Goodbye to Unlucky in Love

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for the Boston Babydolls!

Unlucky in Love closed last night with a sold-out show. It was our most ambitious and challenging show to date and in many ways our most successful. I think we were all sorry to see it end.

I might write a bit about the different acts in the days to come and give you a bit of a back-stage look.

But there’s no rest for us yet. Today the theatre has to be struck and all the costumes, props, set pieces, and lights stored away (and some new items built on site, like Evie’s super-spy desk, need to find a home). Saturday you can find us at the Mardi Gras Ball, doing a little striptease to some fabulous jazz.

Published in: on 15 February 2012 at 10:08 am  Leave a Comment  
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Reminders

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for the Boston Babydolls!

Besided the daily vote reminder, I also wanted to remind you about the Kickstarter campaign for the burlesque costume exhibit in the Spring! We’ve got 2 more weeks to raise the rest of the funds.

To tease you a little, among the costumes the exhibit will feature will be the costume Angie Pontani was wearing (or not wearing as the case may be) when she became the Reigning Queen of Burlesque in 2008.

Published in: on 14 February 2012 at 12:33 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Questions and Answers

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for the Boston Babydolls!

In response to my Friday tip, my esteemed colleague, Mr. Scratch, asked why performers shouldn’t pick up their own costumes. Well, in my opinion…

You want to leave your audience with a strong positive impression. Scrambling around, partialy clad, trying to quickly pick up your discarded costume before the next act comes on is probably not how you want the audience to remember you. Exit in character.

Also, bending over or crouching down to pick things up puts you in a subservient posture. Burlesque legend Toni Elling said to never look like you are ashamed of what you do. She wouldn’t even lower her head to acknowledge the audience’s applause. Also, you’ll look better standing up straight.

My mother (who reads this blog) asked how to wish a burlesque performer luck rather than saying “break a leg”. I’ve heard “break a nail” and “break a heel”, but most commonly “pop a pastie”.

Scratch tends to say “Good show”, which works for any kind of performance.

When we were in a commedia dell’arte troupe, we stopped saying “break a leg” because someone did. Then we used “In bocca al lupo” (“into the wolf’s mouth”), which is the Italian equivalent, without the fear of fractured bones. The proper response is “Crepi il lupo” (“may the wolf die”).

What good luck phrase do you use? Does any one use “merde”?

Published in: on 13 February 2012 at 11:45 am  Leave a Comment  

Welcome!

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for the Boston Babydolls!

It’s not easy to become a Boston Babydoll. We’ve very picky about who becomes a troupe member (as opposed to being cast in a show). Last night we made an offer to a performer in Unlucky in Love and she accepted.

I’m so please to welcome Elise (stage name coming soon) into the troupe. If you saw her as The Innocent in The Wrathskeller or performing as a singer and dancer in Unlucky in Love, you’ll you know why we’re so happy to have this multi-talented lady aboard.

And if you haven’t seen her, you’ve got just a few more chances. Tickets for tonight’s show are practically sold out, but there are still some available for Sunday, Monday, and Valentine’s Day…if you hurry.

Published in: on 11 February 2012 at 2:28 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

Please vote for The Boston Babydolls for “Best Burlesque” of 2012. You can vote every day. Thank you!

Never pick up your own costume.

If there’s absolutely no other option, bring an attractive basket (decorate it if you have time) and drop your garments in it. It’s still not fabulous for you to carry it off stage, but it’s better than crawling around at the end of your act grabbing all your costume bits.

Published in: on 10 February 2012 at 11:25 am  Comments (1)  
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Thank you!

Dear Constant Reader,

The Boston Babydolls are on the ballot for “Best Burlesque” of 2012. Thank you for nominating us!

Now we need you to vote for us, please! You can vote once a day per email/IP address, every day. And we need every vote!

I’ll be reminding you every day… I know that’s kind of annoying, but at least you’ll be hearing from me every day.

