FEATURES

After weathering the past year, Absinthe is still strong

There’s a moment in Absinthe that perfectly captures the sense

of joy, relief and victory that is being felt on the Las Vegas Strip

these days, both by the talented entertainers in shows such

as this one and by visitors returning to the city after too many

months away.

By Brock Radke

Duo Vector, the powerful acrobatic act consisting of Michal “Misha” Furmanczyk and Lukasz Szczerba, has been part of Absinthe in Las Vegas since opening night on April 1, 2011. Their performance is one of strength and balance, of making impossible movements and holds look graceful and effortless.

And the final hold, where Szczerba is supporting Furmanczyk and all of his body weight with just one hand while Furmanczyk maintains a completely rigid plank position, is the most difficult and mind-blowing feat in the act. Just when it seems like the two men won’t be able to keep it up, Szczerba slowly raises his left hand to his face and makes a small adjustment to his mask, pulling it up over his nose the same way all of us do. The audience explodes in laughter and applause.

“We always did a little head turn to look at the audience in that part (of the act), so they can see we are doing this without any stress in our bodies,” Szczerba says. “But wearing the masks actually helps us, in a way, to show that it looks effortless and that we can do this.” Indeed, “we can do this” has been a mantra that Las Vegas has clung to tightly over the past year as the pandemic has halted and slowed entertainment in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

But Absinthe has been one of the Vegas shows that returned to its stage as early and safely as possible, keep-

ing that spirit alive until more aspects of the Strip could reopen and welcome guests once again.

Like many of the rotating acts in the comedic variety show, Duo Vector was recruited from overseas by producer Speigelworld to relocate to Las Vegas and start something special in the big white spiegeltent in front of Caesars Palace. Szczerba and Furmanczyk were performing together in a circus-style production in Munich when the call came to join Absinthe.

After competing in acrobatic sports events for years in their native Poland, the duo joined forces and created their signature act in 2008. “Usually you can easily determine which is the flyer and which is the base in an act like ours,” says Furmanczyk. “Lukasz will always be a bit bigger than me but we are still trying to match up to get to that perfect spot where we look equal. I’m very tall for a typical flyer and that makes it more difficult in a way for Lukasz because it affects our balance points.”

Their physical similarities make the act unique, and that seemingly small detail represents the vision behind Absinthe. These performers believe that every aspect of the show and how the different acts come together is what makes the experience so special.

“I think every act has some function in the show. Some have to be showstoppers, some have to be romantic, others have to be technical, but all the ones we have now and used to have fit perfect-

ly,” Szczerba says. “They have a specific role, and every time I see the show, I can’t believe how good it is and how the choreography and comedy all works together.”

Furmanczyk is particularly enthralled by the daredevil roller-skating act of Billy and Emily England, even though both acts have been in the show for a long time and he’s seen the brother-sister duo perform many times. “When you sit in the front row and have these skaters spinning right in front of you, everybody has the same face because it’s such a dynamic act,” he says. “I think (the) idea is to bring the most unique acts, something you won’t see anywhere else, so when you come to the show, you’ll always be surprised. It’s been uplifting for me, seeing the show grow so much, and now it’s so well-established in this city. To be a part of it is something we are proud of.”

Pre-pandemic, Absinthe had moved to a seven-nights-a-week schedule and was surging as one of the most popular productions on the Strip. After fighting through COVID conditions, it has returned to form and is expected to add shows to the schedule and increase audience size soon. Until then, all your favorite acts are back in the spiegeltent, operating under safe and comfortable conditions for the ultimate Absinthe experience. The Gazillionaire and his band of beautiful, eccentric artists may be masked during their performances, but everyone can still clearly see how happy they are to be back onstage again, entertaining Las Vegas the way only they can.

Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer

Treat the maternal unit well with these special meals

By Nina King

If you’re in Vegas with Mom over Mother’s Day, celebrate with one of these oh-so-fabulous brunches, breakfasts or treats, and just like that, you’re back in the will!

Give mom a great meal along with a spectacular view at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant (Paris, 702.948.6937). In addition to enjoying a $59 prix fixe, three-course menu featuring lobster Benedict, creme brûlée French toast and other goodies, you cannot beat the view from the half-scale French landmark. How thoughtful!

Check in for breakfast on the patio at Salt & Ivy (Aria, 877.230.2742) for a lovely start to Mother’s Day. The restaurant features humongous Dutch baby pancakes in several varieties—veggie, serrano ham and Mahon cheese, and a lemon curd and blueberry beauty that could even serve as a shareable dessert.

Also at Aria, Bardot Brasserie (877.230.2742) practically specializes in decadent weekend brunches. One of the neatest is the French toast, a stacked-up concoction with brioche, vanilla bean mascarpone (num-num) and orgeat syrup, which you can enjoy amid the French café-style décor.

