PEEP SHOW Las Vegas: Is It Worth A Look?

There are two reasons it is difficult to write a review of Jerry Mitchell's production of Peep Show. The $12 million extravaganza the opened at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. First, it's hard to tell exactly what it is. Burlesque? Book show? Second, there is no program to tell who is who, who's doing what and what they're singing.

Second things first: Depending upon whom you ask at the show's outside PR agency,  there's no program because (1) "The girls are so attractive and they're afraid of stalkers" or (2) "It's an Equity show and Equity won't allow a program with the girls in danger." Hmmm. Whatever, the show cries out for a program so that, if nothing else, the creators might be able to discuss their vision.

That vision is kind of muddled. It is, quite loosely, the story of a young professional woman who goes to sleep and dreams of love or sex or whatever you want to call it. In her dream she is Little Bo Peep, complete with shepherd's crook. (Hence, perhaps, the name of the show?) Bo is played by soap actress and Dancing With The Stars winner Kelly Monaco. Any of her talents are not immediately apparent and, compared to some other very, very talented cast members, she just seems superfluous.

Among the talented is the top-billed Mel B. (Melanie Brown), late of the Spice Girls. She is a revealation. A fine singer and very good dancer. She is Bo's guide through her sexy dream world and she holds the proceedings together. Josh Strickland is a terrific singer, as is former American Idol contestanat Katie Webber. Stoyan Metchkarov leaves the audience gasping with his acrobatic expertise both on and off a rope and, as a cute puppy, Albert Cataffi is delightful.

Director-choreographer Mitchell and production designer David Rockwell have provided plentiful eye candy. It is simply gorgeous to look at. The orchestra is cleverly placed on a balcony above the stage and the effect of all of this is seamless. It moves quickly through its 90 minutes and it is not a chore to watch it.

But what is it? It's not in the strictest sense a girlie show. It's not a nude show (they use pasties and g-strings). The story is paper thin and, for the right audience, will be risque and titillating. Those who don't find it so will find it — depending upon their preferences — either too tame, too wild or simply not enough of anything.

As noted the show is just beautiful but I wanted to like it more. The care that went into it; the talent of the performers and the crying need in Las Vegas for a hit show are crystal clear. With all that, maybe I just expected too much.

Tickets for Peep Show range from $71.50-$110. At the top of the scale, partially visible in the photo above, are the club-like tables placed close to the stage in a kind of pit. They're are good seats and give one the feeling of really being up close, but the waitstaff scurrying back and forth taking and delivering orders throughout the show is distracting. Tickets are available at www.planethollywood.com.