Brightening a Gloomy Day

Dear Constant Reader,

The weather is simply dreadful in Babydoll-land: pouring down rain, windy, and cold. At least it’s not snowing. Your faithful correspondent’s feet got soaked on her morning constitutional and that makes her cranky.

To brighten up your (and my) day, I’d like to share a photo from a gig we had earlier this month. Newbury Comics had a Boardwalk Empire-themed holiday party and we were hired to provide a little set-dressing.

Evie, Devora, Betty, and I lounged on the stage under a backdrop of decadent Cleopatra-style fans, as sort of Jazz Age courtesans (but not showing too much skin, as requested by the client). Cigarette girls Stella & Brigitte wandered the crowd, handing out boxes of candy smokes. And Scratch, well, I’m not quite sure what he was doing. Making sure all was well, as usual, I suppose.

Periodically guests would come on stage and have their picture taken with us, courtesy of the roving photographer and his old-school instant camera. At the end of the evening, we all gathered for this shot:

newbury-comics-party-1

It was fun and I’m always happy to have an excuse to wear my ostrich-trimmed robe and marabou mules in public.

M2

Published in: on 27 December 2012 at 10:07 am  Leave a Comment  
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Burlesque-a-Pades

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Wednesday and I hoped to have a book review for you, but I’ve been busy getting ready for this:

burlesque-a-pades

Brigitte, Devora, and I (and stage kitten Scratch) will be making a guest appearance at Burlesque-a-Pades, Holiday Inn tonight at the Iron Horse in Northampton.

We’ll be presenting “Factory Girls”, dressed up for the holidays! It’s going to be so much fun!

M2

Published in: on 19 December 2012 at 10:30 am  Leave a Comment  

The Burlesque Marathon

Dear Constant Reader,

A little backstory first. A couple of years ago there was this terrible movie that was called “Burlesque”, but actually had nothing to do with burlesque. Scratch decided he wanted to raise awareness of actual burlesque and hold an overnight marathon show the week before the movie opened. He recruited a ton of burlesque performers from all over the East Coast and we did it. We started at midnight and performed through until morning. It was exhausting, exhilarating, and a ton of fun.

Scratch had only planned it to be a one time thing, but so many folks were saying “next year…”, that, despite his better judgement, he did it again… and then again.

This year, after volunteering at Coney Island, Scratch decided to make the marathon a fundraiser with raffles to benefit Coney Island USA. He gave away a bunch of great prizes, but I don’t yet know what the final total raised was.

It was great to share a dressing room with old friends like BettySioux Tailor, Blitzen von Schtupp, and Corinne Southern. We were honored to witness the debuts of Minnie Holiday, Ginny Nightshade, and Ava Estrella (who all would have looked familiar if you saw The Wrathskellar). And first time MCs Reyn, Nick, and Ginny did a fantastic job! Some of my students, Amber Rane, Dagny Vanderlust, and Delilah Springs took the stage — with some of the acts they created last year in Burlesque Your Way.

We ended about an hour shorter than planned due to some last minute drop outs, act cancelations, and no-shows. But the audience still got an excellent show and those who stayed through the whole thing got breakfast at the end.

I brought my camera so I could share pictures with you all, but failed to unpack it. I especially regret not getting a picture of Mother Mischief (Mimi Mischief brought her mom!) asleep under Mimi’s pink balloon costume. I know there was video shot, but I don’t know about photos. If any turn up, I’ll let you know.

And Scratch swears he’s not doing it again next year.

M2

Published in: on 4 December 2012 at 10:27 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Night

Dear Constant Reader,

I was expecting this on Friday night:
ticket
I wasn’t expecting this:
afterpass

Published in: on 19 November 2012 at 9:38 am  Leave a Comment  
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Happy Halloween!

Dear Constant Reader,

A little treat for you from The Wrathskellar!

wrathskellar-2012-hans-wendlandPhoto by Hans Wendland

Published in: on 31 October 2012 at 9:10 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sometimes the Show Does Not Go On

Dear Constant Reader,

At the moment Boston is being visited by the much-dreaded storm Sandy. However, last night it was just a little rainy and we were all prepared for our penultimate performance of The Wrathskellar.

Then we got the call from the theatre. There was a flood.

Not storm-related at all, but there was a problem with the sewer pipe. All day long we kept getting one message after another – some dire, some positive. I was convinced The Diva’s dressing room had gotten the worst of it — it’s actually the lighting closet and when we were in the theatre in February there was standing water in it. The thought of all the set dressing in there was making me sick — I used my personal collection of vintage and antique dressing table accoutrements.

Finally, we were allowed in to discover the flood had hit right in front of the stage (where the cabaret tables are) and in one of the dressing rooms, but only some personal stuff that was left on the floor got wet. None of our lovely new costumes or set pieces or props or lighting equipment were damaged.

However, there was water trapped in the ceiling and the city said it was unsafe to be in the theatre. We canceled the performance and the cast & crew commiserated at Stately Babydoll Manor over wine and cheese.

