2011-05-27 Va-Va Voom Black Light Burlesque Show

Mon Cherie Presents Va-Va Voom is a bi-monthly burlesque show at The Shelter that has been pushing envelopes and amazing themes for the past two years.  Just when you thought you'd seen everything Mon Cherie bring Black Light Burlesque with body painted beauties and a generous use of iridescent fabrics.  Even the audience was dressed to the glow in the dark nines in body paint and glowing fabric.  You have to admire theme's so great that the audience wants to participate!

Doors opened at 9pm and I got there around 10pm.  I was greeted by the Mouth of the South herself, Miss Mason, screaming out the window for me to, "get (my) barrel rolling ass up stairs and fix (her) hair".  So I scampered up the stairs so go forth and whip hair into action.  We got her rolls up and looking great in under five minutes.  I then went on to help tame the tresses of Tupelo Honey as well.  Who knew that though I can't do my own hair I kick ass at doing others hair.  It had been raining the day before and it was terribly humid so everyone who was attempting to do their own hair was terribly jealous of those of us who choose Lee Press On Hair for the evening.  For those that don't know me, that includes anything from wigs to pony falls.

After helping with the hair emergencies I finally got to wander out from backstage to get my super cool spot next to Mr. Wombat so I could take photos of the show.  First up was our lovely FemC, Miss Mason, encouraging everyone to buy raffle tickets, by her shots of SoCo and to tip.  After some fun time with black light reactive bubbles, it was time to start the show.

The first set opened with a duet by New Orleans Jon and Tupelo Honey.  He sang while she did a seductive strip tease with occasional aid from him.  Once she had gotten past her glowing white gloves and white fringe she began stripping him before he removed her top and she sauntered off stage, never showing the audience a thing.  It was a great blend of live vocals and a truly tantalizing tease!  The next act was a seductive strip with a belly dance base done by Stormy Knight.  Bathed in a white robe with blue hair she looked like an Anime Angel.  When she took off her gloves her nails glowed under the black light which I thought was an amazing touch.  She shimmied her way in and out of her robe and top with an amazing rope and yarn belt that glowed and swayed with her movements.  Following her was Scarlett Page who took the most advantage of white under a black light dressed as a nurse.  She stripped and strutted to Alice in Chains making everyone want a physical exam. Closing the first set was Kittie Katrina to Bjork's It's Oh So Quiet which seems to be a favorite among performers.  Se did an amazing job with being the only performer not using white and was covered in pink and other colored glowing ties wrapped around her and in her hair.  She did a great job with the dynamics of the song with pulling you in during the slow quieter parts and then exploding with energy during the up swings.
It was a great way to end the first set.

In between sets DJ 313 kept the dance floor back and the bar was slammed from everyone that couldn't take their eyes off the stage during the show.  There were girls dancing in the hanging chain cage, glowing gals riding the quarter pony rides and many enjoying the additional show of the rowdy and borderline raunchy that the patrons were putting on in their drunken enjoyment.  Sometimes people watching the crowd is just as much fun as the amazing and talented performers on stage.

The second set opened with The Chameleon Queen painted fully like a Van gogh and performing to Siouxsie Sioux (it happened to be Sioxsie's birthday) with her Sally Rand Fans.  It was absolutely beautiful the way they moved around her seemingly effortlessly and at speeds that should not be attempted by an inexperienced fan dancer.  It was an amazing display of swirling beauty and skill.  After The Chameleon Queen wowed the audience it was time for the ladies to come up to to the front.  New Orleans Jon came to serenade the ladies with a wonderful rendition of Wicked Games.  There was a bachelorette party in the audience and the bride to be received a kiss on the cheek after his performance, I dare say that was probably the high light of her evening.  Closing out the evening was Stormy Knight fully painted and doing a sultry strip tease out of what appeared to be sheer bed sheets giving the performance a very intimate feel, as if you were sneaking a peak into her bed room.  She showed off some amazing acrobatics from shimmies to back bends and was an amazing high note to end the show on.  Curtain call brought everyone back out semi clothed to take a bow with all of the performers as well as the master mind behind Va-Va Voom, Mon Cherie.  It was an amazing night and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.


Below are my photos from the shows, please enjoy!

2011-04-27 The Southern Exposure Tour

On April 27th, Atlanta was invaded by some of the top New York burlesque performers on a birthday tour!  That's right, Run Around Sue was having a birthday and wanted to spend in in Bunny Love's home town of New Orleans and the tour was designed to help them get to and from.  So Run Around Sue contacted Syrens of the South since she and I had performed together a few years ago back at The Slipper Room in New York, and asked if we could hook them up with a date.  Thanks to The Shelter having Wednesday, April 27th open we were able to make it happen.

