A Blog designed for anything and everything to do with the many aspects of show business and professional performers. Dedicated to the Wonderful days of The Le Cabaret Theatre located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Famed producer Director Tibor Rudas hosted several shows in the Le cabaret spanning a time frame of well over 20 years.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Custom designs
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Sunday, May 10, 2009
Dazzling Deception
Tibor Rudas's Dazzling Deception and the famed illusionist Richiardi Jr.
for Tibor Rudas in the show Dazzling Deception in the Resorts International Hotel
and Casino owned by Merve Griffin at the time and formerly Donald Trump on Paradise
Island.
Back in those days Paradise Island really was paradise......miles of private
secluded beaches, woods and beautiful roads through the Casaurina trees. Unfortunately
Sun International got their hands on the island and destroyed it!! It is no
longer paradise but a concrete jungle.
Dazzling Deception was a world class show put on by Hungarian producer Tibor
Rudas who was also known for the creation of the Three tenors and being Luciano Pavarotti's personal manager. The running time was one hour and thirty minutes...
The show contained everything from incredible illusions and illusionists to
first rate variety acts.....comedians.....acrobats..ice skaters..pyrotechics..black
light numbers...a Rudas invention living screens...topless dancers ....everything
a large Vegas style production should have. The sets were elaborate and the
choreography and costumes were stunning.The shows cost well into the millions
annually to run...back in those days when everything was not so expensive that
was huge money.. The stage was massive 150 ft long with a ceiling of nearly
80 ft. The house was capable of seating around 1000 people and hosted dinner
shows that catered to hotel guests, locals and cruise ship passengers.
Tibor Rudas had been putting shows into the casino on Paradise Island since
the first large scale hotel was built on Paradise Island. The shows in the Le
cabaret Theatre were always the most highly regarded shows in the country..Mr
Rudas and his associates had actually designed and helped build the theater
that is still there today.
Many of the cast members had a 20 or so year run working in the Le Cabaret
theatre ....we were all a big family living in paradise.
Numerous shows ran there over time...2 of them that I remember were Buccaneers
of the caribbean and Dazzling Deception...Both spectacular shows like Mr Rudas
always presented.
My parents Laszlo szarka and Marianne Szarka were Hungarian immigrants that
escaped the then communist country of Hungary during the Hungarian anti Russia
revoltion in 1956. They immigrated to England and then Australia. In sydney
Australia they found the Rudas acrobat school were they met and started to learn
acrobatics handbalancing and adagio. You can see pictures of them at Szarkaduo.com
They were married within a few years and went on to perform all over the world
with Tibor Rudas and other companies. Laszlo Szarka my father was the artistic
director aswell as one of the key acts and performers of many of Tibors productions
including Dazzling Deception and Nights Of the Buccaneers.
Our family was a part of the productions on Paradise Island until 1991 when
Tibor pulled out and Sun International bought the property.
I have searched on the internet for many years to find websites or any information
that may be present on Dazling Deception or any of the other Bahmas Rudas productions
to no avail.
Today a friend of mine Levent
a fantastic performer that works frequently on Royal caribbeans
fleet of ships where I also perform sent me an e-mail with an article for MUM
magazine that someone had written for Dazzling Decption on the famed illusionist
Richiardi JR. . Who was the original illusionist featured in Dazzling Deception.
The article was written by a man called Dale Scott who I presume is an illusionist.
He did a great job with the article, it has pictures and a good write up of
the show. Many many thanks to Dale Scott for writing this article.
I just wanted to correct a few mistakes before I post the URL to the scanned
PDF article.
He had written that Robert szarka (me... was the illusionist that presented
the illusions in the Afro Cuban number. It was not me but a Bahamian man that
we all called Caligula :) I was only 11 at the time and not yet performing.....I
later joind the famed Rudas Acrodancers in the show at the age of 16.
Richiardi passed away around a year into the show from a very unfortunate accident.
My father Laszlo Szarka took over his role as illusionist for a few years until
a Hungarian man called Attila kapros that was part of a Hungarian teeter board
act called the Lukacs troup filled the part.
The Russian adagio act that is mentioned was actually my father and mother
from Hungary.
Once again many thanks to Dale Scott for the great article and Levent
for sending it to me!
RichiardiMUM.pdf
le Cabaret Theatre in Wikipedia
Things like When the first show opened, who performed in it cast rosters etc....
Any pictures, anything you can think of that would be relevant information for the era..
video would also be great ...there is no information about out great theatre and shows on the web and I want to change that..
Thanks all
Robbie
A letter from Perry De Costa
Philippe Lazoore Stunt man
I searched the internet for pictures of the Cabaret and came up with Philippe lazoores home page..Just contacted him on getting some pictures together, he has sent me the ones posted here.
