Karin Sabin
Staff Writer
“Lazer Vaudeville,” a light show of swirling black lights and laser stunts, is taking the Pepperdine campus by storm. The performers of “Lazer Vaudeville” will present two shows in Smothers Theatre at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday.
“We’ve presented this group several times over the years,” said Marnie Mitze, the managing director of the Center for the Arts. “It’s a creative and energetic show with lighting, special effects and circus skills.”
“Audiences always love the show,” said Mitze, who booked the variety-show troupe. “It’s geared towards all ages, and all ages enjoy it!”
One of the three performers, Cindy Marvell, called the show “a combination of really exciting, physical juggling, lasers and black lights all set to music.”
“Lazer Vaudeville” was founded in 1987 and has been touring nationally ever since.
Carter Brown, the founder, began as the group’s main performer.
Brown got his start learning skills with the Ringling Brothers and performing in several circuses, as well as performing in theater. Brown later immersed himself in the new vaudeville areas of miming, clowning and juggling. He then took these areas and combined them into a theatrical presentation, thus creating “Lazer Vaudeville.”
One of Brown’s specialties in the show is a cowboy routine. He lassoes neon cowboy ropes in the black lights.
L.E.D. staff twirling is another audience favorite.
“L.E.D. uses a computer inside the staff,” Marvell explained. “The new technology and the effects it creates are really amazing.”
Besides stunts like staff twirling, another aspect audiences delight in is the costumes. During a portion of the show, the three performers wear white tuxedos that glow brilliantly in the black lights. The lights and lasers used in Saturday’s show are called “techno beams,” which are more commonly called “moving lights.” These lights create the special effects as they roam and shine all around the theater.
“Some lasers project shapes on a screen,” Marvell said. “Other lasers go out, shining over the heads of the audience.”
Vaudeville’s fun and wacky stunts will take on a slight variation when they are performed in Smothers.
“We’re bringing a different version of the show,” Marvell said. “We get great audiences and extraordinary enthusiasm. It’s a really exciting montage seldom seen with high levels of physical skills and theatrics.”
Marvell came upon her unusual career path as a child.
“As a hobby as a kid, I would juggle three balls at home,” Marvell said.
Marvell’s hobby grew into a skill, and she started performing in small shows for fun in her hometown, New York City. Marvell’s success grew from there as she took on solo work first and then turned to team juggling.
In 1994, Marvell joined “Lazer Vaudeville.”
“I have an attraction to the pure activity itself,” Marvel said. “There are so many ways to be creative. I was attracted to learning the skills for the sake of the activity, not necessarily just for the performance aspect.”
The best part of being in the show, according to Marvell, is “being a juggler; I love my solo work. I get to perform with music and juggle with balls and drums, and even bounce the balls off the drum surfaces in tempo.”
If “Lazer Vaudeville” sounds unique, it’s because not many vaudeville shows are being performed today.
“Some college students don’t even know what vaudeville is,” Marvell said. “New vaudeville emerged in the late 60s and early 70s, with more experimentation, new acts, more audience participation and theatrics.”
Working, touring and performing in a fast-paced show like “Lazer Vaudeville” is not always easy, Marvell said.
“It’s a challenge,” Marvell said. “Being on a big road tour like the California one we’re on now takes lots of challenging practice.”
Learning the complexities and the physical skills of a stunt takes much time and energy, the performers said.
“In the learning phase of new stunts, we practice six hours a day, everyday,” Marvell said. “For competition training, it’s even several hours a day more.”
While the life of a juggler is not as simple as it looks, the “Lazer Vaudeville” performers showcase the required dedication.
“It’s fun and entertaining to see and participate in,” Marvell said.
“We’ve gotten great feedback before and audience turnout, so we’re hoping for the same again at Pepperdine. It’s a fantastic experience.”
Tickets for “Lazer Vaudeville” are on sale in the Smothers Theatre box office. Tickets cost $17.50 each or $10 for Pepperdine students.
01-20-2005