The day came and with tornado warnings and torrential down pours happening all over the South, we all braved the storm to come out!  Thus proving that neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow or dead of night will keep these girl's clothes on!  

Katherine Lashe (me) MC'd the show and we kicked off the event with one of our special guests, Miss Bunny Love!  Bunny Love did a sexy tribute about her love of chocolate to 'At Last' by Etta James.  Her classic strip tease took a comedic turn as she shoved her face into her box of chocolates.  Not every day you get to see a girl shove her face in her own box.  Next came The Make it Happen Girl, Run Around Sue!  She did a very elegant fan dance strip tease that was beautiful.  She had larger breast plates attached above her pasties, it was a brilliant idea and work wonderfully on stage as part of her strip tease.  Then was Ruby le Chatte  in her professional debut with her Blues for Angel routine she did at Southern Fried Burlesque Fest.  It was slinky and sultry!  Following her was Miss Pearl E. White doing a very classic leg show to "Don't You
Feel My Leg" which had the crowd begging for more.  Closing out the first set was Lola le Soliel debuting a brand new number!  It was done to 'Fish Camp Woman' by Unknown Hinson and she came out in a waitress out fit and had the best facial expressions to go a long with her hard working waitress diner striptease.  It was both sexy and funny and everyone was willing to kiss her grits as we took a brief intermission.

Our second set began with Brandy Noir doing her Vegas inspired one woman rat pack to Frank Sinatra's, 'I've got you under my skin'.  Next came everyone's favorite solo act, Rosie Palms, doing a high energy school girl number to 'Sexy and Seventeen' which made the crowd want to study a little harder.  Then Miss Pearl E White came back out on stage to do her Rocky Tribute to knock the audience out one more time.   We closed the show with our special guests.  First was Run Around Sue doing her Cheetah Routine which was a super sexy zipper striptease.  She had zippers undoing all sorts of part of her costume before it came off making the audience hold their breathe waiting for the reveal.  She also used a giant balloon as her cat toy which included some very interesting acrobatics as well.  The finale was Bunny Love doing a number full of hope as she started on the stage covered in newspapers as a very sad looking homeless woman.  As the music of Elvis' 'Amazing Grace' swelled so did everyone's hearts as she was transformed into an angel and took a stunningly beautiful glitter shower on stage.  

The whole evening was a lot of fun and other then the weather it was an amazing night.  Very grateful that the ladies tapped us to perform with them as it's always so much fun to see what the rest of the country is doing in burlesque. You can see Mr. Wombat's photos HERE.

2011-04-02 Syrens of the South invade Columbus, GA

On April 2, 2011, Syrens of the South Productions invaded Columbus, GA, to add their bawdy burlesque to an evening of musical magic!  The ladies were invited down after the lead singer of The Debutante Massacre saw them perform with The Dresden Dolls back in November.

First and foremost, Charles (the lead singer) totally spoiled us by making us a home made dinner before the show.  Chicken spaghetti with salad and garlic bread.  So we were getting ready at his house, having an amazing meal and watching some Archer on his TV, it was a great way to start off the evening, lol.

We got to SOHO Bar and Grill and there was a poker tournament going on.  After talking my gamblers back down from jumping in to play, we had a tour of the space.  It was a nice stage, a huge bar and some video games and pool tables to keep everyone amused in between sets.  The staff was amazingly nice and friendly and the service was great.

Opening the show was an acoustic set done by Katie Martin that was both fun and haunting at the same time.   Following that was a super energetic and awesome set done by our hosts, The Debutante Massacre!  Great stage presence and an awesome sound.  Following that was The Hellblinki Sextet, whom we love.  We performed with them in 2008 at Eccentrik Fest which is produced by The Clockwork Cabaret and they're always awesome to work with.  Eastern European punk rock circus music....yup that pretty much sums them up, lol.

Closing out the show was Syrens of the South.   After an evening of listening to great music and having drinks with the crowd it was time for us to go up on stage.  MCing the event was Katherine Lashe (me) and I had my hands full with a rowdy crowd of fun loving drunks.  There's nothing quite like performing near an army base to get the girls in a tizzy as well.  I did end up talking a Drill Sargent into doing pick-up for us which is not something we get to do every day.

Opening the show was the Double D's of Dixie, D'lilah D'lite, she did a classic boa act with a rockabilly edge.  The audience loved her and I think someone actually threw their dog tags on stage when she was done.  Following that was The Southern Shot that Make You Hot, Brandy Noir in her One Woman Rat Pack tribute to Frank Sinatra in a very classic Vegas styled number.  Next came the smile so bright you don't know if it's day or night, Sunny Midnight, doing her geek turned sexpot routine to Reverend Horton Heat's 'Love Whip'.  Closing out the show was our very own knockout, Miss Pearl E. White, with her Rocky tribute that was a one two punch of fantastic to end the night.