I’m hoping with all my hope that the ceiling is drained and repaired in time so we can have our last performance on Halloween as scheduled.

Published in: on 29 October 2012 at 9:16 am  Leave a Comment  
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Report from New York

Dear Constant Reader,

Remember when I said I couldn’t remember much of Thursday night’s show at the New York Burlesque Festival? Fortunately J.D. Oxblood of Burlesque Beat wrote it all down.

Of your humble correspondent, he writes: “Boston’s Miss Mina Murray doing a straight-up traditional stocking peel, lying on a bench, legs up, the whole bit”

And there are great photographs from Melody Mudd. I love this one of my end pose.
NYBF 2012 Melody Mudd

Published in: on 25 October 2012 at 10:54 am  Leave a Comment  
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The New York Burlesque Festival

Dear Constant Readers,

A couple of weeks ago I headed to Brooklyn for the 10th Annual New York Burlesque Festival and my first solo festival appearance.

Your humble correspondent hates to drive and will do almost anything to avoid it. However, I was performing my tribute to April March and that requires a large set piece (aka The Prop). There was no way around it — I had to drive. So, I rented a car and hit the road with The Prop in the back seat. Those of you who were following my adventures on Twitter now understand why I gleefully tweeted every time I found parking.

I was performing in the Thursday Tease Party at The Bell House. I’ll be honest with you; I don’t recall a lot of the show. I was either thinking about my upcoming appearance, getting ready for it, or giddy after it was done. I did hear Dot Mitzvah singing her operatic heart out with her award-winning “Glitter and Be Gay” number while I was backstage putting on my wig.

nybf-2012---john-paul-bichardAnd then it was time for me to go on. I was nervous, of course, but strangely calm as well. The MC didn’t mention anything about the tribute, so I hoped the audience would appreciate the act on its own merits as a recreation of early 1960’s striptease without the backstory. The whole front row was photographers, it seemed. One of whom (John Paul Bichard) caught me unclipping a garter, as you can see. The audience was fantastic — engaged, cheering, easy to flirt with.

After my act, I headed back out to watch the remainder of the show, still wearing my wig. This was partly so people could recognize me and partly because I knew my hair was a disaster under there. I got a lot of compliments on the act from fellow performers (someone called it a “beautiful leg show”) and audience members.

And then it was time to pack it all up and head out. It had started to rain at this point and I am eternally grateful to the gal whose name I have forgotten who helped me schlepp my prop back to the car. It breaks down and none of the 3 component parts are particularly heavy, but it’s not easy for one petite burlesque dancer to carry all three at once. And as I said, it was raining.

I think my adventures on Friday will wait for another missive.

Published in: on 17 October 2012 at 4:13 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Owie

Dear Constant Reader,

One of the glamourous things about being a burlesque dancer is getting to wear pasties — those tiny ornaments of rhinestones and tassels, magically clinging to our breasts like dazzling limpets.

When asked how we keep out pasties on, Scratch usually answers “Staple gun.” The reality is double-sided tape. Every Babydoll has her own favorite brand, but we all use tape. It’s the fastest method for changing, since you can have your pasties all prepared in advance and you just peel & stick and don’t have to wait for an adhesive, like spirit gum, to dry.

We all change our pasties at least once in The Wrathskellar. Stella & I wear 4 different pairs each over the course of the show. The tape can be a little irritating, especially as the weather gets drier. And it’s worse for those who have sensitive skin in the first place. I moisturize like crazy during the run of a show. And move the position of the tape around, so it’s not alway sticking in exactly the same place. But peeling off the tape can take a little skin with it.

So, after several days of show, I can end up with abrasions on my breasts.

I call them “boob-boos”.

Published in: on 15 October 2012 at 10:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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Load In

Dear Constant Reader,

I know you want to hear all about the New York Burlesque Festival and I will tell you all about it, but first I want to talk about load in for The Wrathskellar.

Brigitte, Stella, and I were late to the theatre. We’d gone to Brigitte’s salon to have her stylist design hairstyles for us and give us tutorials. All I’m going to say is that I should be a whiz at pincurls by the time the show is over.

We’ve played the Davis Square Theatre before, so we knew what to expected when we got there. Except we didn’t. The place was a disaster. Mylar confetti strips, spilled beer, broken light bulbs, empty cans & bottles (mostly cheap beer, some energy drinks), guitar picks, abandoned umbrellas, overflowing trash cans, broken drum sticks, mouse droppings, and just general trash. And our people had been cleaning for almost 2 hours before we got there. So much for the “broom clean” our contract specified.

Of course, because we are glamourous burlesque dancers with smashing hairdos, we got right to work, scraping mylar off the floor (it likes to stick, especially when beer is involved) and other less than savory items. Meanwhile the tech crew were hanging lights, building the stage, and creating the “backstage” areas (they’re part of the set that the audience can visit before the show and during intermission).

It was much better by the time we left for rehearsal, and when *we* load out the place will be more than ready for the next show. I can’t believe anyone thought it was all right to leave the place in that condition.

Published in: on 1 October 2012 at 11:52 am  Leave a Comment  
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