Published in: on 9 February 2012 at 10:31 am  Leave a Comment  

Review: Burlesque: Legendary Stars of the Stage

Dear Constant Reader,


Please click and nominate the Boston Babydolls for “Best Burlesque” and Naked Girls Reading for “Best Literary Gang”. Thank you!

Burlesque: Legendary Stars of the Stage by Jane Briggeman (2004).

Jane Briggeman founded the Golden Days of Burlesque Historical Society to find retired burlesque dancers and let them reconnect. The result of these contacts was this book of profiles of dancers (and a couple of comics). The profiles are often verbatim from interviews with the dancers themselves. The book is also full of photographs, magazine covers, and other ephemera.

There is no doubt that the subjects of this book are very close to Ms. Briggeman’s heart. In fact, it’s a little too personal from time to time. In most of the performer essays, she specifies the extent of her relationship — did they meet, just write letters, talk on the phone, or have no contact at all.

There’s now a second edition available. I’m interested to see how it differs from the first.

Published in: on 8 February 2012 at 11:16 am  Leave a Comment  
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Tea

Dear Constant Reader,


Please click and nominate the Boston Babydolls for “Best Burlesque” and Naked Girls Reading for “Best Literary Gang”. Thank you!

It happens, from time to time, that even the most glamourous diva is felled by the common cold. Yes, I’m sick. Fortunately, I have leopard-print pajamas, high-thread count sheets, an advance proof of Victims, and plenty of tea.

It’s tea I actually wanted to write about.

I love tea and the rituals associated with it. And the food served with it. I prefer Darjeeling, with lemon, no sugar. And cucumber sandwiches (I’m a traditionalist that way). Maybe when I’m feeling better, I’ll share my recipe for scones.

The one thing that makes me completely crazy is those who call afternoon tea “high tea” because it sounds grander. Afternoon tea is the dainty meal with finger sandwiches, scones, and petit fours. It’s the one with the fine china and the good silver. Ladies wear hats.

High tea is more substantial meal, served as a substitute for supper. Common high tea dishes are Welsh rabbit, beans on toast, or scrambled eggs. Think simple, comfort foods that go well with a mug of tea.

High tea is so called because it is eaten at a high dining table, not because it is a high occasion. Thusly, afternoon tea can also be called “low tea”, since it’s taken at a low tea table. It’s counterintuitive, but there’s no reason to mix them up once you know.

I will be hosting an afternoon tea at The Great Burlesque Exposition on Sunday at 4. Please join me. I should be feeling better by then…

Published in: on 7 February 2012 at 10:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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Snippets from the Weekend

Dear Constant Reader,


Please click and nominate the Boston Babydolls for “Best Burlesque” and Naked Girls Reading for “Best Literary Gang”. Thank you!

A few impressions from Unlucky in Love this weekend:

* Devora eating her dinner while in a full split

* turning people away from a sold-out house

* Evie’s bum-shaking victory dance when the Giants won the Super Bowl (sorry, local folks, she’s from Jersey)

* the vintage-clad ladies of Artifaktori classing up the audience

* Brigitte’s sorority sisters screaming whenever she came on stage

* Scratch gently disentangling himself from a tipsy fan professing her undying love for him

* long-time fans congratulating Betty on her svelte figure

* so much glitter on the floor

* hobo stew, homemade fudge, boiled peanuts

We’re dark until Friday and then we only have 5 more performances. Sold-out houses are likely, so get your tickets sooner rather than later.

Published in: on 6 February 2012 at 9:33 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,


Please click and nominate the Boston Babydolls for “Best Burlesque” and Naked Girls Reading for “Best Literary Gang”. Thank you!

This week’s tip comes from Betty Blaize:

Dance is not just movement, it’s motivation. Whether you move fast or slow, small or big, in circles or straight lines – it all depends on why you are moving. A dance number doesn’t have to be a story, but any dance has a mood or tone. Understanding the desired spirit of the piece lets you refine your moves and puts the finishing touch on any number.

Published in: on 3 February 2012 at 3:19 pm  Leave a Comment  
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