Night Clubs Reviews

Aug 23, 2008 - A very Russian, less than thrilling "Aphelion" opens at Reno's Eldorado Hotel Casino

By Jack Neal

Billed as a Cirque du Soleil style show, a very Russian, less than thrilling “Aphelion” – meaning the portion of the earth’s orbit farthest from the sun – has opened at Reno’s Eldorado Hotel Casino.

Cirque du Soleil shows (circuses without animals) have become enormously popular, especially for people who resist the exploitation of animals. The popularity of these shows (I, too, oppose the exploitation of animals) have always escaped my sense of exciting entertainment. Cirque shows are expensively produced (a plus), cost lots of money to experience (a minus), and are so esoteric one must rave about Cirque productions or not be “in,” as in chic.

No chance of that happening with “Aphelion.” It is not expensively produced and looks it (a minus). It does not cost lots of money to experience (a plus). It tries to be esoteric (dark shadowy figures lurking in gloomy recesses of the stage), but its esoteric attempts at sophistication take on an air of unintended camp nondescript lighting and unflattering costumes only heighten.

Largely a display piece for athletes showing off exceptional feats of strength and grace, only about 55 minutes of this nearly 80 minute presentation highlights the production’s superb athletes.

Twenty-five minutes are devoted to the comedy antics of American comic Kirk Marsh. Marsh has talent and performs with an eye to classic style, but is on stage far too long given the skimpy material he’s using. And skimpy material and a heavy dose of audience participation does not add up to hit status. Producers should take care (attention production manager Yevgeniy Petrov) not to leave a cast on stage for an extended period following final bows with the house lights up to show off a standing ovation, when none is forthcoming. It’s embarrassing for both cast and audience.

There are some thrilling moments, or would be if they were properly showcased. The trio of hand balancers (Sergey Potapov, Olexander Vologdin, Andriy Dyadyun) defy gravity and the physics of human endurance. The flying silk and hand balancing act (Ludmila Potapova, Roman Ignatenko) is sensational. Alexandra Fidosseyeva’s aerial net act is a symphony of movement (even with backlighting that blinds onlookers). Almaz Alzhanov is a gifted rolla bolla artist (piles of moving spheres he stands atop with perfect balance). Maria Malenieva’s quick change illusion is astonishing (ironically she’s one of the few people on stage whose costume doesn’t need changing). Jugglers Valentin Ershov, Olga Nasypbekova, Baktybek Nasypbekov produce a near perfect act. The high bar finale (Oleg Novikov, Emelyanov Viacheslav, Sergey Bashkin, Victor Kaplan, Alexey Bugrov) is terrific.

So much for the good news.

Vasily Bogatyrev’s score is played about ten decibels higher than it should be, which doesn’t help. Nor does Svetlana Fatkhudinova’s odd choreography (possibly an attempt to capture an artsy essence). Nor do the cheap looking props (doors, etc.) that less than adorn the stage.

Even the best athletes can’t overcome a production so lacking in tasteful attention to detail. And with so much talent on stage and in such a beautiful showroom, that’s a pity.

“Aphelion” plays the Eldorado Hotel Casino Showroom, 345 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada, Tuesdays through Fridays and Sundays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Through November 14, 2008. Tickets from $24.95. For information call 800-879-8879, 800-648-5966, 775-786-5700, or go online at eldoradoreno.com.