements were fascinating. Every dancer on earth should study them.

Cupcake display from the post-show reception.

This audience was wonderfully well-behaved, which is a rarity. I didn’t experience even one bad moment because of the usual antics. (And even if a patron did talk out of turn, it was usually in Chinese, so it just added to the ambience!) So, my only distraction was that these Asian-American dancers were making me think even more about the plight of the amazing Alex Wong, the star of this season’s So You Think You Can Dance. He injured his Achilles tendon the other day, and I wouldn’t find-out his fate until I returned home and got to watch the oh so sad results show. (More on this topic next week, in my TV Thoughts column.)

After the show, there was a small cupcake reception in a regal private room that I never knew was in the building! It was the perfect classy end to a wonderful evening of culture.

I thought I’d give you guys a little taste of what my non-stop activities are like by combining the reviews of three events that I attended in the space of twenty-four hours two week-ends ago. I hope you don’t get as exhausted reading about them as I did living them!

LEVITT PAVILIONS FUNDRAISER

This was a really special three-part evening, held at the downtown Grammy Museum, a venue that added to the panache of the event. It was billed as “Levitt Pavilions presents An Evening With Grammy Legends Jimmy Webb and Thelma Houston,” but it was so much more than that.

I had never heard of Levitt Pavilions before, but throughout the evening I was apprised of the fabulous work their nonprofit organization does, bringing music and entertainment to the masses. It’s the only national network of outdoor performance venues with free programming, and each pavilion presents at least fifty concerts a year. Pretty momentous.

We in Los Angeles are lucky to have two locations right here, one in Pasadena and the newest one, in MacArthur Park, which is downtown. I truly love organizations like this, who care about entertaining the people who may possibly not be able to afford to go to concerts otherwise. I really encourage you to go to their website and learn more because even the pre-concert speeches were interesting. There’s a lot to learn about Levitt Pavilions.

The cake depicting the MacArthur Park Levitt Pavilion: obviously, no one "left the cake out in the rain" this time!

Anyway, back to the fete! It was interesting to see that all the guests dressed-up, which made the whole event feel really festive. First up was a lovely cocktail reception on the roof. Next, we headed into the museum to look around for a few minutes before being admitted to the Clive Davis Theater, which was the perfect size for an intimate evening of music. I sat near the back and didn’t even crave my usual binoculars, (which I use to study every muscle movement and maybe even a wardrobe malfunction, like a goon.)

I had heard of Jimmy Webb, and could tell you that he wrote the iconic MacArthur Park, but that’s about it. Turns out, he wrote so many famous songs, I can’t even begin to list them! But much more than that, he was a charming, honest, amusing story-teller, to go along with his “and then I wrote” set, which was truly impressive. (Note: Mr. Webb never once said, “And then I wrote…”; rather, it’s how Mr. X and I admiringly describe presentations where songwriters have many credits to their names.)

Jimmy Webb and Thelma Houston. I took this picture from my seat near the back--that's how wonderfully intimate this space is!

As he went along, I kept thinking that he should have been a recording artist himself. He has a Leon Russell kind-of voice (at least I think that’s who I was thinking of while listening to him) and it went great with his songs. He did a perfect-length set himself, and then brought on Thelma Houston, (who doesn’t have a wrinkle, despite being in the biz for over three decades.)

As it told us in the informative program, Ms. Houston has the distinction of being the first solo female artist at Motown to win a Grammy for Best R&B Female Vocal Performance. Kudos to her. She sang her big disco hit, Don’t Leave Me This Way, to a track, and then Mr. Webb got back to his piano to back her up for the rest of her numbers, many of which he had produced. Most heart-warming to see was the gusto in his accompaniment. His love and admiration for her was super-apparent, and lovely to observe.

They finished the performance portion of the evening by dueting on MacArthur Park, his famous song that was inspired by the Los Angeles park where the new Levitt Pavilion is located. Back when he composed it, it was a haven for druggies and the like, and his story of what each lyric means made me appreciate the song for the first time in my life. I actually almost shed a tear.