It was a lot of fun and we're really looking forward to getting to come back to Columbus.

2011-03-26 Mon Cherie Present's Va-Va-Voom: "We're All Mad Here!"

On March 26th The Shelter was invaded by Mad Hatters, Cheshire Cats, Catapillers, White Rabbits,  and a bevy of blonde beauties who all seemed to be named Alice.  It was time for Mon Cherie Presents Va-Va-Voom with a special Alice in Wonderland edition titled "We're All Mad Here!"

MCing both sets was the Mouth of the South, Miss Mason.  With an adorable tiny top hat and an assortment of tea cups in different sizes all holding her precious Southern Comfort, she made the audience laugh, get rowdy and beg for the performers as she instructed!  Opening the show was the ever mysterious Chameleon Queen in a full furry regulation bunny suit making sure everyone was on time for their very important date with the hotness that was her.  Following the Chameleon Queen was Torchy Taboo as Alice who took everyone on a tour of her rhinestone rabbit hole!  She was a sassy blonde bombshell and showed everyone why she's the Godfather of Atlanta Burlesque.  New Orleans Jon came out as Mr. Three and sang "Roses are Red my love" with his normal smarmy twist.  Jacqueline Trade did a very acrobatic routine as the Cheshire Cat which included many of the amazing props she built for the show including a swing suspended from the ceiling.  Closing out the first act was Talloolah Love performing her "Too Darn Hot" routine before she took it to Viva Las Vegas Easter Weekend to represent the South.

The second act opened with Catatonic Raucous as the Caterpillar.  She was body painted blue from head to toe and looked amazingly ethereal with her strip tease and blue Isis wings. New Orleans Jon had another song to sing as Mr. Three. Then came Katherine Lashe (me) as the Mad Hatter with a break away straight jacket. Next was Scarlett with her burlesque debut to Ace of Spades, a brilliant music choice and a great first time out.  Closing out the second act was Stormy Knight as The Queen of Hearts with an amazing costume, a regal stage presence and a sword for anyone that didn't agree.

It was an amazing night with DJ Jennocide spinning and keeping everyone out on the dance floor.  It was a spinning room of fluffy tails, top hats, cat ears and blonde hair dancing the night away.  Mon Cherie sure does know how to put on a hell of a party and her vision had a repeat performance the next night for a private event which also went over smashingly.

2011-05-05 RIP Arthur Laurents

FILE - In this Dec. 28, 1964 file photo, composer Richard Rodgers, 

at the piano, his new collaborator, lyricist Stephen Sondheim, 

right, and playwright Arthur Laurents are shown as they begin work

on the new musical "Do I Hear a Waltz?" in New York, The musical 

is being adapted from Laurents' book "Summertime." Arthur 

Laurents, the director, playwright and screenwriter who wrote such 

enduring stage musicals as "West Side Story" and "Gypsy," as well

as the movie classics "Rope" and "The Way We Were," has died. 

He was 93. (From www.kansascity.com)

On May 5, 2011, Arthur Laurent passed away in New York City.  For those that are unaware Mr. Laurent was the author of 'Westside Story' in 1957 and the most iconic of burlesque musicals, 'Gypsy' in 1959, which was loosely based on the life of Gypsy Rose Lee.  

Ethel Merman was the first to be cast as Rose (Gypsy's over bearing mother), which is considered to be the high point of Ms. Merman's career.  In later years Gypsy would have four successful revivals on Broadway.  The first was in 1974 with Angela Lansbury as Rose, in 1989 with Tyne Daly, in 2003 with Burnadette Peters (directed by Sam Mendes, the only revival not directed by Laurents), and most recently in 2008 with Patti LuPone.

He was also an accomplished stage director, wrote many radio plays including The Thin Man which was about a husband and wife detective team by the name of Nick and Nora, which later became one of my favorite movies.  He also wrote military training videos during World War II.  His biggest film success was as the screenwriter for "The Way We Were" starring Robert Redford and Barbara Striesand.

'Gypsy' has also graced the movie screen many times with many playing the coveted roll of Rose. In 1962 which had Rosalind Russel as Rose and Natalie Wood as Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee.  In 1993 Bette Midler took the lead in the made for TV version of 'Gypsy'.  It is rumored that Laurents was in talks with Barbara Streisand for a new version of the movie for the big screen with her as Rose.  