Maxie’s (The Linq Promenade, 702.754.4400) is also known for its daily brunch options, and Mom is sure to love over-the-top breakfast creations like cotton-candy pancakes with cotton candy cream cheese and cotton candy on top.

We all know Mom is a stickler for the finer things, so head to Primrose (Park MGM, 702.730.6600). This French country house-inspired restaurant is so very pretty, and the restaurant’s all-you-can-drink prosecco and rosé packages will leave Mom very happy, indeed.

Tea Lounge

Although this isn’t a classic brunch, if you can score a reservation to one of the sittings at the 23rd-floor Tea Lounge (Waldorf Astoria, 702.590.8888), it makes a fabulous alternative. Scones, finger sandwiches, tea, gorgeous views— Mumsy will be in your pocket.

Brunch at Border Grill (Mandalay Bay, 702.632.7200) is just fabulous, whether or not the parent is involved—but given that we’re talking about Mother’s Day, she’d better be! Rainbow cauliflower tacos, vampiro shrimp tacos, blood orange margaritas and a churro ice cream sandwich are just a few of the highlights.

At Giada (The Cromwell, 855.442.3271), weekend brunch is a fave for mothers of all ages, especially ones that are fans of the celebrity chef. The restaurant features some of Giada De Laurentiis’ favorites, plus specialties like the Sunrise polenta waffles and the grilled cheese (unusual with a lemony twist, and quite amazing). This mom is also very fond of the pastry basket, which comes with an assortment of sweet breads like almond croissants and cinnamon buns (hint-hint!).

At Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer (The Venetian,

Giada

702.414.2210), they’re combining a truffle burger and Watermelon Smash into a Mother’s Day bundle that you will love. The prime burger is anointed with black truffle mayo and a truffle vinaigrette, and the cocktail is a light refresher with vodka, lime, simple syrup, watermelon and Thai basil.

Osteria Fiorella (Red Rock Resort, 702.797.7777) also tempts with a Mother’s Day brunch. Choose from focaccia French toast with sweet ricotta and Whistle Pig maple syrup, fruit or a parfait; spaghetti carbonara, ricotta toast or Hayden Mills polenta; and an optional pastry plate.

CHRISTOPHER KENNEY WILL BE FOREVER ENSHRINED

in the long legacy of live Vegas entertainment for portraying Edie in Cirque du Soleil’s epic cabaret Zumanity for more than a decade at New York-New York. Last fall, when the company decided the show would not be returning to the Strip, the veteran entertainer already had something new to work on. Kenney co-created Faaabulous! The Show, a new drag spectacle currently performing at Notoriety Live.

You actually launched Faaabulous before the pandemic hit Las Vegas. What was that like?

A little over a year and a half ago, we did a workshop just to get it out of our heads, to stop talking about it and just do it. We did four shows at Ron DeCar’s Event Center downtown, to see if we had something, and the response was amazing. We felt excited and proud and thought we were ready to … try to get it into a casino. But doing 10 shows a week in Zumanity (caused it) to fall to the back burner for the next few months, and then COVID came.

And you did a bit of performing in the Drive-In Drag Show last summer, but when Cirque announced the closure of Zumanity, did that kick things into gear for this new project?

Zumanity should have never, ever closed. That show was just stunning. I’ll miss the show deeply but it feels good to me to be able to move on and it feels good to be doing something. The funny thing is people coming to see me as Edie didn’t know I’m a dancer. I was a dancer my whole life until Zumanity, which was just an emcee role. So it feels good

By Brock Radke Photo by Christopher DeVargas

Faaabulous! The Show

450 Fremont St., 702.472.7514, notorietylive.com to dance again, maybe one last hurrah before I’m too old. But I’m up for it, all the high kicks and everything.

And you’re doing it every Friday night at Notoriety Live, one of the newest entertainment venues in the city at downtown’s Neonopolis complex.

We’re teaching people where it’s at and how to get there, where to park. We’re just coming out of the train station and hopefully it will be successful and we get more people in seats. We’ve had great audiences, we just need to get the word out more to tourists. Right now it’s mostly locals ... and the energy is great.

You’ve got an amazing cast of drag artists and dancers. What do you think sets it apart from other drag shows?

It’s all-live vocals and there are four-part harmonies, which is really exciting. And we have some really fun and different songs, some more traditional and others more contemporary. We do a Dua Lipa song. Edie has a sort of ’60s vibe so some songs have a bit of a go-go feel.

I’m sure you’re learning a lot, playing the role of producer and promoter and all that, but how does it feel just to be back onstage in front of live audiences?

It’s really fun. I feel like my old self, my New York self, the guy who was just really excited to perform, like “What’s the next gig?” The creativity is really flowing and it feels really good, and there are just a lot of great vibes coming from the audience. It’s nice to feel that spin again. We give it to the audience and hopefully they like it and give it back to us, and it turns into this spinning magical thing.... It’s a great feeling.

Christopher Kenney puts a spin on new drag show