Laughlin Entertainer: Cover Stories

“Fusion,” a show billed as “the perfect blend of comedy, magic and illusion” will end its run in the River Sands Theatre within River Palms Resort Casino Saturday, March 31. The show features a mix of talented magicians and illusionists who each bring a little something different to the table. The featured performer is illusionist Joseph Gabriel who is assisted by Katalin; and also includes magician Danny Cole; and comedy/juggler Bryson Lang.

In this issue of the Laughlin entertainer we take a closer look at cast member Bryson Lang.

Bryson Lang is an anti-star-if, when you say “star” you mean “flash and glitter, George Clooney chin and tuxedos”...you know, show biz. He's pretty much the guy you'd expect to see in the buffet line. He's not the guy you'd expect to see making crowds laugh as part of a casino show.

But Bryson Lang is that last guy. Forget the chin and the tuxedos, he's show biz all the way.

For more than a decade, Lang has taken his act of juggling, slight of hand and comedy to venues around the world. He's performed on PAX TV's “Masters of Illusion” series. He was a featured juggler on the series “Charmed” and the sitcom, “That 70s Show.” He's even appeared in movies with spots in Austin Powers II and Batman and Robin.

And to show that Lang's act is a bit beyond the norm-an act he refers to as “the cure for the common show”-he won first place on his first appearance on the “Extreme Gong Show.”

One of our staff of the Laughlin entertainer recently interviewed Lang about his career and his approach to “show biz.”

Q. So which came first, the comedy or the juggling?

A. Actually, the comedy came first; and then the guitar; and then the juggling. I could juggle as a kid but nothing more than three or five tennis balls or such at once. I didn't really get into real juggling until college. If I'd recognized that there was more to it than I originally saw, I would have pursued it earlier.

Q. Why the switch from guitar to comedy and juggling?

A. Guitar was something I dove right into. And I'm still into playing my guitar...

I was a music major in college but I met a juggler there and started hanging out with him. I saw something. I could tell it was easier to make money quicker-strangely enough-in a field that's not traditional. Besides, I was frustrated with a lot of the theory side of being a music major. Also, I was in bands and that was all about dealing with attitudes more than playing music-so I pursued comedy and juggling because I had more control over that.

Once I started doing the act, it snowballed. I was interested in everything juggling-wise, so I honed down the show to what's important.

Guitar is probably still my biggest passion, but I haven't found a way to work that in yet.

Q. You seem to have this stage persona of an aggressive nerd. Where did the character come from and how much are you like him off stage?

A. The “aggressive nerd”term has only been applied to me in the last few months. Some writer in Atlantic City, I think was the first to say that. I don't look like a nerd. I think it's one of those severe stereotypes that I find people like to use. I think if people read through that they'll see I am a true underdog. People aren't threatened by me. I'm not super mean and sarcastic-but I have an edge. When I take a volunteer up on stage, I lightly make fun of her-but she's ultimately the winner of whatever we're doing. I never want people coming away thinking, “He's a jerk.” It's nice to have that contrast.

Q. How did you develop your act?

A. In a way it started when I first got into juggling. I collected a lot of video tape-everything in variety acts from trained dogs and circus acts to top-of-the-line world class jugglers. When I had the means, I devoured everything.

When I saw what was out there I honed things down to what I wanted-ignoring “this” aspect of juggling or “that” element of comedy-the parts that didn't appeal to me.

I started out doing the theme-park stuff. It was a way to get work and it started getting me in front of people, which is not natural for me. I'm shy, but on stage, I have a different energy than anywhere else. On stage, I know what I'm going to do-I'm comfortable.

To help create my current act I used footage from the Tahoe show (ed. note: “Fusion” played Lake Tahoe before coming to Laughlin) to make a DVD to see what worked and what didn't. My act now looks totally different on stage and I've finally fallen into what feels most comfortable.

But that wasn't how it was at first. Performing comedy was scary for me...I can't find the words to describe it. People don't know how difficult it is to just get up there, especially in front of a college crowd on a little stage in a pub for open mic night. I had to force myself to do it. They are the hardest audience.-they're waiting for something to happen, to go wrong. I always say, “you're guilty until proven funny.”

But it's such a fantastic feeling when it's over and you've succeeded. It's a goal I reached which means more to me than anyone knows.

Q. Because your talent is specialized, how do you fit into the entertainment industry?

A. Sometimes it's non-stop, and the jobs are never-ending and overlapping. Sometimes it's lean in between jobs. I got lucky in Tahoe and the long-term contract kept expanding. That was fantastic.

My major markets are cruise ships, corporate events, private engagements. Getting jobs is a juggling act within a juggling act.

Q. You say you have “an edge” and that also means you are original. How do you keep that up?

A. That's another challenge. I try really hard to be as original as I can, and I think that's what I've done. I don't watch other people to see what jokes I can tell. I watch myself and try to think what would make this better and as funny as it can be.

Q. You juggle three beach balls as part of your act. That's certainly original.

A. I got lucky. I really enjoy everything about that. It works because the balls can be deflated so I can pack the act...and it plays big so everyone can see it. I was thinking about things I could do and thought of the beach balls and that I'd better do it before someone else does. I haven't seen anyone else that does it.

Q. Is there something you've yet to juggle that's in the works?

A. I'm always working on new stuff. Mouse traps-I gotta figure that out. There aren't too many places that allow you to juggle with fire, so I don't do that.

Mostly my act has to do with the question, “Do I want to travel with this thing?” I do this routine with antlers. So I have to ask myself do I want to get this through an airport-noooo.

Q. How does one get good at juggling?

A. I love technical juggling. It's something I do for endurance and practice, but not so much in the show because audiences can't appreciate the difficulty of it.

My analogy is Olympic ice skaters. Most people don't know what they're doing from trick to trick. They know the skaters leave the box, twirl and land, and as long as they land, the audience doesn't really care what they did.

It's certainly fun to practice juggling and it takes time and effort, but if the audience doesn't appreciate it, it's not worth it. If they're not laughing hard, they don't care. When they see you spinning a ball on another ball, that's something they connect with.

Q. Ever have any mishaps?

A. I've had a few. Every now and then I select drunk people to use as my “assistant”-they chase me, take things from my prop cart and throw stuff out into the crowd and I have to ask myself, “Do I keep going or send them back.”

Q. What have you liked about doing the “Fusion” show in Laughlin?

A. I like being part of an ensemble-especially when everyone gets along. It's fun. I also like the different approach of doing part of my act at intervals throughout the show. That's the genius of producer Tony Clark in terms of structure. I also like that I can switch different acts at random. I always finish with the same finale, but it's great to have the ability to change-especially when audiences are coming back two or more times.

One of the things I do is talk with people after the show. What's nice about that, is they tell you the truth about how they feel. Their comments are genuine and I like when they talk about the fact they had a good time, they laughed, it was clean and they didn't feel uncomfortable.

“FUSION”

a perfect blend of

comedy, magic and illusion

Through March 31

Nightly except Tuesdays

Sun, Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri

7:30 p.m.

Sat -7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

River Sands Theatre

in

RIVER PALMS

Tickets are $14.95; two-for-one for current Players Club members; also two free tickets for new Players Club members

with sign-up

For tickets, see the main

casino cage or call

1-800-835-7904 or

702-298-2193