"BestOfVegas"
06/09/08 -see other reviews-
 Attitude - 3 Eye Candy - 3 Price - 2
"Big Cats Still the Draw"
(From Mike Weatherford of the Las Vegas Review-Journal)
SHOW REVIEW: 'Xtreme Magic starring Dirk Arthur'
"Animal Attraction: Big cats still the draw at Dirk Arthur show
Dirk Arthur still might not be the top cat in magic, but his tigers are now the big dogs on the Strip.
For years, Arthur's show came off as imitation Siegfried & Roy. In fact, he even played second fiddle to the S&R Lite of Rick Thomas in the school of magic that showcases giant hairballs as co-stars.
But Arthur held tight and his "Xtreme Magic" has, by default, become the only place to see the exotic tigers once synonymous with "Vegas-style magic." The matinee ticket prices were a fair deal even when the duo was at The Mirage.
Arthur carries on the Barnum-esque traditions of the German showmen, touting white tigers as an "endangered species" rather than the product of selective breeding. He even walks a "liger" (mutant offspring of tiger and lion) across the stage.
What, no "tigons"?
In his three years at the Tropicana, Arthur has learned to play these "oohs" and "aahs" and doesn't try to compete with Lance Burton in the personality department. He's the ringmaster of a fast hour that bombards audiences with everything from a helicopter to a 400-pound tiger, but not a lot of idle chit-chat.
...........
He fares a little better when he pulls a young lad to the stage and supplies the "stunt hands" to help him with some sleight of hand. Lance Burton does this type of thing better, but magic -- and this brand of magic in particular -- is the primary exception to the show business adage that you steer clear of kids and critters. With Arthur, any and all help is welcome."
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