The Beautiful People: Las Vegas - fiction by @cclarke (Chapter 3)

Chapter 3

Colin took the last bite of his cheesecake. “What time did you say the show starts?” he asked Yen. They were dining in the posh Eiffel Tower Restaurant, their next post-tour stop after they’d quickly changed clothes at the hotel.

“Ten o’clock.” Yen was smiling, thinking about the entertainment she had chosen for the night.

“And this is an erotic show?” Vanessa looked at Yen.

A chuckle rippled around their banquette.

“Sort of,” Yen explained while shifting in her seat. As she crossed her legs, the red-lacquered soles of her designer heels caught the attention of a fleshy-faced gentleman at a table nearby. She noticed him look her up and down with leering, watery eyes that were the color of mud. Ugh. Yen rolled her eyes in disgust.

“I get the feeling I ought to be worried.” Donovan smiled bashfully and pulled her attention back to their table with his comment.

“Babies, all of you!” Colin leaned back with an air of mischief. “Why are you acting like you can’t handle a little erotic theatre? Did we not go to a strip club when we were in New Orleans?”

“We did, but the only nudity in there was of women.” Donovan smirked at the memory. “I don’t care to see any pink or brown bananas in my face.”

“Oh, Jesus.” Colin sighed.

“It’s not full nudity.” Yen offered. “Think Cirque du Soleil with a sensual twist.”

Vanessa relaxed. “Well, it sounds interesting.”

“And lewd!” Colin jested. “Let’s go!”

Shortly after they cleared their restaurant tab the foursome ventured off to the Zumanity Theater inside the New York-New York hotel. The evening was comfortably warm and at Yen’s request, they walked rather than use the car service. Upon entering, they found themselves amidst an eclectic crowd of people scattered about noisy slot machines, card games and crowded restaurants.

“This way,” Colin instructed after noticing the sign for “Will Call.”
After getting their tickets and falling in line, all four of them drifted into their own worlds on their smart phones. Heads down, eyes focused and thumbs habitually scrolling touch screens, an aerial view of the patron line would have revealed the majority of other patrons doing the same thing.

“Uh oh.” Vanessa finally looked up as the line began moving. She didn’t know if she should smile or have a panic attack.

“The pre-show is interactive with the audience. I just read some reviews online.”

Donovan’s face became flushed. Before anyone else could say another word, the doors opened and they were guided toward the dim theater. Yen and Colin were tickled at the sight of Vanessa and Don looking a little apprehensive. Nervousness was the last feeling to strike Colin as they stopped at the concession for a round of drinks.
The other patrons were eclectic—a group of French tourists, an elderly couple with lovingly clasped hands and a pierced-nose, Mohawk sporting group of young men and women. “My goodness!” Colin noticed a 6’2” chiseled black man with horns on his head and hoofs on his feet—a member of the cast who walked about the lobby to liven people up. He was clothed in only a sarong.

The moment Donovan he saw the drink menu he knew it was going to be an interesting or uncomfortable night. “Long Dong Iced Tea? Really?” he whined. Being escorted to their front row seats by a drag queen with a mountain of shiny pink and black hair made him assume the latter.

“You could have ordered the Blue Balls,” Vanessa teased. She’d had a jello shot to get in the mood for the show.
As audience members began to fill the auditorium, a glance around revealed many who looked unsure of what they’d gotten themselves into. Rightfully so for some. When the pre-show began Donovan and friends found themselves in the spotlight.

“And who do we have here?” Two heavyset women with theatrical eventful makeup and lingerie sang their question as they approached Colin.
Donovan elbowed him, hoping Colin wouldn’t encourage them. Feeling his apprehension, Colin suppressed his desire to become the center of attention.

“You’re lucky, I feel like behaving right now,” Colin whispered. “But if Fabio over there wants to include me, I can’t say I will keep it up!” He nodded in the direction of a rowdy and muscular Latino member of the cast who had already made it clear that he had a habit of grabbing his crotch as he swooped through the aisles.
Donovan perked up once the show began and two giant fishbowls appeared on stage. In them were two bikini-clad Asian women doing an erotic swim routine. “Now this looks promising!”

“I’ll say,” Vanessa chimed in.

Their evening seemed to go by slowly, with the show nearing a three-hour performance time. While much of it was entertaining, there were some scenes that were hit or miss with the audience.
“I’m going to get a drink,” Colin announced at one point toward the middle. He’d become fatigued with a comedy sketch that had gone on for more than ten minutes. When he returned, he would find himself soon in the spotlight again as a buff little man soared through the air with a single red rose clenched between his jaws. As Colin eased back into his seat, the midget flew above them and landed at Yen Chu’s feet and presented her with the flower, sweat beading on his oblong face.

“Can I touch your hair?” Vanessa asked the elfin gymnast, whose mane was platinum and stiff.

“Sure honey!” He grabbed hold of the arms on her chair and leaned forward, his head close enough to her breasts to rest it up on them.

“An unequivocal hot mess,” Colin commented when the man flew away. “I can’t believe you!”

“What? I’ve never seen anything like it!” She burst into laughter. “Leave me alone, boy, I’m drunk!”

“Obviously.” Colin laughed.

“You guys are too much!” Yen chimed in.

The show was a series of entertaining hills and valleys.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Donovan admitted after the finale.

“Yeah, it was decent.” Colin agreed. “Thanks, Yen.”

“Glad you liked it.” She smiled.

They shook hands with several performers as they made their way to the exit.

“All right now, let’s hit the club because I’m ready to dance!”