Las Vegas male dancers performed Friday night

By Catherine Amos

Published: July 25, 2008

Friday in Culpeper you could watch kids playing pirates, hear bluegrass on the courthouse lawn, or squeal as a half dozen men with sculpted abs dance in their unmentionables to your favorite theatre production tunes.

If you have a ticket.

The world-famous Chippendales, known for their all-male Las Vegas revue, will perform tonight at Pepper’s Grill for a throng of eager fans. Tickets for the show went on sale July 18, and within 24 hours all 250 were sold out.

There have been mixed feelings from Culpeper residents about the male dance show, even from the owner of Pepper’s, who turned down the show’s manager the first time he called.

“We talked to some people (about having the show),” said Pepper’s owner James Atkins, “and tried to find some conservative people around Culpeper, which is not too hard to do. We’ve got a decent amount of church customers.”

Atkins said he checked with the town and Alcoholic Beverage Control to see if Pepper’s could even host a group of male dancers. When Marcus Varico, the Chippendales’ tour manager, contacted him again, he agreed.

The only requirement from the town about the show was to charge an admissions tax, which Atkins said was necessary anytime an establishment charges admission to a performance.

Varico said the two-and-a-half hour show features theatre-style productions, such as “Grease” and “Top Gun,” with the Chippendales dancing in their black bowties, white cuffs and black underwear. Each routine is about 12 to 15 minutes long and full of choreography, among other things.

“That’s why we call it the ultimate ladies’ night out,” Varico said. “It’s something really nice for the ladies.”

Atkins said most of the women buying tickets were in their 30s and 40s, and one woman was bringing her mother and her grandmother. After the first 250 tickets sold, Atkins started a wait-ing list of 25 tickets, but still received requests for about another 200.

“We surely weren’t trying to offend anybody,” Atkins said. “I guess there’s a certain amount of people that are conservative and don’t believe in stuff like that.”

Pastor Randy Orndoff of Culpeper United Methodist Church acknowledged the right to freedom of expression, but questioned whether this was the type of attraction the community should support.

“Certainly the arts are a description of God’s beauty, such as dancing,” Orndoff said. “But I’m not sure the Chippendales are that kind of art. That is a tongue-in-cheek statement, but from a theological standpoint.”

Atkins defended the restaurant’s decision to host the male dancers. Because of today’s economy, he said his business, like all businesses, have to be willing to try new things.

He also pointed out that the Chippendales’ show is “pretty conservative for this type of thing.” For example, spectators cannot stick tips in the dancers’ underwear; they have to hand them any tips.

“The thing about Culpeper is you couldn’t have done this 15 years ago,” Atkins said. “Realistically, you can turn the TV on any night and see a lot of worse things than we’re going to have here.”

Varico hears the complaints as well, but knows the demand for his show.

“We bring real quality guys,” Varico said. “It’s very pleasing for the ladies and they get a smile on their face. I bring the best talent to the table.”

Catherine Amos can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 138 or .