Friday Tips!

Dear Constant Reader,

Today’s tips are all about packing!

Maximize space in your suitcase *and* keep your clothes from rumpling by rolling your garments into tight little sausages.

This doesn’t work so well for, say, a blazer, but it’s fantastic for a pencil skirt or t-shirt.

Stuff your underwear and socks into your shoes.

You’ll save space and your shoes will keep their shape.

Put your toiletries in individual ziptop bags.

Obviously, you should make sure all the containers are capped tightly. Just in case, seal them in an extra layer of protection, so if something does leak, neither your clothes nor your other toiletries will be covered in goo. Snack or sandwich size bags should be fine — you should be bringing travel-sized items anyway.

Published in: on 2 November 2012 at 11:00 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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Friday tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

Kindergarten rules: If it’s not yours, don’t touch it.

It’s a good rule for life, but especially true backstage. That prop may be loaded with something messy. This costume is laid out just-so for a fast change. That item may look like something to sit on, but it’s really someone’s set piece, and delicate. Moving or handling anything could be disaster for another performer. So, just keep your hands to yourself and ask first. Respect your fellow performers’ property and hopefully they will have also read this and do the same for you!

Published in: on 26 October 2012 at 11:00 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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Review: Looking for Little Egypt

Dear Constant Reader,

Looking for Little Egypt by Donna Carlton (1994).

In almost every book on the history of burlesque, there a mention of Little Egypt and how she saved the Chicago World’s Fair with her scandalous hoochy coochy dance on the “Streets of Cairo” exhibit. Her legend is huge — she used the newly invented zipper to shed her costume, her performance gave Mark Twain a heart attack, she was filmed by Thomas Edison. But who was she? Did she even exist?

Donna Carlton takes us back to the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 and explores the eastern entertainment on the Midway Plaisance that might have spawned Little Egypt. There were 3 places fairgoers could see authentic dance — the Algerian and Tunisian Village, the Turkish Village, and A Street in Cairo. There was also pseudo-oriental dancing at the Persian Palace. There’s no doubt the dancing was popular with attendees and horrified the more proper members of society. Oriental and orientalized dance spread across America.

So what does this have to do with burlesque? After the Chicago Exposition, most burlesque, vaudeville, and carnival shows featured a middle eastern-style dancer, often called a hoochy coochy (a corruption of the French hochequeue meaning “tail shaker”) or cooch dancer, and often billed as “Little Egypt”. These were usually western women in a fantasy version of eastern dance costume presenting an “exotic” dance. One can see the influence of the cooch dancer on stripper’s costumes and dance moves, or maybe it was the other way around.

So, was there an actual Little Egypt? Who was she? Ms. Carlton separates myth from history and makes a well-researched case for the identity of the original Little Egypt, but I will not reveal the results.

Published in: on 24 October 2012 at 4:07 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Decisions, Decisions

Dear Constant Reader,

In a mere week-and-a-bit, I’m headed to BurlyCon, an annual burlesque conference in Seattle. It’s been hard to think of preparing for that while my head is in The Wrathskellar still (and will be right up until a few hours before I leave).

Saturday night there is a movie PJ party and I haven’t the faintest idea what to wear. Normally I don’t sleep in anything (except a little perfume)! So, I’m asking you, O Constant Reader, to help me decide.

As usual, I apologize for the quality of the pictures as they were taken in my cheval mirror (which I only noticed later was rather dusty. It was the maid’s day off.)

outfit1Outfit number one: Red silk camisole & tap pants. Comfortable and suitable for lying on the floor with feet in the air. Will be ironed before being worn in public. See above note about maid and day off.

outfit2Outfit number two: Red silk slip, trimmed with black lace. Elegant, but requires decorous seating arrangements. Since we are to bring blankets & pillows, I expect there will be flopping about on the floor.

outfit3Outfit number three: Leopard bra, thong, and skirt set. Saucy, but not really sleepwear.

Whichever one is selected will definitely be worn with black marabou mules and possible a sheer black robe, trimmed with black & white ostrich feathers, if that impacts your decision.

So, my Faithful Correspondant, which outfit goes in the suitcase?

Published in: on 22 October 2012 at 2:29 pm  Comments (4)  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

Give compliments freely. Ask before giving critique.

People might not want to hear your commentary, especially immediately after a performance when adrenaline is high. If it is requested, give your constructive criticism as unemotionally and non-judgmentally as possible. Discussion is good; defensiveness isn’t. Avoid the phrase “You know what you should do is…”

Published in: on 19 October 2012 at 11:27 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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