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Book Yakov Smirnoff Show Tickets
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By Mandy Phillips
Walking into the Yakov Smirnoff Show, I wasn't completely sure what to expect. I figure I'd laugh during the show, but I was curious to see how one Russian-born American man was going to fill two hours on stage telling jokes by himself. I quickly found, though, that the show is much more than that! The cast features dances, music, skits, and more, and was over far too quickly!
The show opened with a pre-show by a funny fellow named Slim Chance. Now ol' Slim has some really unique physical talents, but more than that, the guy is hilarious. While the pre-show featured a lot of physical comedy - which I'm not the biggest fan of - his segments throughout the main show were absolutely hilarious. By the end of the show, I got excited every time Slim walked onto stage, whether he was dressed as Juliet or driving out onto stage in a pink tractor. Plus, Slim's talents extend beyond the stage as a writer and producer of the show!
Of course, the star of the show is Yakov himself, who has a really great gift for connecting with the audience. As Yakov was telling stories about his life in Russia, his new life in America, and all of the adventures he has had, it really felt as if it was just him and me having a conversation. (The kind of conversation where he talks and I sit and stare and laugh a lot). The comedy ranged from political jokes and scenes (without giving much away, I'll just say that at one point, there are motorcycles with police and Secret Service offers zooming through the aisles of the theater) to Branson's signature hillbilly humor.
Yakov's scripted jokes are mighty funny, and I definitely "laughed my Yak off" throughout the show. His improv skills are excellent, too, since at one point "President Smirnoff" solicits questions from the audience. Audience members asked a wide variety of questions, ranging from the bizarre to some of the key social issues facing our country. Yakov did a great job of responding to the questions with hilarious - but honest - answers, and his love of America basically underscored each answer. This was probably my favorite part of the show, with one joke in particular (featuring Dick Cheney, Hillary Clinton, and a quail hunting trip) that made it challenging not to leap to my feet and cheer through my laughter.
The sets at Yakov's show were definitely the most remarkable I've seen in Branson. You may find yourself in a Russian courtyard, at Ellis Island, in Verona, Italy, or at the gates of Heaven. The effects, sound, and backdrops on the stage were first-rate, and I recall being thrilled to see what was behind the curtain each time it opened. Yakov's show also featured a bit of culture from his birth country, and the Russian dancers were a blast to watch (as a matter of fact, a few of my co-workers have since attempted to replicate the dances that the group featured. I'm encouraging them to leave the dancing to Yakov's group!).
But by far my favorite aspect of the show was its focus on what a wonderful country America really is. It's easy for those of us born and raised here in the United States to take for granted all of the freedoms enjoyed by citizens. But Yakov knows first-hand about the other side of the spectrum. He knows what it's like to live a life without the freedoms we enjoy here, and that's why he is clearly so proud and honored to call the United States of America his home. His patriotism and his love for his adopted country are infectious, and I guarantee that after you see Yakov's show, you'll stand up even taller when you see the Stars & Stripes soaring in the wind.
The Yakov Smirnoff Show is touted as a comedy show - and hilarious it is! - but there is so much more to it than that. The show incorporates music, dancing, hilarious skits, and, most importantly, a touching tribute to the United States into one show that I think would delight most any visitor to Branson. If I had to name one show not to miss in Branson, it would probably be Yakov's.