Nothing could beat the show, not even dessert, but it was fun to gather on the roof and adjoining lounge once again for some sweet treats. And every guest was invited to meet the stars. I, strangely for me, opted not to, because I was happy to leave with the memory of their show. 

www.levittpavilions.org

TOTAL WOMAN GYM & DAY SPA ANNIVERSARY

Total Woman Gym & Day Spa in Brea celebrated their one-year anniversary with a lovely event that included tours of the beautiful gym and spa, food from local restaurants, (our faves were Entourage’s appetizers and Rubio’s’ salad,) activities for children, and little samplings of some of their services. It was actually interesting to take a day trip down there as Brea is an Orange County city I had never been to before.

Three of my new best friends from Total Woman Gym: Sara, Tiffany, and Annette

I love that it’s a women-only gym. I hate having to look cute to sweat! Now, with the one-year membership that they gifted to all their celebrity guests, I can’t wait to work-out looking my worst! I know why they gave it to me, too–they must have seen how out of shape I am, after four months of sitting around nursing my back. (Note: I still can’t work out for a few more months, so don’t judge the gym if you see me around town before October.)

The company has nine locations (Laguna Hills, Brea, Irvine, Placentia, Glendale, Westlake Village, Woodland Hills, Northridge and Encinitas,) but unfortunately, none are very close to me, so I hope that by the time I start using my membership, the secret one that I know is coming this year, that’s close to my ’hood, will be open. I’ll definitely keep you posted on the location…and my progress!

In the meantime, I want to thank Sara and Linda for the hand treatments my guest and I had the pleasure of relaxing with, and Tiffany, Kim, Royce, and Annette for showing us around and spending time with us. I feel that personnel is the most important aspect of a gym and spa, being that it’s such an intimate experience, and the ladies at Total Woman Gym could not have been kinder. They made us feel like we all were sorority sisters (but without the back-stabbing, of course!) and we were totally comfortable with them all. So, much so that my friend and I were the first to arrive and the last to leave! I never do that, unless it’s a party for a males-only gym, with all cute guys.

910 E. Birch Street Brea 714-256-4974 www.totalwomanspa.com

SEAGLASS THEATRE FUNDRAISER

As someone who attends many small-theatre productions throughout the year, I don’t laud one company over others. (In all honesty, I’m sure that I would if I were in one, like I always did on my show when I was in the Laugh Factory Improv Troupe for a couple of years, but, with the success that you’ve all made of this website, knock on wood, who has time for acting anymore?)

But I did attend a fun fund-raiser for the Seaglass Theatre Company recently, and the party was well-done, so I thought I’d tell you about it. (And I did review their Wonders Of The World last summer, which you can find in the Theatre section.)

I’ve noticed over the years of throwing my own soirees that the secret to a happening event is to hold it in a small space so the guests have to mingle. They achieved that by having it in an art gallery in the Valley, that featured interesting photography, which added to the atmosphere.

Food is always the #1 consideration to me at a party, (Mr. X says, “Food makes the party,”…and he’s skinny!,) and they did a nice job here, with basic home-made eats presented creatively. There were three stations that featured menus from different cities that mean something to the company: Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Orleans. I could not stop eating the jumbalaya, so props to the Seaglass member who cooked it up!

They put-up a small stage in the front of the gallery and had bands and lone singer/guitarists throughout the evening. I guess the musical highlight to most guests was seeing Seaglass board member James Denton, from Desperate Housewives, rocking-out with his band.

Here’s where I must make a confession, that leads to an amusing story. I make a concentrated effort to watch every new show before I pass judgment, but most I can’t get through the first few minutes of, and just don’t have time to waste in my life. That’s what happened with Desperate Housewives when it premiered, so I’ve never watched it outside of those first minutes. Consequently, I’m not familiar with the cast, except for the female leads.

So, when a man I knew at the party introduced me to James Denton, I just said “nice to meet you,” as I do to everyone, and he went about his business. The man asked me why I didn’t have any questions for the guy (who was James.) I queried, “Why would I have questions for a stranger?”–I thought James was just a friend of his! (I know–you Housewives fans are in shock.)

