‘Point Break’ comic revue surfs in

Las Vegas has put everything onstage from the sinking of the Titanic to an aerial view of a samurai battle. So it probably could field an adaptation of the movie "Point Break," complete with surfing and a skydiving battle.

But that's not the point of "Point Break Live!," a comic revue where the line of inspiration was more, "Let's do it for 10 dollars!" says producer Eve Hars.

"I know it's crazy to take on Vegas with a low-budget thing," Hars says of her spoof that opens Oct. 1 at the V Theater in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort. The biggest risk is closing the show's run in Santa Monica, Calif., club this Saturday to transplant the cast here.

The nine-person troupe does save money on the Johnny Utah character played by Keanu Reeves in the 1991 action flick about an FBI agent who infiltrates a gang of bank-robbing surfers. To achieve the necessary woodenness, they pull up a random audience member to read the role from cue cards.

So far, the wacky concept has succeeded expectations, albeit in cities that support things such as this in clubs and small theaters. After its 2003 launch in Seattle, the creators took it to Minneapolis and Manhattan -- where Hars says she "put part of the show on my credit card" to open it -- and then west to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The producers hope to lure audiences ages 25 to 40 who aren't attracted to typical Las Vegas shows. That can be a risky move if you remember bygone titles such as "Shag With a Twist." "It kind of seems like an underground hipster thing," Hars admits, but it has attracted "a wider range of audience." ...

Mosaic, the a capella group that usually opens for comedian George Wallace at the Flamingo Las Vegas, is one of the nine acts competing on "MTV's Top Pop Group" starting at 10 p.m. today. The new talent contest is apparently one of those "live in the same house" affairs; the six-man group will be sequestered as long as it stays in the running. Wallace will have to get by without the six singers once he returns from a vacation on Tuesday. ...

Fitzgeralds pulled the plug on its Comedy After Hours on Tuesday after the Texas-based promoter of the stand-up comedy forum failed to pay its performers or assorted bills, says Gene Sagas, who oversees entertainment at the downtown casino.

The club opened in May with ambitious plans to film its content for syndicated TV, but only one such taping came off, Sagas says. However, the casino still is keen on the idea of stand-up in its small showroom. Management is talking to other producers, including Ron Keel, who oversees the room's standing revue, "Country Superstars Tribute."

The latter has taken root there and increases its schedule from five to seven shows per week on Oct. 1.

The comedy club fell apart last week, but Sagas recruited local comedians to pinch-hit and honor advance ticket sales. They included "Defending the Caveman" star Kevin Burke, who already performs his one-man play with no day off. "He was so good (at stand-up) I would like to have him here all the time," Sagas says.

That may be an option, since the Golden Nugget is expected to announce today that impressionist Gordie Brown will move in there once his job as Celine Dion's opening act ends in January. The end of Dion's tour is conveniently timed to the end of the contract period for "Caveman" at the Nugget.

Fremont Street does see the return of the "Viva Las Vegas" afternoon revue to the Plaza on Monday, giving downtown an extra entertainment option. ...

Magician Steve Wyrick already has a motorcycle in his show. But on Friday, he unveils a new custom chopper out in front of Planet Hollywood after celebrating his 1,000th performance in his theater at Miracle Mile Mall, which opened in February 2007.

He says the bike built by Orange County Choppers will be featured on the cable series "American Chopper." ...

Is he in or out? A press release last week announced comedian Paul Rodriguez would host the new poker-themed show "The Real Deal!" which opens Oct. 14 at The Venetian.

But Rodriguez, who brings his "Latin Kings of Comedy" to Treasure Island on Friday, says he had previous commitments he can't get out of. "I got myself into a pickle. I'm about to be sued by all sides," he said.

Perhaps not. Earlier this week, the show's publicist says Rodriguez will at least open the show, even if he doesn't stay on as permanent host.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.