Here is a link to his website if you are interested in getting back in touch...
http://www.philippelazoore.com/content.php?page=welcome










Le Cabaret Acrodancer Christa Kuenstler-Cox
Robert:
I really enjoyed reading your blog and it brought back many fantastic memories. I called my sister Candy Kuenstler and read your blog to her. She remembers your parents. In the beginning of her career with Rudas, she was in the traveling company. If I remember correctly she was in Japan, Greece, Iran, Canada, a circus in Europd, and many other countries that I don't remember. Candy was the baton twirler and a fantastic acrobat.
When I was 20, I went on vacation to the Bahamas to visit my sister. I had never seen a "Las Vegas" type of show. I remember sitting there watching and thinking to myself, "I want to do that". My sister made me take the acro classes and I guess that was my audition because 3 months after I got home, I got the call to return. I was there for about 5 years and left to go to Vegas. I was at the Tropicana Hotel in the Folies Bergere for 10 years as an acro dancer. I loved living in the Bahamas. Nothing compared on earth to Paradise Island. I haven't been back since I left and from the sound of your blog, I don't think I want to. I was in the show prior to Nights of the Buccaneers as well. I also did the ladders in the black light number. One night my T bar broke and I landed on my face and sprained a knuckle. Still have a rather large bump on the knuckle! Oh the fond memories! Mr. Rudas was so concerned about me, he made Ron Walker and his wife take me to Miami to have my injuries checked. Boy was that uncomfortable as those two sat there staring dreamily into each others eyes saying "Hello, Mr. Walker" "Hello, Mrs. Walker". God, I wanted to hide under the table!
I just got back from a fantastic weekend in Las Vegas. As you may or may not know, the powers that be decided to close the Folies Bergere after 49 years. The final show was Saturday night and they invited all past alumni. What a wonderful time it was although the hotel owners had let the show crumble over the years as they refused to put any money into it. The girl acrobats only did acrobatics in the can can and that was so watered down. What's a can can without bend back kicks? It was nice to reconnect with friends I had lost contact with over the years. When I left, there were no cell phones or Internet and I hate writing letters.
I got to Vegas Friday night and was told on Saturday night that they had a "Rudas Reunion" Friday night. Damn, missed that one. But then on Sunday, we all met for lunch. I saw Cheryl and Ian McClaren, Robyn, Maxine, Lindsey and various other people who's names escape me. Ian told me that they had a reunion a few years ago with some of the girls from the Bahamas for Mitzi's 50th birthday. I would have loved to have gone to that one.
I have attached a picture of the "Rudas Dancers" that had danced in the Folies when it was in the old show room. You might recognize a few faces. I'm the one in black and silver standing behind Ian on the end.
If anyone in the Bahamas remembers me, please send them my email address. I would love to hear from someone from the good ol' days!
Christa Kuenstler-Cox
If you are an old friend of Chritas's and would like her e-mail please contact me.... I am afraid to post it here for spam reasons...
le Cabaret Theatre Paradise Island Bahamas
Over the last few years I have gotten E-mails from many people that were once part of producer Tibor Rudas's productions in the Cabaret from it's 20 or so year run....
I would like to convert this blog into a dedication blog for the Le cabaret and it's Almuni ...
So if anyone of you have pictures or stories you would like to share from the great old days, please e-mail me at rszarka@yahoo.com and I will publish them all here.
Please tell all your old Cabaret friends about this site so we can all get back in touch!
Or you can post your stories, pictures by just creating a thread on this site , do not worry if your thread does not show up right away as i have to approve the posting before it is published, otherwise people tend to post advertisements, porn links etc...
So lets bring this place to life and get the old family back together to remember those great days we all shared back in the Le Cabaret Theatre.
What a show and cast, those were the best days of my life i will forever cherish the time i spent with all of you back in the day.
Anyone that would like their contact information to be listed here so old friends can get in touch with you, please just e-mail me and i will start a thread for Cabaret Alumni contact Info.
Robbie Szarka
Friday, June 08, 2007
Human Cannon Ball The New Generation!
- Rodrigo Perez is from a generation full of applause, music and entertainment.
- Originally from Chile, and now living in the UK, Rodrigo has worked all of
his life in different circuses all around the world.
- Rodrigo is the only human cannonball in the world that has been shot out of a
cannon in front of the presidential residence in Mexico DF.
- Rodrigo is also a person who can make and design cannons with many fantastic
ideas never seen before.
Visit website
Friday, March 02, 2007
From NYC Aerobella Trapeze

Aerobella Trapeze is an exciting, sensual trapeze duo available for corporate events, spot gigs and short tours throughout the world.
