Twisted horror-themed dinner show puts big productions to shame…
Now and then in Las Vegas entertainment, absolute treasures come out of nowhere. Sometimes they run for a limited engagement (THE WILD PARTY) or catch on so well that they expand (PARTICLE INK and SCREAM’D). Only a few weeks into 2024, VEGAS 411 was invited to attend the latest small-scale slam dunk, courtesy of master illusionist Rudy Coby. The show is entitled THE GASPING WHISPER, and it’s a thrill ride from beginning to end.
The Gasping Whisper describes itself as the ultimate variety experience, offering “immersive, captivating, and absolutely crazy things that the Las Vegas Strip wishes it could do”. With that much advance hyperbole, audiences are primed for something different and memorable. Fortunately, The Gasping Whisper delivers.
The adults-only show is performed at Nightmare Cafe, a horror-themed eatery and bar. Located at 1307 South Commerce Street in the Arts District, it’s adjacent to Nightmare Toys. A popular store for fans of the horror genre, Nightmare Toys is packed with collectibles, costumes, and props.
The Gasping Whisper performs on Friday and Saturday nights. Reservations are required, and no walk-in patrons will be admitted. Before seating, guests must complete a waiver, which might seem a little blustery, but understandable once the show begins.
Drenched in shades of red, the entire production takes place near and around dining tables and bar, with plenty of risky physical feats and abrupt movements. Guests are required to remain seated throughout the performance….for their safety and for that of the cast.
In the hour leading up to the show, servers will take your food and drink orders, Sinister “ushers” patrol the dining area, carrying their own macabre refreshments while lending an ominous tone. Video screens display a countdown to the 8 pm start time when all service stops and the thrills begin.
The opening number (above) is performed by the same four ushers. It’s explosive, fierce, tightly choreographed, and riveting. The quartet is woven throughout the show, a nonstop cavalcade of physical feats, sideshow freaks, illusions and shocks. The less you know, the better…so just hold on and let the madness surround you.
Clowns, puppets, dolls, and other nightmarish images come to life. A mad scientist commits self-mutilation in a body-horror sequence. Another segment utilizes silhouettes on simulated TV screens to tell a ghastly tale, performed live before your eyes. Knives, swords, a bed of nails, and giant corkscrews all get put to horrific use. And remember, guys and ghouls…..The Gasping Whisper is a dinner show.
Andrew Stanton (World’s Greatest Freakshow, R.U.N)
Compared to recent big-budget duds like VOLTAIRE BELLE DE NUIT, the ingenuity and creative wit behind The Gasping Whisper are cheer-worthy. Costumes, lighting, props, music, performances, and video segments are uniformly flawless, suggesting a production created out of passion, not dollars and (lack of) sense.
If there was one caveat to the evening, it was Nightmare Cafe‘s food offerings. The menu is familiar pub grub, but not necessarily memorable. Fried Cheese Curds ($12) were greasy and cold, and the Chicken Tenders were overcooked and too salty to finish.
Fried Cheese Curds
Chicken Tenders with Garlic Fries
On the plus side, the Southern Chicken Egg Rolls ($13) were pretty decent, and cocktails like the Never Sleep Again (Cherry Vodka, Grenadine, Sprite, Jell-O “guts” – $14) are amusingly served in mini claw-foot bathtubs. Perhaps it was just an off-night in the kitchen, but there was more remaining than consumed at our table. To check out the Nightmare Cafe menu, head here.
Southern Chicken Egg Rolls
There’s no question that the Las Vegas Arts District is packed with treasures waiting to be discovered, and The Gasping Whisper deserves a top spot on your to-do list. The creative team told me that the show is on a brief hiatus, but will return soon. You can keep track of the schedule and ticketing options by heading here.
The Gasping Whisper performs on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm sharp. Doors open at 7 pm. All guests must be 21 or over. Individual acts may vary, and seating is communal. Tickets are $29.99 for the show, or $69.99 for a package that includes an appetizer, entree, dessert, and an after-party cocktail. Local residents receive a ten percent discount. Be sure to stick around and meet the cast after the show.
Disclosure – VEGAS 411 received free admission, and paid listed prices for our food and drinks. Our opinions remain our own.
Photos and videos by VEGAS 411
Nightmare Cafe is located at 1307 South Commerce Street in the Las Vegas Arts District. On-street parking is available for a fee.
