Thunder From Down Under

This story is just too funny not to tell. You will never guess who I spent part of my Friday evening with. I won’t even make you guess, because you would never get it. Ready? Drum roll please… a cast member of the show Thunder From Down Under! Ring a bell? Sound faintly familiar? Some of you may be saying “yes” and laughing already, and some of you may be saying “no, Sarah, please fill me in.” Why of course. Thunder From Down Under is a Las Vegas show like Chippendales except the performers are Australian. The Las Vegas tourism website ensures that this “internationally acclaimed male review is sizzling!” If you’re still scratching your head in confusion, then the show’s poster below should give you a good clue as to what I’m talking about. And if not, well then you’re out of luck because I’m not divulging anymore than that. This is a family blog; I’ve got to keep things PG around here.

According to the Excalibur (the hotel where the show takes place) website: “You’ll laugh! You’ll stare! You may even faint! These guys will give you something to write home about!” Indeed they have, because I am writing home via my blog to tell you all that I met and hung out with one of the Thunder From Down Under blokes (third from the right). And while I did not stare (he was fully clothed) nor faint, I was and still am laughing. I think it’s hilarious that an evening out in Sydney resulted in a random encounter with none other than Mr. Thunder From Down Under (who I will from now on refer to as Thunder). Actually, I am realizing as I write this that what I really find most humorous is the name. Say it: Thunder From Down Under. It makes me laugh every time.

So how did we (I was with Sara and Aubrey) meet Thunder you ask? The answer is as random and bizarre, I assure you. Upon finishing work on Friday evening, I joined Sara and Aubrey at a local pub. It was just a normal night of striking up conversations with other pub-goers when Aubrey began talking to a gentleman who had the urge to dance. We will refer to this man as Patrick, because the way he danced reminded me of Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing. Patrick swept Aubrey off her feet (literally, and she is a tall girl) and began twirling her around the dance floor. They were like John Travolta and Olivia-Newton John in Grease. I’m talking about a full-on swing fest full of spins, dips, lifts and slides. Patrick was dancing with so much gusto and energy that at some point, perhaps when sliding across the floor on his knees, his pants SPLIT right down the center seam over his buttocks. Fortunately for us, he was wearing undergarments. Unfortunately for him, these undergarments were exposed. As a result, security informed him that he would have to exit the establishment and take his dance moves elsewhere. Patrick and his mates invited us along with them to their next destination where split pants were welcome, and we just couldn’t refuse.

Patrick and his split pants while twirling Aubrey

We all piled into cabs to relocate. Sara, Aubrey and I ended up in a cab with one of Patrick’s friends whom I will call Viggo because he looked like Viggo Mortensen. Viggo asked if it was alright with us if, on the way, we stopped to pick up one of his friends who was in town for a short while. We said of course. Long story short, this friend ended up being Thunder. Apparently, Thunder From Down Under was on hiatus and he was back in Sydney to perform in Manpower (I kid you not). We spent the short remainder of the evening with Viggo, Thunder, Patrick (and his ripped pants) and their aussie friends, including one girl who thought she was Jewel and spent the rest night singing for us as if she were performing for a sold-out crowd of millions. Just add it to the list of oddities we encountered that evening. I had to fight with all my might not to burst out laughing each time I observed the characters surrounding me. They were a friendly and entertaining bunch of Aussies to say the least, all of whom I think would make for a great sitcom cast (get on that Dennis Jacobs). 

If you’re ever passing through Vegas and decide to experience some Thunder From Down Under, think of me!