So, I’m sorry to report I have no dish on that front, except to say that he seemed like a really nice guy and people there said he was. He seemed very fatherly and genuine, so I liked him, no matter what his job is. But I’m sad I didn’t take a picture with him to show to my friends who might be impressed.

Sidebar on that issue: I find it strange when people give actors extra credit for being nice or real or down to earth–we’re just people! Why shouldn’t we be all those things? Everyone should be! (I was always amused when viewers came up to me to say hi, and then surprisedly told me, “You’re so nice! You’re just like you are on your show!” I always was thinking, “Of course I’m the same–I’m me!)

Anyway, I wish Seaglass the best of luck on their upcoming season, and I’ll try to review some of their plays. And I do think it’s really nice for an actor on a successful series to stay true to his roots. Maybe I’ll even sneak a peek at his next episode! (But don’t hold your breath.)

www.seaglasstheatre.org

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL–KOOZA

I love circuses. As many of you already know, maybe that’s because I was in one when I was a teen-ager. (Don’t worry–it makes no sense to me, either, and I’m the one who lived it!) More deets on my experiences some other time, because, as this site states, it’s not about me!

Sad to say, but this is only the fourth Cirque du Soleil show I’ve ever seen! Nothing will be as magical as that first time on the Santa Monica pier, but I’m happy to say that I loved this one as well. I don’t think that any one of their creations can ever be bad.

I had missed this year’s show, Kooza, when it was housed in their signature blue and yellow tent, the Grand Chapiteau, close to me in Santa Monica. Not wanting to miss out on the fun while it’s still in Southern California, I invited my friend, Caryn, (convenient when we meet strangers; though it’s spelled differently, they have only one name to remember!,) and we headed down to Irvine, which is really no big deal if you leave enough time for traffic, and just grab a bite once you get there.

We attended Opening Night, so, as it turned-out, we didn’t even have to worry about food because they served passed hors d’oeuvres to the entire assemblage! Complimentary popcorn and soda, as well! The servers told me that they do that for every opening in every city, too. Good to know, n’est pas? (The organizers are French-Canadian, hence my use of Francais.)

First, some props for the venue. Orange County Great Park was easy enough to get to, had very accessible parking, and an absolutely lovely staff! Especially Andy, who helped us park. Not awful Andy Gumps, either. Definitely a step up from my circus days!

Now to Kooza itself. Everything just works, from the international cast (can you imagine the cacophony of languages backstage?) to the music, which runs the gamut from big band to pounding techno, to colorful costumes, which we’ve come to expect from this group.

If you’ve never seen any Cirque show, all I can tell you is that this is as good a one to start with as any. If you have, I’ll let you know what’s different about this production. It may not be as extraordinary as some of the rest, but what I love about it is that it takes conventional circus acts and performs them to the nth degree, all with exotic twists.

As each act began, I thought to myself, “I’ve seen this many times before.” But as it progressed, so did my amazement. The whole audience was screaming after a while. (This audience started out a tad slow in the appreciation department, as far as I’m concerned, maybe because they were too full of free popcorn and finger food to put their hands together.) Where do the Cirque creators continually find these unbelievably gifted entertainers? (I know–mainly Europe and Canada; just a rhetorical question.)

While all the performers were astonishing, I had three favorite acts. First up were three amazing female contortionists, Julie Bergez, Natasha Patterson, and Dasha Sovik. My back actually hurt just watching them. And they smiled the whole time they were contorting! Oh My Gosh to this one. (Shamefully, I was billed as “World Famous Contortionist Little Mina From Copenhagen” back then. It’s pretty amusing to people who know me, especially when there are phenoms like this out there.)

Next up was a high-wire act the likes of which I’ve never seen. There were four guys (Flouber Sanchez and the Dominguez Family) on two wires simultaneously. We audience members alternately held our breath and screamed through their whole routine. I wish they hadn’t gilded the lily, though, by having a spotlight on the female band singer while they walked the tightrope. The Indian-type music added to the drama, but her perpetual motion was a tad distracting.

