Come to the captain. Stick around for the pasta. Or the other way around.
Spiegelworld does a lot in Las Vegas, but not twice. The company’s thirst for discovery in the Cosmopolitan with the double hospitality experience of “Opium” and Superfrico. The show celebrated its grand reopening on Thursday evening.
This was the company’s second such event, following a reveal last month. If there’s a third one, we’ll be there while Harry M. Howie is around.
We know the show very well or have replaced “Vegas Nocturne”, which ran for six months until June 2014, since it opened in March 2018. An interplanetary farce on board the spaceship OPM 73 “Opium” had only just started to be in the black in early 2020 when it was pulled off the stage. Some of the popular characters in the opium theater complemented the Spiegelworld shows that brought “Opium” to the stage.
Breakfast is served… 🍌 @OpiumVegas #RJNow @reviewjournal @Cosmopolitan_LV pic.twitter.com/B6y8ern14I
– John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) October 29, 2021
Asher Treleaen, known as the aforementioned Captain Kunton; and Grace Lusk like Lt. Karen are among the “Opium” stars who helped “Absinthe” fill two companies and roll at Caesars Palace with 14 shows a week.
“Opium” has managed to work in a comparatively small space. The Opium Theater doesn’t allow for great aerial performances just because the ceiling is lower than the Absinthe Mirror Tent and the Atomic Saloon Show in the Grand Canal Shoppes of the Venetian. But even as a more, say, grounded production, “Opium” uses sharp comedy writing to keep the show entertaining throughout.
He makes it look easy … @OpiumVegas Bubble Man @Cosmopolitan_LV #RJNow @reviewjournal pic.twitter.com/XgBQbpUkt6
– John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) October 29, 2021
The captain’s introduction to his “Sexy Diablo” act includes a message to the fans for whom the act is intended: “If you are a manly lady or a ladylike man …” Brett Ages’ Chiptell’s Rob the Robot (Eli Weinberg) achieved his romantic experience with “lips on cheek,” which sends the sexual references into space.
Rear Admiral Todd (board Lautermilch) cut off his fuchsia hair, but his sword swallowing routine is still very effective. Leelo’s balloon-twisting routine is considered impressive enough to spearhead the company’s marketing lightning bolt. We have new, manic, record-turning ones from Rachel Wood as Nurse Chardonnay, a hilariously inventive banana spitting act from Jonathan Taylor and Ann Goldman of Daredeevlil Chicken. Nick Locks brilliant bubble act, played in a classic pinstripe suit, is brilliant. It’s also the only act that isn’t presented as a space segment.
Founder of Spiegelworld Ross Mollisons The knack for international recruiting shows again in the Pedal & Metal risley Act, for which Mollison traveled on a scouting trip to Ethiopia. The two perform a cunning act in which one member tilts the other at high speed while lying on his back. Similar to many “opium” acts, one wonders about the learning curve with this one, because it must have failed several times to be carried out so professionally.
Full plate
The whole “opium” makes a great production, dense and impressive and fun. But the adjoining restaurant offers something different from Spiegelworld. The food at Superfrico is great, the decor matches the “Opium” design perfectly – in terms of aesthetics and attitude.
Guests arrive at different locations when they reach the “Opium” annex on the second level of the Cosmopolitan. The Artery dining room is home to what the company calls the “Italian American Psychedelic” kitchen. The studio is the dining room and bar where the artists were positioned during the rose. Rabbits. Lie. Days. Ski Lodge is the cocktail bar design, yes, as a ski hut. Enjoy this wintry place when it’s 100 and teenagers outside.
The Bottle-O on the edge of the theater offers the collection of company-mixed and filled cocktail bottles. We’re pushing for mocktails, or at least a specific FizzyWater item on this menu. This program is led by the James Beard Award-winning mixologist Leo Robitschek and Restaurant GM Greisy Pacton. Behind the scenes longtime Vegas entertainment professionals Allegra Libonati and Shannan Calcutt have worked to combine the dining and entertainment experiences as “Opium” performers perform around the restaurant and away from the theater.
I had previously referred to Superfrico as a pizzeria. It presents great pizza, led by a man so adept at creating the pies he is known as “International Pizza Czar”. Anthony Falco. But it’s more than that.
The team has created great pasta dishes, steaks, seafood, small plates and desserts. The chicken parm is very good. Bistecca alla Fiornita, the 40-ounce Creekstone tomahawk, is referred to as the “target” dish.
The art in the room is a bonus, but it adds to the all-encompassing experience. Art advisor Heather Harmon directs efforts and abides by the company’s circus basics. More than 20 original works adorn the walls, highlighted by Adehla Lees Psycho Pop Party, a colorful acrylic that is the first painting commissioned for Superfrico. Tiza’s Paranormal Activity is located in the Purple Lodge, the entrance to the venue. Morgan Phillips (aka The Sucklord) has created 20 action figures based on “Opium” characters.
Among those early characters is Harry M. Howie himself. The show effectively ran without his constant attendance as he set off on other LA ventures. But was back Thursday evening and grinned at what had been achieved.
Spiegelworld satirized the traditional circus in “Absinthe” and gave the Wild West a new face in “Atomic”. But the reissued “Opium” is the company’s moon shot. May it always play under the stars.
Cool slope alarm
The moonlights Vegas’ grandiose Top 40 cover band with a Gatsby theme will play the Star Piano Cocktail Lounge on Saturday at 10 p.m. This is the former Sonny’s Saloon dive bar on 3449 S. Sammy Davis Jr. Drive. There’s a costume party. There are prizes. It is grooved. Please visit starloungelv.com for more information.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. You can find his “PodKats!” Podcasts at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @ JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
