Margaret Cho is Beautiful (Mini Review)

Image from Margaret Cho's official site

I've returned from my long and productive day away from the blog. We got the new barbecue, gave the old one to a neighbor, and got a new garden swing, though we're not done assembling that. We had dinner with The Bodacious Friend at Tommy Bahama's in Las Vegas' new Town Square (cool place, by the way). And we finished just in time to make it to the Palms for Margaret Cho's Beautiful.

Margaret was playing the Pearl, Palms' concert theater, and it seemed like a near-sell out crowd. We had wonderful seats, right in the center. The theater is very nice, though I wonder how well it would clear during an emergency. I only had time to wonder before and after the show though, because I was laughing myself sick for most of the performance.

Margaret was nothing short of hilarious. She's not for every taste, certainly. Extremely adult is how it would be phrased, but tears-in-your-eyes, fog-up-your-glasses, hysterically funny. I was also pleased that her show was current, with jokes targeting very recent events like the Eliot Spitzer and Jim McGreevy sex scandal stories. She described a "meeting of the fag-hags," which included herself, Kathy Griffin, Olivia Newton-John and Cyndi Lauper, a dream dinner party guest list, if ever I heard one.

Describing the show, or trying to relay one of her jokes would be quite impossible. You just have to be there. She's a very visual comedienne, requiring your attention for much of the humor. Even watching a video of the performance would probably be not quite as funny as being there. Still, if the only way you get to experience Beautiful is on a DVD, I highly recommend it. If you're not easily offended, that is! But if she comes to your town? Go! Or is that, you go, girl!

Very Highly Recommended

For a list of Margaret Cho's upcoming tour dates and locations, "Beautiful" link above, or click the link after "CONTINUED."


MARGARET CHO'S BEAUTIFUL TOUR

March 14
The Warfield: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellySan Francisco, CA. Tickets.

March 15
The Warfield: 7:00pm and 10:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellySan Francisco, CA. Tickets.

March 21
The Orpheum: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyLos Angeles, CA. Tickets.

March 22
The Orpheum: 7:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyLos Angeles, CA. Tickets.

March 28
The Queen Elizabeth: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyVancouver, BC, CANADA. Tickets.

March 29
The Pearl at The Palms: 8:00pmspecial guest Ian HarvieLas Vegas, NV. Tickets.

April 3
North Fork Theatre: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyWestbury, NY. Tickets.

April 4
Massey Hall: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyToronto, Ontario, CANADA. Tickets.

April 5
The Orpheum: 7:30pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyBoston, MA. Tickets.

April 10
Warner Theater: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyWashington, DC. Tickets.

April 11
Warner Theater: 7:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyWashington, DC. Tickets.

April 12
Fillmore/Jackie Gleason: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyMiami Beach, FL. Tickets.

April 17
Arlene Schnitzer: 8:00pmspecial guest Ian HarviePortland, OR. Tickets.

April 18
Dodge Theatre: 8:00pmspecial guest Ian HarviePhoenix, AZ. Tickets.

April 25
The Orpheum: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyMinneapolis, MN. Tickets.

April 26
Chicago Theatre: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyChicago, IL. Tickets.

April 27
Nokia Theatre: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyGrand Prairie, TX. Fan Club Pre-sale starts 1/30, Password: Beautiful

May 3
Paramount Theatre: 8:00pmspecial guest Ian HarvieDenver, CO. Tickets.

May 5
Atwood Concert Hall: 8:00pmspecial guest Ian HarvieAnchorage, AK. On Sale TBA

May 9
Jackson Hall/Mondavi Ctr: 8:00pmspecial guest Ian HarvieDavis, CA. Tickets.

May 10
Paramount Theatre: 7:00pm and 10:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellySeattle, WA. Tickets.

May 16
Viejas/Concerts in Park: 8:30pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyAlpine, CA. Tickets.

May 17
Viejas/Concerts in Park: 8:30pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyAlpine, CA. Tickets.

June 6
Hard Rock Live: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyOrlando, FL. Tickets.

June 7
Tabernacle: 8:00pmspecial guests Liam Sullivan and KellyAtlanta, GA. Tickets.

Sunday Afternoon: What I've Learned

Photo of Town Square, Las Vegas from their official web site

After a morning that left me uninspired, Sunday afternoon was illuminating. OK, that's not true, but it was fun! For a change of pace, we actually got out of the house. And after a little while out in some unseasonably warm weather, here's what I've learned.

#1 - Las Vegas has a new "fake" but cool marketplace, the new version of a mall, called "Town Square." We knew this was coming, they levelled Vacation Village (a dump) to build it, right in the armpit of the I-15/I-215 interchange. But I must say, it was a very effective use of space. And it has a view of the Mandalay Bay and Luxor. Cool. We didn't stay long, but I saw--to my astonishment--that it includes a book store; something my area of town hasn't had for the entire 13+ years I've lived in Las Vegas. Woohoo!

#2 - Libraries are fantastic, but watch the late fees. Really, I have no idea how I racked up $2.50 in late charges. That was embarrassing. But worth the money! Seriously, if you don't have a library card, you are missing out. But why are they holding church services in the auditorium there? Isn't that at Constitutional violation? And a passion play? In Spanish?

#3 - Little things in life that bug you can often be fixed with very little investment. While we were at Town Square, we went next door to Fry's Electronics, the enormous media/appliance/electronics/compter store/restaurant. While there, I got it in my head to buy a new mouse for my computer. I got a very nice Microsoft optical jobbie for under $20. I thought my old jittery mouse problem might be more serious than just the mouse itself. . .but no. The new one works perfectly, and my problem is solved*.

#4 - Shrek the Third is better than everybody said it was. While at Fry's, we picked up the third Shrek movie (along with Spiderman 3), which neither I, nor The Other Half had seen. Everyone told us it was no good. So, we lowered our expectations, popped some corn, popped in the movie and watched. And we both liked it, very much. Sure, the novelty is gone, but it was entertaining, and the computer effects (which we all take for granted now) really stood out on our HDTV--a TV set we bought after seeing the original Shrek playing on it at the store. More on Spiderman 3 after we've watched it.

*And a note on those cheap investments. We've struggled with the interior door to our garage for ten years. Guests and visitors always thought it was locked, but no, it was just difficult. Yesterday, it broke. One day earlier, and we would have been locked out of the house without a key. Anyway, I ran to Home Depot for a replacement. $8.95 and twenty minutes later, and we had a wonderfully working door. For under ten bucks. We should have fixed it years ago. Why do we do that to ourselves?