Dining Out

Joyce Rudolph

GLENDALE -- Music and dancing inspired by cultures around the world

are what make the dinner theater experience a magical one at Beyond the

Stars Palace in Glendale.

Russian Extreme, a company of magicians, acrobats, singers and dancers

from Moscow, takes the audience on a make-believe voyage from their

homeland to America, all with lively music, lavish costumes and

spell-binding feats.

Segments of the 1 1/2 hour show are performed by the principals and

chorus dancers are interspersed with featured artists. The company blends

many types of international influences, including Spanish, Asian,

Brazilian and even country western, but while it moves at a lively pace,

choreography is not very adventurous.

The solo acts are what keep eyes glued to the stage. Of special note

is Yana Kozhevnikova, the enchantress of the Hula-Hoop, who ends her

captivating performance whirling more than 20 hoops around her body.

Also incredible is the duo of Gerasim Drobot and Valeriy Popov, who

won a gold medal in the International Festival in Grosna in 1999. They

work together as one mesmerizing machine, balancing one on the other. The

finale is one man doing a headstand on the other, no hands.

While lighting and special effects are minimal, the sets change with

the corresponding themes, but don’t drive the eye away from the

performers. The sound system too loudly blares the music at times and the

two monitors are a little too dark to emphasize what already can be seen

from any seat in the house.

*

A tiered tray of tantalizing appetizers are waiting at your table

before the show starts at 9 p.m. White fish and salmon are accompanied by

several side relishes and red caviar served with crepes. Other highlights

are sushi, grape leaves and meat-stuffed pastry puffs. All are

scrumptous.

Entrees are Beef stroganoff, Lyulya Kabob, Chicken Kabob, Chicken

Kiev, Saltimbocca (stuffed beef rolls), salmon baked in a flaky pastry

and filet mignon kabobs.

While main dish plates are visually appealing, displaying a hefty

helping of tasty rice and thick french fried potatoes, I was disappointed

with the salmon and the filet mignon. Once you poked through the devine

pastry covering the fish, a first bite of the salmon left a salty,

pungent sting on the tongue. The filet mignon, bitesize nuggets wrapped

in bacon, were overcooked and void of flavor.

Dessert was also disappointing. The pastry, although hard to cut with

a fork, did have a delightful whipped cream filling.

The combination of dinner and show, with a little help, could really

be a fabulous addition to Glendale nightlife, as there is nothing on this

proportion of entertainment offered in our tri-city area.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Russian Extreme Variety Dinner Theatre.

WHERE: Beyond the Stars Palace, 417 1/2 N. Brand Blvd. in Glendale.

WHEN: Doors open 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays; 5 p.m.

Sundays. Show starts at 9 p.m.

LIQUOR: Martinis, wines, special cocktails like Moscow Nights and

Russian Margarita, and European-bottled Vodka from $25 Sraraya of Russia

to $69 Belvedere of Poland.

TICKETS: Dinner, tax, tip and show is $75, drinks extra; $48 for

dessert, drinks and show.

PHONE: 500-0151.