EMA REVIEW: A Night of Burlesque **** Scrumptious

Good, old-fashioned fun

By Paul Atreides

Author, playwright, and Theatre critic at EatMoreArtVegas.com

paul-atreides.com 

It’s quite the spectacle to see such an old field of entertainment make a comeback, but that’s exactly what is taking place at Vegas Theatre Company with A Night of Burlesque for some good old-fashioned bump and grind, as seven women take turns taking the stage in front of a cut-out moon hanging over platforms.

The show opens to Frank Sinatra’s “Luck Be a Lady,” performed by the Emcee Victoria Jade. It’s a great callback to days gone by–think Gypsy Rose Lee, whom the Broadway musical Gypsy was based on. She also provides some terrific, very funny banter with the audience between acts. Though some of it was drowned out by a very enthusiastic full house. Heck, I even missed some performers’ names because of it; if I have any cast members mixed up, I apologize profusely (but that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it).

Things have changed a bit with the times, though. The music used is all contemporary, but the moves are the same. For the most part, anyway. A couple of the routines came across a bit like sitting in your standard strip club. Shadae Simone’s performance was more like a pole dancer at a gentlemen’s club, intended to create arousal rather than titillate.

Lou Lou Roxy brought the house down, proving that body positivity counts. As a “big woman,” she proudly took the audience on a beautifully done fan dance. When it comes to body positivity, The Chumpendales, a parody of Chippendales (which I saw two weeks ago), could learn a thing or two from her. She is fun, funny, and confident.

Juicie Velour and Michelle L’Amour both brought the classic burlesque back to the stage. While Velour was cute and brought a wonderful bit of humor, L’Amour was pure elegance and worth the price of admission.

There was no program, so I can’t credit choreography; I must assume each actor created their own moves.

I know it’s not theatre in a traditional sense, but it is theatre. Does it objectify women? Certainly. But in an era when it seems anything goes, where actual porn is accessible via a few mouse clicks, this brings back a semblance of innocent(?) performance this old geezer can appreciate. Though I did miss the old, slow stripping-off of the stocking from a leg while the rest of the actor was still behind a curtain. If you have never seen burlesque and always wanted to know what it was, this is your chance. I admit it was fun, and I’d recommend it.

A Night of Burlesque performs the second Thursday of each month, with the exception of next month when the ladies take over the venue on Friday, May 9.

What: A Night of Burlesque

When:  8 p.m. Thursdays

Ongoing

Where: 1025 S. 1st St., Suite 110

Tickets: $26.05 - $87.84, Fees included (www.theatre.vegas)

Grade:  **** Scrumptious

Presenter: Mollie DeMenthe