Airplay - Free show at the Las Vegas Tropicana

In May of 2005 I stayed a few days at the Las Vegas Tropicana, just across from the Excalibur. The reason for the choice is that I was with a group, and did not really have a say in where to stay. But the Trop is fine with me.


The main attraction in the casino is called Airplay, a 20-minute free show that they perform at 11, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 on the casino floor. Or - above the casino floor actually. Even though there are some singers and acrobats performing on a stage, the real spectacular bit is the two guys, Chris and John, flying around above your head over the slot machines, suspended from some special rig they made for the show. To the tune of The Matrix or a heavily beefed up version of Charlies Angels' theme, they make the crowd go Wow. By the way, beware of pickpockets during the show. Everyone's attention is on the flying guys, so the bad guys could have a field day. Luckily the Trop realizes this, and there are many uniformed security people walking the crowds during the show.

Recently they also introduced two ladies to the Airplay bit. Their act is not as wild as that of Chris and John's, but still very energetic and fast-paced. They dangle on 1 hand, looking pretty, and acting like they are gonna fall. But like a waitress told me, nobody ever fell down on the slot machines during Airplay. I guess if they did, it would be over pretty soon.

Another great act they have is Tom and Magda, acrobats from Poland or somewhere in that vicinity. He's a muscular guy, she's an 84-pound flexible lady that gets thrown up in the air and swirled around the stage. They do an impressive balancing act, too, and they look like they've been doing it for many years. It's pretty close to perfection.

As they like to point out during the show, "Everywhere else in Las Vegas you would pay to see a show like this". Well maybe not as often as I have seen it now, but it's by far the most spectacular free show I can think of. I like it better than the Treasure Island sinking ships show, or the Bellagio fountains. You're up close (you can almost touch them) and the music is frantic and fast, which I happen to like a lot. Go check it out. The price is right!