Puerto Rican Comedienne Shayla Rivera Is Opener

Comedian Paul Rodriguez will be turning on the laughter during “Paul Rodriguez and the Whole Enchilada”, a limited engagement at the Tropicana Las Vegas now through June 20, 2010.  The Latino headliner recommends a trip to the rest room prior to the show.  “If you have a bladder problem,” he says, “ you shouldn’t come to the show. Rodriguez predicts that he and comedienne Shayla Rivera, “are going to do everything we can do to keep the laugher coming non-stop.  Diapers not included.”

When I saw the show on May 20, I  could see why Rodriguez is revered as the Original Latin King of Comedy.  He looks much younger than his 55 years, but that does explain how he could have been in the business for nearly three decades so far.

In addition to starring roles and featured appearances in over 40 films and numerous HBO and Comedy Central specials, Rodriguez holds the distinction of performing and producing “Dime Con Quien Andas,” the first-ever one-hour stand-up comedy special completely in Spanish for Telemundo, one of the leading Spanish speaking networks.

The Tropicana Las Vegas is going after the Latino market in a big way. One step toward this goal is hiring Rodriguez.  But they’ve gone way beyond that baby step. The limited engagement will also feature performances completely in Spanish on June 5 and June 12 at 7 p.m., followed by the 9 p.m. show in English.

Rodriguez bonded quickly with the Latino audience members with his patter in Spanish.  I don’t speak it, didn’t get a word of it, but obviously from the sound of laughter many people in the room understood and enjoyed it.  He touched on the situation in Arizona saying that, “I think they should ask the people from Arizona to show their papers.”  His descriptions of Latino mothers seemed right on target, yet sprinkled with the universal characteristics of mothers. He played to both the ethnic component and the universality simultaneously.

Rivera claims to have been a rocket scientist before turning to comedy.  Wherever she started, she seems to have found a good path. “It’s good to be Latino,” she said, “We don’t think the same way.” Well, she does, if that way is funny.

“Paul Rodriguez and the Whole Enchilada” will run 90 minutes nightly, Monday through Saturday beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are on sale now through June 20 and are priced from $39 and $49, plus applicable taxes and handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased at the Tropicana Box Office, online at www.troplv.com or toll free at 800-829-9034.

by Dianne Davis

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