What happens in Vegas doesn鈥檛 necessarily stay in Vegas, as far as Sin City fans are concerned.
Social media lit up as brightly as the Strip since the launch of the weekly live improvised serial鈥檚 sixth season at Victoria Event Centre.
After coaxing laughs in locales from a Depression-era circus to outer space, its creators couldn鈥檛 resist setting it in the fabled town of the title this year.
The comic potential of Las Vegas during the Rat Pack era, with mobsters, showgirls, period jazz and martini-swigging gamblers, was obvious during Sin City鈥檚 118th show last Tuesday.
The milieu seems appropriate, considering that performers being challenged to bring broadly sketched characters to life within an unscripted, unrehearsed story is a game of chance itself.
The anything-can-happen lunacy emerges at the Oasis Casino and Hotel, its attractions including three one-armed bandits created by set designer Joyce Kline, a blackjack table and the Camel鈥檚 Toe Show Lounge.
鈥淭he name of the show lounge actually came about onstage,鈥� said director Ian Ferguson, who created the series with his wife, producer Kirsten Van Ritzen.
As narcissistic Hollywood actor Libby Montgomery, Van Ritzen, apparently channelling Catherine O鈥橦ara at times, impulsively sang Fly Me to the Moon at one point.
鈥淚 love doing this. It鈥檚 my improv outlet,鈥� said Morgan Cranny, the local comedian who plays casino boss Joey Calligari.
鈥淚 get to be the most powerful and misogynistic character, and people boo me, as they should.鈥�
Other core players include Alan Penty as ex-boxer Rudy Bellini; Bill Nance as casino dealer Frankie Zane; Christine Upright as Irish gambler Fiona Olaconacher; Charlie DePape as casino accountant Bobby De Faro; Amy Culliford as starry-eyed small-town girl Peggy Sue McGee; and Robert Conway as lounge director Vincent Martino.
Tuesday鈥檚 cast also included Daniel Belkin as bellhop Jonsey Ford; Raylen Lanktree as junior showgirl Audrey; and Paul McKinnon as mentalist Confoundo.
鈥淭his is unlike any other kind of performing I鈥檝e done. I love the nature of the long-form, playing the same character week after week,鈥� said Conway.
DePape, a Victoria real-estate agent, said he enjoys the camaraderie and flexibility.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 really commit to any scripted work, but here if something comes up and I can鈥檛 show up, it鈥檚 fine,鈥� he said.
Wearing a feathered headdress, Lanktree, 19, appeared to be having a ball as the scantily clad showgirl.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so over-the-top,鈥� said Lanktree, who insists she did not watch Showgirls for inspiration.
鈥淭hat would be uninspiring, I think,鈥� quipped Cranny.
Other guest stars this season include drag queen Gouda Gabor, magician Shayne King, children鈥檚 entertainer Kathryn Popham and Karen Brelsford, the California-based Sin City alumnus who returned to play a showgirl during the Feb. 16-21 鈥減rime time鈥� preview week.
鈥淲e support and challenge each other in a good way when we have that element of trust,鈥� said Van Ritzen.
鈥淏ut when we have anyone as a guest we support them. We want them to shine.鈥�
Adds Cranny: 鈥淲e pull them out from under the bus.鈥�
This year鈥檚 marathon previews 鈥� akin to binge-watching your favourite TV show 鈥� gave viewers who might not have seen Sin City Tuesday nights a chance to discover it, said Ferguson.
鈥淎nd actors instead of having to wait a week between shows could develop their characters faster.鈥�
Susan Traill, who learned about Sin City through her 19-year-old son Joseph, an improv performer himself inspired by Penty, his former Vic High drama teacher, is a diehard fan.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a place you can go and laugh once a week,鈥� she said. 鈥淟aughter is the best medicine.鈥�
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