Dear Constant Reader,
Yesterday The Boston Babydolls canceled Sunday rehearsal for the first time in ages. Why?
When Dita comes to town, everything stops. When planning The Wrathskellar (alas), we didn’t schedule a show on this day. There’s no reason to compete with the biggest burlesque act in her Boston debut.
When we Babydolls go out together, we like to make it clear we’re all together. We decided to all wear black and red and met at Eastern Standard for dinner in the Corio Lounge. It was a little tricky squeezing 7 of us around two tiny tables and having a few friends with the same pre-show plan drop by for a little socializing, but we like having dinner in the shadow of Her Majesty, The Queen.
Fortunately, the rain had stopped by the time we arrived at the House of Blues to stand on the *very* long line. There were many well-dressed people, but I was a little aghast at some women’s choice of foot wear, seeing as we were going to be standing all evening. Betty and I were wearing trusty and well-worn Fluevogs, both stylish and comfortable.
We managed to stake out a spot relatively down front, although very stage right. And waited for the show to start. And waited. I know it was after 8:30, but I didn’t check the exact start time. I only mention this because at this point we’d already been on our feet for more than an hour and a half. Thank goodness for comfortable and stylish shoes.
The show is hosted by Murray Hill, who I’ve seen many times before.
Dita, of course, opened the show with her Martini Glass act. I’m a sucker for men’s wear on women (as you know if you’ve seen some of my acts) and her tuxedo was exquisitely tailored.
Natasha “La Cholita” Estrada performed a high-energy flamenco in a dazzling ruffled costume. I think she provided the only tassel twirling of the evening, which she did with blinding speed. So fast, in fact, that she lost one of her pasties.
Lada Nikolska comes from The Crazy Horse in Paris and performed a sensual number from that show, rolling about on a couch shaped like lips. Near the end, she removed her panties while behind the couch and then lay on the top, screening herself with her thigh. Very hot. We were then surprised when she slithered down onto the couch, revealing herself sans even a merkin.
Selene Luna roared out on a diminutive motorcycle and rocked out. For a little person, she has a big presence.
Then Dita was back with her Rhinestone Cowgirl act. I knew about the mechanical bull and the encrusted costume, but I wasn’t prepared for the glittering pink tumbleweed or cactus. We were awfully amused that her bullriding music was Brigitte’s favorite “Tombstone Blues”.
During intermission I made a quick trek to check out the merch table which ran the range from $5 pens to $300 Olivia prints.
Dita opened the second half with her Bird of Paradise act. As a fan dancer, I was interested to see that she didn’t really tease with the fans. There was no conceal and reveal; she mostly used them for framing.
Monsieur Romeo from Paris was the first boylesque performer of the night with a teasing remove of his suit, cigarette never moving from his lips throughout. I thought the sexiest moment was when he held up his hand to show a wedding band and then slowly slid it off his finger. I found the ending a bit odd.
Then Murray Hill Challenge. My least favorite part of the show, but it’s part of his schtick. The winner was a woman who mentioned that she had just married her girlfriend. In addition to the regular prize (an autographed picture of Murray Hill), Dita invited them to meet her after the show. Nice!
I had no idea what to expect from Prince Poppycock. He burst out in 18th century finery, singing (actually singing — the previous 2 acts with vocals were pre-recorded) an aria from “The Barber of Seville”, while he stripped. Near the climax of the act, he gestured enthusiastically, knocking off his enormous powdered wig and his microphone with it. He just kept going, singing silently while he yanked off his wig cap and fluffed his real hair. The stage kitten (one of the Vonterage, as they were called) quickly tried to disentangle the microphone, but Murray Hill rushed on with a handheld first. It was a lovely example of keeping one’s cool in face of a potential on-stage disaster.
Perle Noire was a huge highlight of the show. I could see the Babydolls falling in love. Her strip was very good, very engaging, but her Josephine Baker-inspired banana dance was *amazing*. So high energy and acrobatic. Just dynamite.
The Opium Den closed out the show. It was everything I expected, except for the sightlines. We were standing to the stage right side of the stage and for the sequence when Dita is groped by red-gloved hands, she was standing in the back of her setpiece, stage right. The front column blocked much of the action for us. Fortunately, we got Betty to move forward so she could actually see her kindred spirit a little.
After a run to the merch table to get a program and a moment or two to chat with Murray Hill, it was after 11 and we departed, quite footsore, despite our sensible (yet stylish!) footwear, but thoroughly inspired.
The Teaseday Club opened again this past Tuesday, again not hosted by John J King (trust me, this gets funnier the more months you attend). Instead, it fell to our own Mr. Scratch to keep things moving along. Honestly, I think even if, by some miracle, John were available, Scratch would have taken this month as it marked Evie Sphinx’s last performance (only for a while, we hope) as she goes off to complete her degree.
Delilah Spring of The Tasty Pasties opened up the show with her fan dance to 
Anthony Scibelli provided us with a stand-up comedy set. He’s a very funny guy: just Google his name + “snozzberries”.
Devora Darling performed a number from A (Re)Movable Feast which we call “Cupcakes”. It has many of her favorite things: a pink frilly costume, dancing en pointe, and a bra covered with soft-sculpture petit-fours. I know, I know that gives away the punchline, but she’s so fond of it. I think she’d wear that bra all the time if she could get away with it.
