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Show Review - Erika Jayne 'BET IT ALL ON BLONDE'

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Show Review - Erika Jayne 'BET IT ALL ON BLONDE'

"Real Housewives" star serves a feast of surprisingly satisfying fluff...

Nonstop dance beats. A pair of glamorous backup singers. A crew of buff male dancers. Smoke, lighting effects, and risque video images. Everything you'd expect from a Vegas show built around a sensual blonde pop-culture tabloid magnet. You might be thinking "Britney Spears", and you wouldn't be too far off. But Erika Jayne, castmate of the skeevy "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills", can actually sing, dance, and string words together into coherent sentences. That gives TV's controversial celebrity an enormous edge over the ever-spiraling Spears, whose rumored return to the Strip is raising eyebrows...and the price of umbrellas.

Still, Ms. Jayne has an uphill battle of her own to face. Caught inside a whirlwind of lawsuits and a whopper of a scandal, the former "Erika Chahoy Girardi" is a hotbed of negative PR. But long before she became a "reality star", the Georgia native was intent on forging a serious career in show business.

Media personality Perez Hilton visits Erika Jayne after 9/22/23 show

After attending an Atlanta-area performing arts school, Erika moved to New York City, then later to Los Angeles. Professional acting roles in the mid-90s gave way to a recording career, with the #1 Billboard dance single "Roller Coaster" hitting the charts in 2007. Her 2009 album "PRETTY MESS" shares its name with another single, a subsequent tour, a line of beauty products, and Jayne's published memoir. It's also a fair description of the star's personal life. [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://vegas411-images.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/10010243/20230922_203737.mp4"][/video] Other hits like "One Hot Pleasure" and "Get It Tonight" followed, but don't feel bad if they aren't on your playlist. Unless you're an RHOBH viewer, Erika Jayne isn't necessarily a household name. But her fans are loyal and plentiful enough to justify BET IT ALL ON BLONDE, a residency at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues. The ten-show stint, which kicked off in late August, will run on various weekends through December.

If your tastes lean toward rock, pop, dance, or R&B, there's plenty to love in BET IT ALL ON BLONDE. The feathery production is filled to the brim with Jayne's naughty singles and covers of hits from the likes of Madonna, Donna Summer, and CHIC. The pace is breakneck, slowing down only once for the silky "Leave The Door Open". Singers Markeis Simon and Sara Loera add ample heat to the proceedings, as do a pair of stripper poles that flank the stage. [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://vegas411-images.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/10010252/20230922_214241.mp4"][/video] Jayne's love for Vegas-style glamour began in grade school. Production Manager Kevin Sucher (The Docksiders) and a team of skilled professionals have assembled a solid, glitzy presentation that Erika describes as "a dream come true". The singer, whose vocals are live (albeit with evidence of tech support), comes across as genuinely grateful to perform on the Strip. In her own words, she's "Head high and moving forward".

"Tonight is all about you" Jayne proclaims, and there's no doubt that the sentiment is reciprocated. The singer's fervent LGBTQ fan base was highly visible at the 9/22 performance, and it's easy to understand why. Filling a void left by Cher, Jennifer Lopez, and Spears, BLONDE's sexual empowerment anthems, disco elements, and shredded, half-naked male dancers tick off every box on the "gay icon checklist". Expect the same when Kylie Minogue's VOLTAIRE residency debuts at Venetian Resort Las Vegas in November.

Although BET IT ALL ON BLONDE is a smartly-curated experience, it's not without flaws. For a few awkward moments, the stage is entirely devoid of performers. The opportunity to show video clips of Jayne's personal journey during costume changes is wasted. And there's nary a mention of her "Real Housewives" gig.

At 52 years of age, Erika Jayne has accomplished the near-impossible. Her determination and dedication (aided by a popularity wave and ample funds) have delivered the musical equivalent of cotton candy. BET IT ALL ON BLONDE is fluffy, colorful, and as light as air. It won't re-invent entertainment, but deserves a place on the Sin City stage. So grab a cocktail, turn off your brain, and get ready for BET IT ALL ON BLONDE. It's one of the biggest left-field surprises of the year.

BET IT ALL ON BLONDE will perform on December 1, 2, 15, and 16 at Mandalay Bay's HOUSE OF BLUES. Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $69.95 (plus taxes/fees) and can be ordered here. Pre-show VIP meet-and-greet experiences are available at an additional charge. Photos and videos by VEGAS 411 (Perez Hilton pic via Facebook)

SamNovak
Official Verified Account

Sam Novak serves as the Deputy Editor and columnist for Vegas411.com. With a career spanning several years, Sam has established himself as a candid and insightful voice in the city’s entertainment scene. His column, “Vegas Unfiltered,” is renowned for its unvarnished critiques and in-depth analyses of Las Vegas shows, celebrities, restaurants, hotels, and emerging trends. Sam’s commitment to providing readers with genuine insights has solidified his reputation as a trusted authority.