Adults OnlyEntertainmentVegas UnfilteredWeird & Wild

Guest Review: ‘ABANDON’ by Vegas Theater Company

Entertainer Daavid Hawkins accepts the challenge to critique an extremely unusual production in downtown’s Arts District…

UPDATE 10/14/24 – After opening in fall of 2023 to acclaim, ABANDON has returned this month for a third run. The award-winning shocker is perfect for Halloween season, and will be playing at Vegas Theater Company through November 3rd. Click here for tickets. 

VEGAS 411 recently attended a preview performance of “The Marquis De Sade presents ABANDON“, a shocking new production that will run through October 31st (how fitting!). ABANDON is directed by Jana Wimer (Urban Death) with an original score by Joseph Bishara (The Conjuring, Insidious), and sound design by Katie Halliday (Stranger Things). Limited to audiences aged seventeen and over, the show comes with plenty of disclaimers:

WARNING: SHOW INCLUDES VIOLENCE, GRISLY IMAGES, SOME NUDITY, AND STRONG SEXUAL THEMES.

This show may not be for everyone. It is grisly and graphic and contains many erotic and mature themes and visuals. There are simulated sexual acts, violent displays of torture, and blackouts that can feel truly claustrophobic. It is a horror show first and foremost, and it aims to scare, shock, and surprise. Your stomach might even turn. So be warned: the show is rated R, and once the lights go down, there’s no leaving until the 75-minute show is complete…

If you haven’t been scared off already, then please allow us to present a review by our guest columnist David Hawkins. Mr. Haawkins is a veteran of the entertainment business, He has traveled the nation and internationally with companies like Cirque du Soleil. We think you’ll enjoy his take on ABANDON. Be aware that this write-up contains spoilers.

Theatergoers at Vegas Theater Company are greeted by a bright yellow 3ft x 5ft sign listing 66 topics claimed to be in the show ABANDON, currently on stage. Warning? Temptation? Time will tell.
Between the displays of fetish attire and equipment in the lobby and the preshow display of bondage during load-in, one wondered if this show was going to be a throwback to the back rooms of sex clubs of thirty years ago. Thankfully it didn’t turn out that way.
Starting with the “pro” column: The show clipped along at a lively and engaging pace and clocked in at just minutes under one hour. Don’t change a thing! The fact that the show is conducted in complete darkness tends to fuck with one’s sense of time passage and a VERY CLEAR command to NOT expose ANY illuminated screens was dutifully adhered to by everyone in my portion of the audience.
Another restriction is that nobody may leave during the show. Anyone who does is not allowed back in. (We only lost two people at our show.) I suggest everyone pee beforehand and buy two drinks to enjoy during the show.
Points of historical occurrence in the life of the Marquis are accurate and not presented in a “know-it-all” way. De Sade was incarcerated for many years in both prison and insane asylums. He did almost the entirety of his writing therein. The depictions in this show are evidently drawn from the time spent in those barbaric conditions.
The surefooted accuracy of the performers in the pitch dark is a testament to focus and teamwork. The phrase “on little mouse feet” applies throughout the show. There was not a single collision or muffled outburst to be heard all night.
Shock and humor are mixed in a delicious recipe to pull the audience along through the various vignettes. The combo is handled very well in both direction and performance and does not fail to engage and entertain. Even though there is not a single spoken word of English, the audience is never in doubt of what is happening in any scene, in any developing situation, and even after the lights are cunningly cut back to total darkness.
The effective use of the space, lighting, and staging helps the talented performers pack each moment with vivid meaning and always elicits a response from the audience.
As for the “cons”, there are very few. At various points, the volume of the music and bed of sound effects is a little too loud and ruins otherwise engaging moments. There is one woman who is clearly a strong and talented gymnast/contortionist. Her skills are not being used to the fullest.
Guest columnist Daavid Hawkins (right) offers his post-performance thoughts 
(HUGE SPOILER — TURN AWAY)
Finally, the ending of the show is delivered in a big raucous musical dance number, complete with the most dreaded and tacky “bring some audience members on stage” maneuver. This cheap move is barely effective for actual musicals and does not do any service to this otherwise coherent show.
Fingers crossed that VTC can iron out the bottleneck at the bar/theatre entrance. Remember, drink sales equal profits, and with the forced door closure through the entire show, hawking those refreshments two at a time and “quick as a bunny” makes financial sense.

“The Marquis De Sade presents ABANDON” plays on select dates through October 31st. Prices start at $25 (plus taxes/fees), vary by date and performance time, and can be ordered here. No one under 17 will be admitted. VEGAS THEATER COMPANY is located at 1025 S. First Street. Ample free parking is available in the area.

From Jeff Klein at Atomic City PR: The show has partnered with many of the bars and restaurants in The Arts District bars and restaurants. Come early for dinner, stay late for drinks: 

Restaurants: 

Thursday: $50 Prix Fixe menu and custom cocktails at Taverna Costera 

Friday: $50 Prix Fixe menu and custom cocktails at Yu-Or-Mi Sushi (reservation required) 

Saturday: 10% off any menu item with ABANDON ticket at Nightmare Cafe 

Sunday: $50 Prix Fixe menu and custom cocktails at Mezcla (reservation required)   

Photos by VEGAS 411, graphics and trailer courtesy of Vegas Theater Company

Author