Gregory Popovich's Comedy Pet Theater

Amazing Pet Tricks

By Kristine McKenzie

Audiences immediately know Gregory Popovich's Comedy Pet Theater isn't going to be like any other show they've ever seen when a dog is the one to step up to the microphone to introduce his master.

His master, the show's creator, Russian-born Gregory Popovich, developed his performing talents at the famed Moscow Circus School. He excelled at juggling and toured with the Moscow Circus. He also performed solo throughout Europe, Japan and America in the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and at the Circus Circus hotel in Las Vegas.

Now Popovich brings his talented act to Planet Hollywood. The Comedy Pet Theater begins with a showcase of Popovich's juggling talent and it is amazing, culminating with his signature move - juggling while balancing atop a freestanding ladder.

Popovich's background has definitely influenced the show. After his juggling act, he paints a clown face on and takes the audience to a "circus" that combines the talents of humans as well as his pets, including cats, dogs, mice and birds.

Popovich's talents definitely seem to be genetic. His daughter Anastasie is one of the featured performers who dances, twirls a baton, hula hoops and juggles in an amazing segment. Other human performers do extraordinary jump roping routines, tumbling and clowning.

But the pets are the true stars of this show. Popovich has rescued all of the animals from shelters and trained them to do some pretty remarkable tricks.

To begin with, the dogs, cats and even mice portray train passengers who hand their tickets to the conductor and interact with others at the station.

Other adorable vignettes include a cat pushing a dog in a stroller and a golden retriever mix walking a Yorkshire terrier on a leash.

The audience favorite is a show-stealing school scene with the dogs sitting perfectly at little desks. One dog solves math problems by barking out his answers, one erases the board with his paws and one points to spots on the globe during a geography lesson.

The show doesn't go completely to the dogs though. Popovich's ordinary house cats also perform some extraordinary feats - jumping over hurdles, climbing tall posts and balancing on thin beams. One even catches a ride on the back of a very tolerant dog.

Popovich's Comedy Pet Theater is a perfect show for families and audiences of all ages. Kids will love the antics of the animals and so will adults.

Be sure to get to the V Theatre early and line up -- the show is general admission and it is a popular ticket. You'll want the best seats to see this entertaining afternoon show.