Crime Thriller RESERVOIR DOLLS Gives Tarantino a Shot of Estrogen at Onyx Theatre

When Quentin Tarantino's indie film debut Reservoir Dogs was released in 1992, audiences around the world were jolted. Here was an adrenaline- fueled modern gangster flick with sharp dialogue and powerful performances...with an all-male cast. Now the Onyx Theatre flips the script by giving the classic movie a bold shot of estrogen in Erika Soerensen's Reservoir Dolls.

"Gender parity is a hot button topic in theatre," says director Troy Heard. "When planning the tenth anniversary season, I made sure we had shows with strong female roles and a fair representation of woman writers. Reservoir Dolls meets both those criteria in spades."

The story remains the same: a gangland mastermind pulls together a ragtag group of criminals to pull off a quick, in-and-out diamond heist. When one of them turns the scene into an old-school shoot 'em up, and the cops just happen to be right outside, they realize that there's a snitch among them...and they're determined to find out who it is.

Vegas actress Valerie Carpenter Bernstein plays Ms. White, one of the leads in the heist gone wrong. "It's been refreshing and illuminating," says Bernstein. "There's a basic psychological difference between men and women, logic versus emotion. When you apply that to any stressful situation, you automatically heighten the stakes."

Heard agrees. "It's definitely not a parody, unlike some of the other shows on our season. It's a bad ass, straightforward, crime thriller. But it's still very funny."

Performances of Reservoir Dolls will be tonight, January 14 through 31, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm. with Sunday matinees on January 24 and 31 at 5 pm. Tickets are $20 for General Admission. Tickets may be purchased online at www.onyxtheatre.com or at the Box Office an hour before show time.

The Onyx Theatre is located at 953 E. Sahara Ave. #16B in Commercial Center, Las Vegas, NV 89104. Nearby dining options include Komol (Thai and vegetarian- friendly); Cornish Pasty Co.; and the world famous Lotus of Siam. Off-Strip Productions, the resident producing company of the Onyx, is a 501(c)3 not-for- profit company.

Pictured: Lissa Townsend Rodgers, Heather Silvio, Gail Romero, April Sauline, Devon Ceriotti, Abby Dandy, Valerie Carpenter Bernstein, and Jillian Austin. Photo by Bill Hughes.