This was a last minute show for me – a friend from work told me she was going, and since I had no plans for Valentine’s Day (aw, shame) I figured I’d grab the chance to see what this burlesque malarkey was all about. I’m really glad I did. Having never been to a burlesque revue before, I would say I wasn’t sure what to expect. But, since I have an appreciative eye for the ladies, I’d be lying. Far from being a sleazy opportunity to perv on beautiful, semi-clad women prancing about the stage, this was all done in the best possible taste, and with tongue firmly in cheek.
Our guest host for the evening was the gorgeous Em Bruleé and she did a stellar job of warming the ‘reserved’ British crowd up. I say ‘reserved’, I think if you’re choosing to watch a burlesque show on Valentine’s Day, whether you’re in Didcot or the Moulin Rouge, you’re probably fairly open-minded. The audience were a mix of groups of friends and couples. And we were all up for a giggle. Some had gone all out to participate in the Best Dressed competition (my friend from work included; practically unrecognisable to me in her corset and immaculately rolled hair – and she won!), but all had come to enjoy the music, laughs and, of course, sparkly nipple tassels.
Em Bruleé kept the show going beautifully while Dave (“welcome to the gun show”) was sweeping up glitter and collecting clothing and feathers.She told terrible jokes in a way that made them hilarious, got us all to make ‘Latin’ noises in readiness to show our appreciation of the acts and had us cheering and whooping before we’d even seen a single tail-feather. And her singing was outstanding. From this rather ‘normal’ sounding Northern lass came out a belter of a voice, first of all with Nina Simone’s Feelin’ Good which had me transfixed and grinning like a loon, followed by Etta James’ At Last, which had my friend in her own little world singing along and smiling dreamily to herself and finally with the show-stopping Cabaret which had everyone joining in with their jazz hands.
The acts themselves were a beautiful combination of sexy, teasing striptease, some inhuman flexibility (Luna Rose, I’m looking at you) and Kiki Lovechild’s special brand of cabaret and clever puppetry – who knew a circle of brown felt could be used in so many different ways?
Missy Malone herself started and ended the show, first of all as Cupid, shooting arrows into the audience, and finally coming on in a beautiful, blue sequinned evening gown and treating us to a good old-fashioned striptease. Mysti Vine had us mesmerised and laughing with her saucy, comedic balloon popping act (it’s all in the facial expression…) and Betsie Bon Bon wowed the audience, almost into silence, with her captivating moves.
I would have to say that my favourite act of the evening had to be Luna Rosa. The beautiful, tattooed Nadia Hussein had me transfixed with her moves, and my friend fell madly in love (possibly lust) with her – I’ve never seen her so quiet. At the end of Luna’s act she turned to me and said ‘I’m actually sweating, feel my brow!’.
It’s amazing how entertaining it can be to watch women dancing while tantalisingly removing sparkly items of clothing to music. I’m finding it difficult to describe, but I would certainly recommend a visit to see Missy Malone’s troupe for a fun evening out! I’m off to trawl the internet for local burlesque dancing lessons now. I want to look that awesome in sequins and feathers!