Today in Las Vegas Magazine

From Chrous Line to Punchline

Up until a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t know much of Rita Rudner, save for “Peter’s Friends,” the hysterically funny, ‘English comedy’ which starred then-hot couple Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson, and backed by revered comedians Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, among others. I knew she had a role in it, but wasn’t aware that she had co-written the screenplay with her husband, Martin Bergman. And that it won the Peter Sellers Award for best comedy film of the year.

It’s surprising, then, to have her headline a show in Las Vegas – in a market that’s overrun by showgirls, topless revues and “big” (with a capital B) names in entertainment – the likes of stars with showrooms and colosseums built specifically for them.

Especially since she got her comedic start a bit later in life, at age 25, when she quit dancing and the Great White Way, with roles in six Broadway shows, no less, and moved to stand-up comedy. So, yes, she can dance, and she can probably carry a tune, but she left all this behind when she put herself front-and-center in front of the microphone.

Rita’s claim to fame is that she is “one of the few acts in Las Vegas that has achieved success without having to take her clothes off…” and that’s certainly admirable in this day and age. Well, refreshing to say the least. She is also one of the few acts here, if not the only one, where she doesn’t take the stage to showcase a multitude of talents – in the vein of a little singing, a little dancing, a little improv, well, you get the idea. It’s just an hour of her – up front and on stage, delivering her zingers and one-liners – no band, no back-up dancers, no costume changes, no set, no nothing. And yet, the place was packed.

Harrah’s has a gem in Rita Rudner, and they were wise enough to extend her contract until 2010. She’s found a good home in the showroom, though they could do a little bit better by bringing back the drinks servers, rather than have people line-up at the bar.

Rita’s brand of comedy isn’t based on celebrity skewings, nor does she specialize in cursing, being brash, or generally being offensive as some of the comedians are today, and that’s probably the most refreshing part of all. She has obviously endeared herself to Las Vegas, both locals and tourists, and a big part of her first act contains a lot of Vegas references, of course, lightly poking fun at the city and its culture. Like, “I like Vegas-themed hotels, like The Venetian, it’s a novelty, I’ve never taken a gondola to The Gap.” or “Did you notice that Vegas is getting classier? We now have a ballet company… although it’s topless…” and more along those same lines.

The themes and topics that she covers most always centers on women, shopping, her husband, the differences of the sexes, being a parent, how she can’t cook, aging, online dating, marriage, divorce and all that jazz. Kind of like a “Defending the Caveman,” in reverse or, I suppose, ‘in defense of the cavewoman,’ except in her world, it’s not the women with the problems, it’s the men. Don’t get me wrong, she doesn’t hate men, she just can’t understand them, but instead of being nasty, she chooses instead to lightly poke fun at the opposite sex, delivering witticisms and insights into men (and relationships) in such a pleasant, non-aggressive manner that you won’t know what hit you until seconds later.

She doesn’t spare herself some criticism, and faults, though she couches that with such brilliant (and funny) rationalization, that it almost becomes a virtue, or at the very least, sounds logical. Or maybe it’s because I’m female. Take her riffs on shopping – “I don’t understand why men don’t like shopping. It’s like indoor hunting. We use a credit card instead of a gun and the target’s already dead.” Or describing how shopping is a natural high, and how if we buy something we like, it’s like being on marijuana; if it’s on sale, it’s akin to cocaine; or if we buy something we don’t like, doesn’t fit us and will never wear, well, that’s like smoking crack.

We don’t want to give all her wisecracks away, because we think she’s one of Las Vegas’ must-sees – along with the topless revues and the neon lights.

And yes, she really is that funny.

-Rachel M. Sugay