Burlesque has legs
Today it’s punky and political as well as sexy and silly. And it’s everywhere.
Burlesque. You never know where you'll find it.
It could be down in the dusty subbasement of the Wolf Building's Underground Arts space where 2011's Late Night Cabaret resided. Then again, it could be performed on the hermetically clean stages of World Cafe Live, either in University City or Wilmington.
You could enjoy it in the sunshine on a tall ship like the Gazela at Penn's Landing, or in the dark confines of a legit theater space like the Walking Fish or the Adrienne. You could wind up in saloons like Little Bar in South Philly, or WineO in Northern Liberties.
Throw a rock and you're liable to hit a bodacious dancer or slap-shticky comedian in the grand tradition of variety shows familiar to audiences since the Victorian era. Later, burlesque was made famous in the 20th century by theatrical strippers like Gypsy Rose Lee and schmaltzy comedians like Phil Silvers.
"We look at clips from old burlesque shows from the '40s and '50s and by today's standards they are PG, but for their time, culturally, they were definitely rated R," says Lil Steph of Bravissimo Burlesque, which performs at WineO. "You need to look at the history of the art form to understand it."
The form began a resurgence around the 1990s with influences from punk rock and, at least in Philadelphia, it has offered theatrical commentary on cinematic themes (Peek-a-Boo Revue), gender issues (Liberty Kings), and socio-political concerns and literature (Cabaret Red Light).
Part of its newfound popularity comes from the fact that the seediness (but not the raciness) has gone out of many burlesque shows, and audiences know it. The 2010 musical Burlesque with Cher and Christina Aguilera also helped to create interest.
"The average person isn't scared to come to a burlesque show anymore," says Lulu Lollipop, the director, manager, booking agent, costume designer, chorus girl, and, "absolutely den mother" of the now 13-year-old Peek-a-Boo Revue, which often appears at World Cafe Live. The revue is among the first of Philly's nu-vamp organizations with its own mini-orchestra, an unparalleled multimedia presence (check its YouTube channel), and dueling hosts, Joey Martini and Count Scotchula.
Still, performers such as Bravissimo's Miss Rose thrive on the decadent.
"It's R-rated or it's not burlesque," says Rose, whose signature act is a voodoo priestess with lots of blood involved.
Melissa BangBang is the self-titled "Rogue Warrior" of Philly's burlesque scene with guest-starring roles at Peek-a-Boo, Cabaret Red Light, Revival Burlesque, Old City Side Show, and Hellcat Burlesque.
Annie A-Bomb is currently directing Cabaret Red Light's Looking Pretty and Saying Cute Things at the Adrienne Theater, based on the obscenity trials of film star Mae West. She spent summer doing pirate shows on the Gazela, and will hunker down at Painted Bride for a version of The Nutcracker in December. This art form has become so popular that she created her own Philadelphia School of Burlesque, where she teaches the fine art and history of the movement. Yet part of its wide-scale appeal comes from its expansion.
"I often say we're doing 'avant garde' theater or 'our own special thing' as we have burlesque elements like satire and sexy dancing, including nudity, in our shows, but we've definitely moved beyond," says A-Bomb of Red Light's past takes on socialism and sin.
Expansion also brings more troupes, independent producers (like Bravissimo, which started in 2010), and the LGBT-friendly Liberty City Kings Drag and Burlesque (LiCK).
The fact that Peek-a-Boo, the mothership burlesque troupe from which local groups have sprung, does great business at the family-friendly World Cafe Live (WCL) speaks volumes to the resurgence of burlesque throughout the city.
"Being at WCL opened up what we do to a whole different group of people," says Lollipop. "We still have followers that have been with us since the glory days of the Five Spot," the Old City home to Peek-a-Boo that burned in 2007, "but now there's a new group who has come to love us."
Local Burlesque
Peek-a-Boo Revue
Little Bar, Eighth and Fitzwater Streets, 10:30 p.m. Oct. 22. $15. 215-922-8380, www.littlebarphilly.com.
With Striptease Orchestra starring Satan's Angel at the Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 8 p.m. Nov. 13. $20. 215-922-6888, www.thetroc.com.
Liberty City Kings Drag and Burlesque (LiCK)
Tricks & Treats: LiCK's 5th Year Anniversary Extravaganza and 2012 Calendar Release at William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. 8 p.m. Saturday. $8 in costume/ $10. Ages 18 and older, age 21 with ID to drink. www.facebook.com/events/#!/event.php?eid=206178679445190
The Trestle Inn
Halloween grand opening party, 339 N. 11th St. 8 p.m. Oct. 29. Price to be determined. www.facebook.com/TheTrestleInn
Bravissimo Burlesque
Tiberino Museum, 3819 Hamilton St. 8 p.m. Friday. $8. www.tiberinomuseum.org
Viva Variety monthly event at WineO, 447 Poplar St. 10:30 p.m. Oct. 29. $10. 215-925-0999, www.lilsteph.com
Cabaret Red Light
The Nutcracker, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 to 11. $25/$30. 215-925-9914, www.cabaretredlight.com
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