Stella Diamond sang “Paper Moon”, as she does in The Fine Art of Burlesque (last performances this weekend in New Hampshire and Maine). The lovely vintage gloves were a find from our trip to Cleveland, purchased from 
Dagny Vanderlust of The Tasty Pasties performed “
Krupp and Bubbles began with a little slight of hand from Krupp and ended with a little demonstration of the art of misdirection from Bubbles.
Evie Sphinx danced to the song 
Stella Diamond looked like a good girl, but as the song “Whatever Lola Wants” began playing, she gradually shed her inhibitions along with her clothing. I’m not sure which Stella enjoys more, the silly hat she wears or that the naughty magazine that gets her going is gay porn bought at a discount (it was ladies’ day at the sex shop).
Amber BuTane of The Tasty Pasties teased all the “Momma’s Boys” in the audience with her amusing strip, which included twirling fake saggy boobs. And Amber’s actual mom was there to see her daughter in all her glory. Mother BuTane both did Amber’s hair *and* captured Mr. Scratch’s heart.
Krupp and Bubbles did a little mind reading. They had the audience toss a deck of cards randomly around and whoever caught it would flip through and pick a card, then toss it to someone else. Some of those tosses were more like pitches and many of the catches were fumbles. It was a little worrying… But there were no injuries, at least no major ones. Six people were brought up on stage and six cards were correctly named, although two of them required a little special attention.
Devora Darling, Evie Sphinx, and Stella Diamond in “A Harlequin Romance”. This act was created for Unlucky in Love (and was the only number in that show to use recorded music). They performed it again at The Expo 2012 to such acclaim that The Shanghai Pearl wanted to award them her trophy (but it has to go to one of the acts in competition). I was so happy to see it one more time. It’s a lovely blend of commedia dell’arte (from Scratch), ballet (from Evie and Devora), striptease, and classic comedy (a la Sid Ceasar and Nanette Fabray). They got a standing ovation.
Peril S. Curves started things off with a little Star Spangled Burlesque. I hate to spoil surprises, but the joke is too good. Peril’s pasties have pinwheels on them. She used to use an electric fan to make them twirl, but it was too complicated and prone to technical difficulties. So, she asked Sarah and our stage kitten to provide the breeze. As Sarah said, it wasn’t the first time someone asked her to blow them at a show. But it was the first time she said yes!
Sari Kalin presented a little Porch-i-oke. What’s that you ask? It’s a sing-a-long lead by Sari on her accordion. A couple of audience members volunteered for enthusiastic participation on stage, wearing large signs that designated their purpose, like “RING” for the one with the cowbell. And everyone sang “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” with the help of their handy lyric sheets.
Fonda Feeling brought some Game of Thrones-themed burlesque. I’m afraid I can’t comment more that that as I’m woefully ignorant on the topic (I know, I know, I’m probably the only person who isn’t reading the books or watching the show). Just enjoy the picture.
Baseema performed a bellydance with zills (that’s the Turkish name for finger cymbals. Consider the day lost in which you learn nothing.) We’re awfully glad she could join us when the previously scheduled bellydancer was injured. I was backstage getting ready, so I sadly didn’t get to see her dance.
Kitty Drexel opened the second set by singing “
Fonda Feeling‘s real love is circus burlesque. As well as stripping, she also performed acts of balance and flexibility that were quite astonishing. It’s even more awe-inspiring when you know that (as she puts it) 3 years ago she couldn’t touch her toes. The music was 
Sarah Blodgett, comedy’s Funny Honey, gave us a little taste of her stand-up act.
Vikki Likkerish presented her signature Muff ‘n’ Mix act in honor of her birthday, just days before.
Baseema stunned the crowd by dancing with two swords. I’ve seen a lot of bellydancers use a sword before, but Baseema’s dance just took my breath away. Her skill with manipulating those swords so powerfully and yet gracefully was simply incredible.
Peril S. Curves opened the final set with a debut act! She came out looking just like Barbie. Do you know what Barbie looks like after you take her dress off? Yes, that’s exactly how Peril appeared! Then she removed that layer… I’m not going to spoil this one because it’s brand-new, but you have never seen Barbie look that way!
Kitty Drexel returned to sing “
Vikki Likkerish also presented a new act. It was an etherial striptease with layers of pink chiffon to a version of “Addicted to Love”.
Sari Kalin brought back Porch-i-oke with “Love is the Drug”.
Saturday morning, we eagerly went to The Blue Swan for a real NJ diner breakfast. Although I live in Boston and was raised in CT, my family hails from New Jersey. There’s one treat that I only have when I’m in Jersey (which as far as I can tell exists nowhere else) — Taylor ham. I know the classic is Taylor ham on a hard roll with egg & cheese, but I don’t like my meat product adulterated.
The show went wonderfully. There were several photographers there, so expect to see more pictures! (Teaser photo by Colin Sheehy.) The audience was fantastic, enthusiastic, and begged us to return. And they bought a ton of merch. Abbey, who was acting as Merch Girl as well as Stage Kitten, was amazing! She refolded all the t-shirts, did an inventory count, and kept meticulous notes.
Our special guest for the show was 
