Magician trying something different

“I still do my big illusion show, but that’s like 10 semis worth of stuff. Fighter jets and Lamborghinis and motorcycles, all that stuff that everybody’s doing.”

Instead, Daniels is setting up a new afternoon show at the Sahara with a mere 31/2 trucks work of scenery, including 15 backdrops and an animatronic gargoyle or two.

That’s still outrageous for an afternoon show sharing a stage with two evening productions (“Fab Four Mania” and Trent Carlini’s Elvis tribute). Stranger still is that Daniels is opting out of the usual Las Vegas illusion format in favor of “The Brett Daniels Magic Show: Wohscigam” (spell it backward).

The show debuting April 1 has a theatrical premise blending magic with the format of murder-mystery dinner theater.

Daniels says about half the magic will be sleight-of-hand rather than illusions involving cabinets and other contraptions. The production elements are more devoted to special effects, such as ghosts and a horse-drawn carriage.

“It really is more like a movie than a magic show,” Daniels says of the plot dealing with a magician’s backstage murder in 1912. The recent release of two movies with similar ideas, “The Prestige” and “The Illusionist,” encouraged him.

“I’m just personally curious to try something different,” says the magician who once performed in “Spellbound” at Harrah’s Las Vegas. “I think the audiences are too.” …

Singing impressionist Gordie Brown, recently departed from The Venetian, will move into a 10 p.m. time slot at Miracle Mile Shops adjacent to Planet Hollywood. The show starts March 31. …

Ventriloquist Ronn Lucas is moving his afternoon show one door north, from the Luxor to the Excalibur, starting April 1. “The Excalibur is probably a better demographic for him,” says Adam Steck, who will continue to produce the show.

“During the day especially, we still have a lot of that family traffic around,” Steck says. Lucas’ show is geared toward older children and adults. …

The sultry “Fashionistas” show has closed, but that show’s original star and choreographer, Enrique Lugo, has been doing some work for “X Burlesque” at the Flamingo Las Vegas.

“He knows how to choreograph sexy,” producer Angela Stabile says. “X Burlesque” marks its one-year anniversary next week, and Stabile says about 80 percent of the revue has changed since it debuted. New segments include a hip-hop salute to the military and a tribute to ’80s rock.

The Flamingo Las Vegas is throwing more casino support behind the topless late show, which shares its 180-seat venue with The Second City comedy troupe. Today marks the debut of an “X Burlesque” pit in the main casino; dancers from the show will attempt to distract you from card-counting there Thursdays through Saturdays. …

Singing impressionist Larry G. Jones closed his downtown show at Fitzgerald’s at the end of February. The producers of the remaining “Country Superstars Tribute” plan to team with casino management to produce a stand-up comedy show as a replacement.

Gene Sagas, who operates the Fitzgerald’s room, invites interested comedians to give him a call at the hotel, 388-2400. …

Comedian Bobby Slayton says he plans to hang tough at Hooters Hotel at least through Sept. 9. A pending $225 million sale of the hotel could be completed by spring, at which point Hooters would be remodeled and rebranded into a more upscale venue.

But Slayton, who marks one year in the small showroom next month, says he doesn’t think the remodeling would begin before the end of his contract period. …

Nope, there’s no shortage of comedy here. But if you ever follow your golf clubs to Hilton Head, S.C., you may find some laughs there as well.

I get asked a lot about the whereabouts of former entertainment writer Michael Paskevich. He wants to pass along news of his imminent move: He’s opening a comedy club in Hilton Head.

Paskevich is teaming with John Biddle, an experienced club manager who operated The Comedy Zone at the Plaza in recent years. The two are trying to get their venue remodeled and open by the May tourist season.

Paskevich says anyone who shows a Nevada driver’s license will get in free the first year. “That excludes Wayne Newton,” he adds.

Mike Weatherford’s entertainment column appears Thursdays and Sundays. Contact him at 383-0288 or e-mail him at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com.