Fame or Famine

I’m far behind in my posting to this blog, and at least part of it is the fault of several talented women who comprise Foxy Veronica’s Peach Pies. I performed with one of them (the Betty Wantsme who has been seen in this blog before) for one performance, and the audience and the directors liked it so much they invited me to continue to be part of the group. I’ve done 4 shows now, for audiences ranging from goth kids to Japanese businessmen to a benefit for a Catholic Charity, and it’s a lot of fun.

Let’s get something straight, first: burlesque is not stripping. I am not going to go into the merits or faults of either; I’m simply pointing out the difference. And the best way to highlight the philosophy of burlesque is to quote a conversation I overheard from one of the models (not part of the burlesque troupe) who provided atmosphere at the charity event (which had some corporate contributors as well who’d hired a few men and women from an agency to fill out the eye-candy theme of “pajama party”).

“Yes, I wanted to wear my full-body stocking, but my boyfriend said ‘oh, no, baby, you ain’t goin’ out in that! And besides, what if I was the only one dressed like that? What would people think of me, all skanky?”

You would never hear something like that coming from one of the Peach Pies. No one is going to tell them how to dress; they will not only dress as they please, they will also undress as they please, and if the audience happens to enjoy it, that’s just fine, but don’t be under any illusion; they are doing it for themselves, because they want to, not because anybody else is dressed like that or not.

I really respect that, and more than that, I enjoy it. There’s one performer, a woman who goes by the name of Miss B. Havin, who belts out renditions of “Mein Herr” and “Don’t Tell Mama” that are every bit as house-filling as the Broadway show itself (and I know what I’m talking about, having seen the revival at Studio 54). But that’s not my favorite number for her – no, my favorite is a go-go ensemble dance number called “Orange Speedo”. Yes, yes, of course, I’m of course appreciative of the physical beauty of the dancing – but what’s transfixing is the expression on her face. She loses herself in that dance, and gives everything to it – not to us, the audience, because it’s a very personal joy, but she lets us see it, and it’s her presence that turns it from a cheesecake fun time into a transcendent dance experience.

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