If you're a fan of "Seinfeld," seeing Jason Alexander put on a stand-up act in Harrah's Showroom is a no-brainer.
Alexander, of course, is best known for his role as Jerry Seinfeld's friend, George Costanza, on what was one of the most popular television sitcoms ever to air on American TV. The series, which ran on NBC for nine years (from 1989 - 1998), was a cultural phenomenon coining catch phrases that are beloved to this day.
Naturally, it can be hard to separate Alexander from George. What's great is by the end of the evening you'll discover Alexander is a funny, gracious and versatile performer -- which is a far cry from the cheap, unhappy, lying loser he'd played on TV.
The show is titled "An Evening with Jason Alexander and His Hair." This should help prepare you for the fact that Alexander, who sports a head of hair, is not George, who is famously bald.
Actually Alexander is bald ("I started losing my hair at 17 years old") and what he's sporting is a toupée. He provides lots of reasons -- all of them amusing -- on why he wears the hairpiece. Mainly, it helps him get other acting gigs by differentiating him from his alter ego. Also unlike George, Alexander foregoes glasses.
There is a piano onstage. Alexander, who has tons of Broadway credits under his belt, displays his musical chops throughout the night. He opens with a song parody expressing his love and appreciation for Vegas audiences -- as they have come "to see me instead of Donny & Marie" or "topless shows."
The night ends with a medley of Broadway hits, during which Alexander sings, dances, changes wigs and showcases unusual props, like a children's tugboat bath toy.
About halfway through the evening, there's a segment geared especially to "Seinfeld" fans. Alexander plays the piano and belts out "Georgie on My Mind" (based on "Georgia on My Mind") while the accompanying video screen shows a montage of George's most infamous moments -- i.e., getting a massage from a man, eating an éclair he's pulled out of a trash can and racing off on a mobility scooter from an angry group of seniors. Afterward, Alexander takes questions from the audience about what life was like behind the scenes of "Seinfeld."
If you're seated in the front rows, be warned, Alexander enjoys interacting with the crowd, which can lead to some embarrassing and soggy moments…particularly for men.
The rest of Alexander's act broaches on a variety of topics, with plenty to entertain everyone. For example, he has some humorous thoughts on manscaping, tattooing and the SkyMall shopping magazine. He reveals what it's like to grow up as an unattractive "fat" kid in corduroy pants. And having been happily married for 32 years, he shares his insight on what it takes to make a relationship work.
"I was not what she was looking for," he joked while mischievously mocking things like good communication and supporting each other in favor of a little "dishonesty."
So maybe Jason Alexander and George do have more in common than he wants you to believe.
| Show Times: 9:30 p.m., Friday - Sunday. Through May 4. |
| Show Length: 90 minutes |
| Location: The Theater, Harrah's |
| Age Restriction: 18+ |
| Prices: Reserved Section 2 Seating (yellow) - $45.49 Reserved Section 1 Seating (orange) - $67.49 NOW $54.90 Orchestra Seating (red) - $89.49 NOW $72.80 |
(click map below for seating)
Call (702) 944-9388 for reservations
*Prices do not include all taxes and fees*