After a truly surreal and fun-packed Bowling Tournament, we all sashayed over to The Mardi Gras Ballroom to enjoy the Opening Night Bash.
Tigger! was on the verge of unbearable attractiveness as our host for the night, and began by explaining how lucky we were to have a show today…
So it was finally game on – the first burlesque we were to sample at the ’09 BHoF Weekend!
Who could be first, but Mimi First? Mimi gave it plenty of bump and shimmy and sensual fan play – and I thought her oriental splayed fans with trailing tails made a refreshing change from the more obvious aesthetic routes when it comes to smaller fans; they were equally as lovely when used open or closed.
Pepper Potemkin from Russia was next, performing as a saucy hybrid of woman and crab!
Then, an equally strange creature came dancing through the audience and onto the stage: a rather familiar looking body, with a giant teddy bear head! It was, of course, Darlinda (Just Darlinda), who playfully removed her gloves, stunning fiery fringed dress and almost everything else, to reveal her true identity. Strange how a woman with a giant tedhead can be both alluring and disturbing!
Angela Eve was next, making a demure beginning in a full-skirted gown and stripping down to a feisty finish.
Then the first of the British performers, Wild Card Kitty, who gave an amusing performance as an uneasy stripping magician.
Kitty was directly followed by the second Brit of the evening, the unique and bohemian Vicky Butterfly, who performed her ‘Swan Bride’ act, to much admiration and applause…
Fleur De Tease – five nymphs from New Orleans, brought an exotic eastern flavour to proceedings; graceful but at an energetic pace, in beautiful costume.
In complete contrast, Polly Wood, a performer I have always enjoyed, who always thinks outside the box, began as an art museum statue in flowing green grecian robes. But true to form, the routine turned into a rocktastic tease-fest, with a tassel-twirling finale.
Up next was Anita Cookie, with a (hilarious) romantic dedication to the love in her life – alcohol!
Then it was time for a much anticipated burlesque showgirl, the irrepressible Amber Ray. It was everything Amber – sass, sensuality, skill, showmanship. All in one of her stunning purple ensembles with exquisite matching headdress…
Francean Fanny has to win the award for best prop/set of the evening, performing in front of her own cooker and giving us some fandance striptease to enjoy while her pie rose in the oven!
Then, a special performance from Violet Eva of Murasaki Babydoll, with a Babydoll boy in tow. I LOVE Murasaki Babydoll, and Eva is my absolute favourite. A frenetic Japanese pocket rocket that I would happily carry around in my pocket all day long. I have seen this lot bring the house down on more than one occasion – a welcome addition…
Ruby Valentine put on a beautiful extra terrestrial display, complete with shimmering Wings of Isis, and received rousing applause for her efforts.
Midnite Martini came next, and she impresses me more each time I see her. Each routine is that bit more polished and impressive than the last. A combination of striptease, agility and drama…
And the striptease and comedy kept coming thick and fast!
Diabolical dance from a devilish Scarlet O’Gasm; hilarity from Clams Casino and a baloon melon, and the most hysterical use of those classic Groucho glasses-nose-moustache disguises you used to have in your toy box that I think I will remember the image of forever, courtesy of the ingenious Nasty Canasta! Seriously, when she unveiled those masks, and stuck the cigarette in place, the ROOF came off! (image further down – I had to show you!)
Manchego provided the token boylesque routine, and Bunny Pistol certainly got us all fired up with a Día de los Muertos routine, which you can see her doing on another occasion here.
I want to give a special mention to Lola Van Ella at this juncture. I was exhausted just watching the woman – all singing, all dancing, all balancing, all stripping. Just the ultimate all-rounder performance. Fantastic.
And of course, the resplendent Tigger! was the host with the most throughout.
Siren Stiletto deserves some especial praise for her performance as well. It was so well choreographed and put together, with clever musical transitions and layers of costume. I really was entertained.
To round off the evening (yes my dears, all good things must end…) we first had another Brit, who frankly was lucky to get there in time! Polly Rae, best known for her Leicester Square show in London, told me she had been stranded at another American airport and feared she would not make it to Vegas for her scheduled performance. Luckily, it all worked out in the end, and Polly treated us to a cheeky fandance, and her trim lithe figure bumping and grinding in near to invisible underwear!
And then, to close the show, animal magic from Capital City Burlesque, which is best described in pictures – their costumes are soo cute!
What a brilliant opening night! Well done to everyone, and a big well done to Thursday Night Stage Manager, Pookie Patootie!