Night Clubs Reviews

Sep 27, 2004 - Reno's Eldorado Hotel Casino hosts the stylized Russian show "Taganai"

By Jack Neal

"Taganai," the colorful new show at the posh Eldorado showroom, should be a natural for the room. In the style of the popular and successful Cirque du Soliel presentations, "Taganai" is a smaller, more intimate version of those lavish productions.

"Taganai" appears to be very popular with audiences and most critics. It got a standing ovation the night I attended. The Cirque du Soliel shows, also extremely popular with the public, have always struck me as being too pretentiously stylized and dull.

From my vantage point, the same must be said about "Taganai." It's not the sort of show I like. The clowns strolling through the audience during the first fifteen minutes are only mildly amusing. Baby Electra, a grown-up in baby's clothing doing a long all-too cutesy goo-goo routine, is even less amusing. The costumes, designed by Violetta Dubinsky and Ilya Zaripov, are colorful but only about half (and who can tell who designed which half) are good looking and the others are less than remarkable. Dana Perri's choreography is not impressive, mostly pulsating to Vasily Bogatyrev's ordinary and annoying musical score. The sets are on the tacky side. The lighting is good, but not good enough to cover the show's shabbier looks.

Nonetheless "Taganai" consistently gets standing ovations, and there is much to recommend.

The athleticism of many in the cast is superlative. This is a very attractive and talented group and great to watch. The high bar athletes are terrific. The limbo act is superb, although a little limbo goes a very long way and there's more than a little limbo in "Taganai." The Russian Bar routine is astonishing and not tiring in the least. Likewise the trampoline work is daredevilish and very exciting.

The jewel act, for reasons one has to see to believe, is the contortionist presentation and hand balancing work of the stunning Anaitt Scyranyan. I'm not comfortable with these kinds of acts (I'm concerned for the long-term health of such artists), but Miss Scranyan is certainly one of the very best - if not the best - in the world.

The jump ropes portion of "Taganai," which closes the show, is more of an achievement of sport than interesing as entertainment.

My recommendation is for fans of such shows to experience "Taganai" for themselves. It's not my kind of show, but it may be yours, and it's in Reno and features many remarkable acts. It's a nightclub experience better to have experienced than missed.

"Taganai" can be seen at the Eldorado Hotel Casino, 345 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada, at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through November 21, 2004. For information call 775-786-5700 or 800-648-5966.