The audience responded the most to Jimmy Ibarra and Carols Marin Loaiza on the Wheel Of Death. It was a scream-fest from start to finish. I thought they were going to have to bring out oxygen masks…for us spectators! We were truly aghast. (I just looked-up synonyms for “aghast,” and trust me, we were all of them!)

In-between these feats of derring-do is the clown acts, which are the thread of the whole show. I must admit that I’ve never been a fan of clowning, although I recognize the merit of it. Perhaps that’s because of my own personal experience with the main clown in my circus. (I promise I’ll recount the whole story on a day when nothing else needs to be posted in a timely fashion here, so please check back for it from time to time. Trust me, it‘s a good one!)

(Or perhaps it’s because a fan of my show who was from Puerto Rico once said I reminded her of Hermalita, The Clown from her country, and I thought she was slamming me. Turns out she meant it as a compliment–Hermalita was considered the top comedian on TV there.)

But the audience seemed to enjoy the Cirque clowns, so who am I to judge? I’m sure they were good; they just reminded me of that guy Ross on The Tonight Show–high-pitched annoying-voiced and unfunny. I did appreciate them, though, for giving me a few minutes to grab back my composure, and breath(!), in-between the gutsy acrobatic performers. Now that I’m fully recovered, I’m ready to hit Vegas and catch some of their “resident shows.”

One last note: As if entertaining us so royally isn’t enough, I’m happy to report that this group is involved in charitable projects. Cirque founder, Guy Laliberte, has formed a foundation, ONE DROP, “to fight against poverty by providing access to water and raising awareness among individuals and communities about the need for mobilization in order to make safe water accessible to all, in sufficient quantity, today and tomorrow. ONE DROP™ believes in solidarity between those whose basic needs are met and those who are not as fortunate—everyone should have the means to live with dignity.” I say “Amen” to that, in every language.

Cirque Du Soleil running through February 14, 2010 at  Orange County Great Park Irvine, CA    800-450-1480 www.cirquedusoleil.com/kooza

DISNEY ON ICE

As I’m sure everyone knows by now, I’m a major figure skating fan. And I love cartoons, too. So, what’s more perfect for someone like me, and children of all ages, than Disney On Ice? Shamefully, though, I hadn’t been to a show for about four years, the last time being when my adorable friend Ayumi skated in one in San Diego.

Well, she’s back in this year’s Worlds of Fantasy tour in Southern California, so I rushed to see it at Staples Center here in Los Angeles, before it starts it’s way down the state. (Trust me–I’m tempted to follow them!)

This is a brand-new production consisting of numbers from four of their movies. I had actually seen only the ones from The Little Mermaid before, but their Under The Sea classic is a showstopper.

As always, the show opens with greetings from Mickey and Minnie and their friends, but this time, it goes into a very clever number based on Disney’s Pixar film, Cars. It was good to see something geared towards the boys in the crowd. All the kids actually went wild for it! Including me.

Then the standard Disney fun began. After the super-colorful Little Mermaid section, we were treated to excerpts from The Lion King, ending with the spectacular Circle Of Life. The effects and costumes seem to get more creative each go-round!

My favorite Disney character of all time is Tinker Bell. (I know, I know–I’m more Peter Pan myself, but in the Disney film, I’ve always been fascinated with Tinker Bell. My pals who know me really well still give me gifts of anything with her on it. Or maybe that’s because I’m just a tad temperamental, like Tink, when it comes to my man.)

The entire second act is the story of how she came to be a tinker fairy, which I seriously never even knew about! It must be told on one of those straight-to-DVD releases. I was so thrilled to be treated to a story that’s new to me, as well as the telling-of-it on skates! And it was absolutely breathtaking! All audience chatting seemed to stop for this colorful rendition, except for “ooohs’ and “aahs.” Everyone was enthralled.

It’s the perfect ending to yet another Disney On Ice extravaganza! I highly recommend it, and can’t wait for the next one. Or maybe even this show again in Long Beach! Hope to see you all there.