Night Clubs Reviews

Jun 16, 2004 - Paul Reder's "Fusion," a happy little magic show, at Lake Tahoe's Horizon Hotel Casino

By Jack Neal

Veteran nightclub show producer Paul Reder believes that pleasant, sweet, family oriented nightclub shows - even in casinos noted for bawdier types of adult fare - can succeed.

The vigorous Mr. Reder, who is on the sunny side of 40, hits a home run with his concept that entertainment doesn't have to be smutty to be entertaining. He has created "Fusion" for Lake Tahoe's Horizon Hotel Casino. It's a happy little nightclub show that uses magic as a springboard to laughter. "Fusion" is artful, funloving, whimsical and engagingly entertaining. It's also an especially refreshing notion in an entertainment landscape littered with vulgar standup comedians, flippant, loose-lipped stars and misdirected revue shows that have forgotten that clean humor is a lot funnier than a dirty joke.

Like Cher, one of "Fusion's" three magicians is a one-name performer called Alexander. His assistant is the lovely and nimble Pamela Najera. Alexander is "Fusion's" grand illusionist and he and Pamela are in all ways grand at mystifying.

Close-up magician Gregory Wilson, he's the one with all the cards up his sleeves, is a lovable con man who tailors his portion of the act to the whims of his audience. Wilson's is a very special talent. He's as first-rate an illusionist as he's first-rate at garnering laughs. The third part of this delightfully magical threesome is the lanky and boyish Bryson Lang. Lang provides "Fusion" with an air of impishness that's irresistible.

All of the show's lighthearted shenanigans work worderfully well in the intimate space of the Horizon's Golden Cabaret. It's a space director Tony Clark knows well. Clark was the star of "Phantasy," which played the Golden Cabaret for an extended run not too long ago. As "Fusion's" director Clark works the show's intimate space to advantage and does an adroit job integrating the cast's diverse talents.

"Fusion" is a nice little show that pleases. It may be no better than the sum of its parts, but with such exceptional parts "Fusion" doesn't need to be anything but what it is - a pleasant and solidly entertaining show.

"Fusion" can be experienced nightly (except Tuesdays) at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. with a "kids free" (restrictions apply) matinee Sundays at 3 p.m. Admission prices are $19.95 weekdays and $24.95 weekends. For information call 775-588-6211.