Dear Constant Reader,
Yesterday The Boston Babydolls set sail on the Music City Queen for our first Harburlesque show! Our hard-working tech crew and Scratch had spent a great deal of time figuring out how to turn the lower cabin into a theatre. (Why does it seem like we’re always turning non-theatres into theatres?) By the time I got there last night, everything was all set up: lights, sound, and a section of the galley for our dressing room. We even had a full-length mirror and a costume rack (thanks, Scratch!).
Performing on a boat is a tad challenging. There’s the space issue — there’s just not a lot of it, but we’re used to that. There’s the height issue — the ceilings are very low. I had to re-choreograph parts of my fan dance because I couldn’t do a lot over my head. And Betty is going to have to be very careful. And there’s the movement issue — boats rock. The Music City Queen is pretty stable, but occasionally you’d feel it. I had to make split-second decisions about whether a dance move was viable or not, but in the end I had no problems.
The audience had a great time and the folks from Mass Bay Lines were very happy (which is good, since this is something of a gamble for them). Two things I like to hear! All the Boston Babydolls who weren’t performing were in the audience and a bunch of our regulars came out. There were also some people for whom this was their first burlesque show.
The performers were Brigitte, Stella, and myself with Elsa Riot kittening and Scratch hosting. Given the lovely riverboat setting, we picked acts with a classic style. I know, we’re usually classic, but we went *really* classic.
- Brigitte opened the show with the public premier of her Mystery Box Challenge act to a modern remix of the jazz standard “Diga Diga Doo”.
- Stella did a glove & gown strip right out of the 1950’s to “Real Gone”.
- I did a piece to “The Mooche” with boa and panel skirt. Actually all 3 of our first numbers used boas.
- Then Scratch did something impossible with a deck of cards
- Brigitte did her signature sultry strip to “Tombstone Blues“.
- Stella and Scratch did a bit of comedy which lead into…
- Stella as a poor hitchhiker trying *anything* to get a lift, to “Burlecue“.
- Scratch destroyed the laws of physics with a pastry bag and coffee stirrer from a nearby Starbucks.
- Stella sang “Too Darn Hot” while I fan danced.
Next week the performers will be Betty Blaize, Devora Darling, and Evie Sphinx! Join us!
There was a photographer, so eventually there will be pictures, but for now I will leave you with the obligatory selfies that Brigitte, Elsa, and I took.
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Oh, The Glamourous Life! 
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