Dear Constant Reader,
Usually, we do two shows at Deacon Giles, an early and a late, and they’re the same show. This time, we did Brrrlesque for the early show, but for the late show, we presented…
10 years of fine spirits and craft cocktails! And we’ve been there for most of it. One night, about 9 years ago, Brigitte, very drunk, called Scratch, told him that we had to perform at this great bar she was at, and the rest is history!
To celebrate, we decided to do a show filled with some of our favorite acts that we’ve performed there. With one exception, this was entirely different acts from the show we had performed earlier in the evening.
Ava Fox, Betty Blaize, Devastasia: Going Bananas (“Going Bananas” by Madonna/”Day-O” by Harry Belafonte”)
This was probably the first act we knew had to be in the show. Originally created for A (Re)Movable Feast, it was one of the main acts in The Boston BeauTease Go Bananaz!, a show Brigitte had been suggesting not very subtilely for years. There’s a story about that show and the Salem city government, but I shall share it another time, perhaps. Let us just leave it at that Ian, one of Deacon Giles’ owners, is very detail-oriented and ultimately saved the day.
Mina Murray: Moon Over Bourbon Street (Sting)
This was another act that everyone said had to be in the show. It’s one of my Halloween go-tos. However, I realized that it shares some costume elements with a different act and I was going to be doing both in this show. So, I made a brand-new hip belt, which goes with the theme of the act. I only had time to do the bare minimum of rhinestoning, but I’m still pretty pleased with it.
Scratch: Martini Time (magic)
This time the correct song was on the playlist and everything went off flawlessly.
Ava Fox: In the Mood
We had to have Ava tap dance and this is a cheerful, celebratory number.
Betty Blaize: Sweet Child o’ Mine (Post-Modern Jukebox)
Betty gets to show off her dance chops as well as her costuming with this striptease.
Devastasia: No Diggity (singing: Post-Modern Jukebox arrangement)
Another chance to hear Devastasia’s lovely voice.
Mina Murray: Whole Lotta Mina (“Whole Lotta Love” by Hollywood Vampires)
I love this number. The music absolutely does not go with the troupe aesthetic, but I don’t care (and neither does Devastasia, who always encourages me to do it.)
Betty Blaize: Malambo No. 5 (Yma Sumak)
This is an over-the-top song and a matching costume. Betty has had a feathered headdress and backpiece for a while and, rather than create, say an elegant showgirl act, she became a tropical bird. It’s a gorgeous costume and the act is a touch ridiculous, just like Betty.
Devastasia: Steamroller Blues
I’m not the only fan dancer in the troupe, but our styles are pretty different. Also of note is the Devastasia’s costume is a color would wouldn’t expect from her — bright pink!
Ava Fox: Upside Down (Paloma Faith)
Ava has been working with chairs for a while and I think this is her finest number — and I’m not alone. She performed it at festivals in Scotland and Australia.
Scratch: The Vanishing Bandana (magic)
This is one off the troupe’s favorite magic tricks and we insisted Scratch perform it.
Betty Blaize, Mina Murray: Wim-a-weh (“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens)
This is without a doubt the goofiest number we have. It’s also one of the oldest. Betty and I came up with it over the course of a week (when I think I had the flu) in like 2007. It contains some authentic ’60s go-go moves and 16th-century Indian dance hand gestures. It’s very silly and somehow, it remains a crowd pleaser.
And that was our last show of 2025!
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Oh, The Glamourous Life! 