Aerobellatrapeze.com
Monday, February 12, 2007
The Szarka Duo Acrobatic Adagio Act
Visit their website at http://www.szarkaduo.com
Los Gauchos De Fuego
Visit their website at http://www.gaucho-act.com
Circus Nexus presents Rites and Rituals
On Tour 2006 - 2008
Astounding circus artistry, scintillating dance, rib splitting comedy, heart pounding music and phantasmagorical décor combine into the "don’t miss” theatrical event of the season.
Visit Their website at http://www.circusnexus.org
Circus Nexus Presents Rites and Rituals
Friday, February 02, 2007
Florida Showtime
Floridashowtime.com
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
This contortionist adds a new twist to contortion
Usually I wold not post a link like this but the girl is an exceptinal contortionist and a performer nonetheless.
(Warning this site has non nude but sexy pictures in exotic poses within)
Sunday, January 07, 2007
When things go wrong in the circus
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/153332/circus_bloopers/#
Saturday, December 02, 2006
The amazing Richiardi Jr. and his illusions
You can find a video of some of his work here
Richiardi's Chamber Of Horror and Illusion
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
CIRCUS NEXUS CHOREOGRAPHER WORKS WITH WHEELCHAIR BOUND DANCERS
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Circus Nexus review
An Early Birthday Present

Yesterday afternoon, my husband treated me to an evening of theatre and dinner. I had requested it specifically for my birthday as I love theatre, but didn't know what play we would actually end up seeing. I had suggested Wicked or Blue Man Group.
He surprised me with tickets to see Circus Nexus at a local university.
Similar to Cirque du Soleil (I think that is how you spell it), which is based out of Canada, Circus Nexus is the American version and showcases many talents in acrobatics, dance, balance, etc.
And every circus has to have a clown. Last night's clown was a man who looked sort of like Charlie Chaplain and was supposed to be a custodian. He picked my husband out of the crowd and took him on stage and taught him to juggle pins. It was hilarious as he made my husband wear something that looked like a steel colander over his groin area to "protect" him. I wish I could have gotten a picture of that.
Afterward, we had dinner at an Italian restaurant we hadn't gone to yet. It was delicious and ended a perfect evening.
Ahh, I love theatre!
(off to find out which production I want to see next... )
Monday, October 30, 2006
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Entertainment and Concert Promotions Incorporated (ECPI) presents top artists and the best of the young emerging talents. With over 60 years of combined experience in concert presenting, Matthias Schremmer, Ian Maclaren and Thomas Reitz have managed and directed some of the world’s most significant musical events.
From talent to technology, ECPI presents state-of-the-art entertainment with an emphasis on setting new standards for audience satisfaction with every presentation.
| Matthias Schremmer, Ian Macclaren, Thomas Reitz | |
With over two decades of experience in the concert and record producing business, Matthias Schremmer has been associated with some of the world’s most significant musical events. Among these are Roger Water’s Wall - the event that celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, The Three Tenors at Dodger Stadium - the largest classical music event to date in 1994 - and in 1995 executive producer of -The Three Tenors at the Eiffel Tower, Paris - monumental production, televised worldwide and viewed by an audience of millions. Schremmer has produced concerts for Phil Collins, Placido Domingo, Joe Cocker, Peter Gabriel, Montserrat Caballé and Andrea Bocelli in some of the world’s largest event centers such as Tokyo Olympic Stadium, Wembley Stadium, Munich Olympic Stadium, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Giants Stadium New York as well as historical sites Chichen Izza Mexico and The Forbidden City, China. Schremmer’s creative and dynamic approach consistantly atracts thousands of new fans for each artist while setting new standards for audience satisfaction. Referring to his production in London’s Hyde Park music historian John Rossilli writes, “...on July 30, 1991 over 100,000 people sat in a London downpour to hear Pavarotti. Yet nothing of the kind could have been expected in the first two centuries of Opera.” From Singers of Italian Opera. Ian Maclaren, is a veteran of thirty five years as a performer and concert presenter. Originally from Australia his training in gymnastics led him to a career in acrobatic dancing and choreography. He went on to develop an international career which took him to venues such as the Ed Sullivan Show and the Lido of Paris. Former President of twenty years for the Rudas Theatrical Organization, Maclaren has become known for his expertise in concert presenting. He has been instrumental in the new style of operatic concert now an established platform for classical music presentations world wide. Luciano Pavarotti, The Three Tenors and The Three Sopranos are among the artists who for the first time appeared in this new format -- programming the best loved arias and popular songs in simulated coliseum environments, with spectacular set designs complete with waterfalls and lush plant scapes in some of the worlds largest events centers. Maclaren has extensive relationships with the world’s top artists opera orchestras, symphonies, conductors, concert promoters and event centers. | |
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