PEEP SHOW: The fall of Jerry Mitchell

[Trish2]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 10:05pm

Where do I start? This show was an absolute mess. Tacky, gaudy, vulgar, and oddly enough not sexy in the least. The premise, or storyline if I was to be so bold as to call it that, starts off as fairytale with Little Bo Peep. After two numbers the premise is dropped and the show becomes number after number, and breast after breast. There is a mistress of ceremonies, an unfortunately miscast Shoshana Bean, trying her best as a cross between Bette Midler and Elvira. The reason for her being there is never quite explained. Though she sings well, she is not the least bit sexy and not funny enough to pull of the comedic lines. The songs, some of which were by Andrew Lippa, were milqtoast to say the least. Worse yet, the sound design is terrible and the small band overpowers the singers. Poor Josh Strickland was singing up a storm ( don?t ask me what his character was doing there) and although he sounded great you could not decipher one lyric. I was seated 10th row center. Let?s face it, the majority of men in the audience were not there to hear the lyrics, as was evidenced by the constant catcalls of ?show us your tits?

It seems that the girls originally wore pasties, but because of poor attendance the show was changed to completely topless. Several of the New York dancers left to be replaced by girls from the Strip.

Many T & A shows can have class, sensuality and beautiful production numbers. Mitchell lost his touch on this one as there is no continuity and the numbers are god awful. Imagine girls doing bad hip-hop choreography (courtesy of co-choreographer Nick Kenkel) with bare breasts a- flailing. It seems that Mitchell handed this one over to Kenkel as the dancers mentioned Nick choreographed most of the show. Big mistake.

On to our star attraction, Holly Madison. A stick figure if there ever was one. She can?t act, sing, dance, or even walk across the stage. A deer in the headlights performance. Portraying Little Bo Peep she has her dog, a terrific Albert Cattafi, who is at her side the entire show. That was the one trick Mitchell got right as the dog actually leads her around the stage and places her on her marks. It?s hysterical-in a bad way.

Throughout the entire 75-minute show the men in the audience are catcalling for the women and Holly to show more ?tit?, and at the 73-minute mark Madison does just that. Two big, plastic filled balloons. To make matters worse, Kenkel comes out to sit in the audience in between his numbers, and leads the whistles and screaming. I hope he gets a good paycheck.

It was interesting to compare this show to Broadway Bares. What makes Bares work is the naked men, whereas in Peepshow, Mitchell had no idea of how to make the women look sexy. He really should bury his face in the sand after this one.

Pardon this review for being all over the place, as it just mirrors the show I saw.

Updated On: 7/20/09 at 10:05 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 10:12pm

Glad you liked it.

[iflip4musicals]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 10:15pm

pardon my stupidity, but I don't really read about what's going on on the west coast. Is Peep Show supposed to be like Broadway Bares (as in a one night only event) or is the comparison only there because of the nakedness and Jerry Mitchell?

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 10:22pm

http://www.lasvegaspeepshow.com/

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 10:32pm

Hugh Hefner seemed to like it.

[Trish2]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 10:34pm

Tit for tat I guess.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 10:35pm

For what I understand Hugh gave the show "Two Implants Up!". The retooled website looks like they have definitely changed the marketing and Jerry's name used to be on the mainpage. They are clearing selling T & A now. I hope Josh gets a better gig soon :) He's divine.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 10:50pm

When was the rise of Jerry Mitchell???

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 11:19pm

It is still rising,
from Stock Dancer to Broadway chorus boy
to raising Millions for People in Need
several of my friends and strangers
to Broadway Choreographer
to Broadway Director
to TONY noms to TONY win
and now working on two Broadway shows of this or next season.
He's doing OK.

Everybody Rise!
Updated On: 7/20/09 at 11:19 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 11:38pm

Pardon MY stupidity, but when did Vegas move to the West Coast?

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 11:39pm

Well, you did read the first three words of her post, right?

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 11:47pm

Huh, a "tacky, gaudy, vulgar" show in Las Vegas. I am shocked, shocked I tell you!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/20/09 at 11:59pm

"There is a mistress of ceremonies, an unfortunately miscast Shoshana Bean..."

HA Ha! Caissey Levy is a FANTASTIC Sheila!!!!

[CukorLover]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:23pm

Too bad ! I was hoping to see this show as well as some of the Cirque shows when I'm there next week. I think I'll pass.

[TheatreDork2]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:26pm

What did you expect? It's Vegas & a strip show...

[CukorLover]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:38pm

Well, i actually thought it may have a little more to it considering Mitchell was involved.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 10:24pm

How was the design/set?

[Trish2]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 11:13pm

Not much of a set at all. Done on the cheap. Most interesting thing was the title, PEEP SHOW, in large 3 dimensional letters. Snore

[iflip4musicals]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 11:23pm

didn't know anything about it, and just assumed; but you know what they say when you assume...

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 6:32am

A Vega$ job i$ big buck$. Good for Jerry.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 6:35am

So is this kind of like Broadway Bears without the star power and the good cause?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 10:13am

Don't you mean "Bares" not "Bears"?

But yes, and with more of an emphasis on female nudity.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 1:23pm

I wish there were a "Broadway Bears".
Not the plush-toy version.

All unshaven chests may apply.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 2:12pm

I wonder what Matthew Morrison thought of it.

What he really thought. I would love to hear THAT.

I seem to recall Mitchell yabbering about replacing Borle over Morrison for a subsequent workshop of Catch Me If You Can due to Borle's dancing ability. That seemed plain absurd.

It seems Morrison doesn't bear Mitchell any grudge, though, and why should he? He's got a TV musicale of his own in GLEE, which I'm sure pays better than a workshop in Seattle.
Morrison at Peep Show

Posted: 7/22/09 at 2:23pm

I hardly think Matthew Morrison is a typical Vegas Tit-show customer. Sounds perfect for Vegas.