You can read more about Arthur Laurents amazing life and career at his IMDB PAGE as well as THIS ARTICLE from kansascity.com.

     

2011-03-20 Killer Creek Harley Davidson St. Patrick's Day Party

After hauling much fabulous booty back from Jackson the day before, Syrens of the South Productions hauled buns to Marietta to take it off for a bevy of bikers!  We were very excited to once again share the stage with our good friends The Psycho Devilles who have been touring all over the world and stopped by home to shed their amazing brand of rockabilly on the crowd!  They even had some of the lovely ladies performing hop up on stage and do a little dancing during their set.

There were two sets during the day, it's always strange doing burlesque during the day, daylight is not a friend to the burlesque queen but we always make it through!  Having performed for their St. Patrick's Day Party back in 2009 we were super excited to get to come back as it was such a great time and we just love getting to drool over all the amazing bikes!

Katherine Lashe MC'd both sets.  The first included D'lilah D'lite performing her love of Guinness with her giant pints.  Following that was Brandy Noir's professional debut after her amazing beginning at The Southern Fried Burlesque Fest the week before.  She performed as a one woman rat pack to Frank Sinatra's "I've Got You Under My Skin".  Ruby Redmayne was a crowd favorite with her Sugar Daddy routine that includes her amazing disappearing pantie trick!  Closing out the first set was Kittie Katrina showing the crowd her high energy Kittie Kat Love  With her feathery tail and fuzzy ears I'm sure many of them would let her curl up on their bikes for a cat nap!

The second set opened with D'lilah D'lite doing a classically naughty routine with a feather boa that tickled every one's fancy! Then came the hour glass and a half Tupelo Honey with her delectable dark side to A Demon Like Me.  Roses weren't the only thing crushed under her heel, I'm pretty sure she had the audience's hearts as well!  Closing out the show was Kittie Katrina, who was going to be performing to Bourbon in His Eyes, but we had a bit of a malfunction with the CD.  So she totally rocked the improv to a song she'd never heard before and you wouldn't have known with the way she danced and totally rocked the routine!  This is not the first time I have seen this happen to a performer, but it always amazes me the level of professionalism and dedication it takes to pull something like that out of your ass, she already had my respect, but now she has my admiration as well!

Below is a slide show of pictures from the event that include a few highlights from the burlesque show as well!

2011-03-18 Shamrock-A-Shimmy in Jackson, MS

Syrens of the South Productions brings Burlesque to Jackson!  That's what was being said as D'lilah D'lite, Katherine Lashe, Kittie Katrina, and Stormy Knight piled in the car at 5:30am to leave Atlanta to meet up with Spooky le Strange from New Orleans and Big Daddy Cool from Nashville.  And no, Jackson was not sung the whole way there as predicted, infact it wasn't until our arrival that D'lilah played it on her laptop.  Apparently there is no burlesque in Jackson and one man had a vision to bring somethig new and different to Jackson. E. C. Puffin Entertainment chose his first event to be one of burlesque with Syrens of the South in The Basement at Fire.  The Basement is a gay bar that is expanding it's audience, the second level was a large music venue and the upstairs was a very tastey mexican restaurant which we took full advantage.

During set up Katherine Lashe had a small beginning burlesque class for very eager students.  Sadly the word didn't get out about the class to everyone that was interested so there will be more classes coming to Jackson on May 7th!  Tease U will begin with classes by Katherine Lashe and D'lilah D'lite teaching history, basic move, vintage hair and pastie making.

For St. Patrick's Day, Syrens of the South Productions put together a show of bawdy Irish acts as well as classic burlesque routines and a hint of magic done by MC Big Daddy Cool.  From eating razor blades to piercing his skin with needles, Big Daddy Cool definately had the audience in the palm of his hand.  Two shows turned into three due to high demand from the audience.  Something sexy about being so popular they can't get enough!

Performances includes Stormy Knight doing an amazing bellydance routine showing that she does indeed have the fastest hips in the South and her high energy rockabilly routine that had a ho down feel with a sultry edge.  D'lilah D'lite did a sexy classic burlesque routine with some amazing chair work and stocking pulls as well as a tribute to everyone's favortie Irish beer with two feet tall Guiness pint glasses.  The Reverand Spooky le Strange did an wonderful Irish jig complete with tarten and a hint of river dance in addition to her bride routine that had her looking like an elegant stripping ghost that was both beautiful and seductive with it's grace and simplicity.  Katherine Lashe closed the first show with a classic striptease and stocking pull and the second show with a green fan dance to blend both the classic and the drunken holiday.

After the shows everyone had a drink, some amazing mexican food and signed autographs for all the new burlesque fans!  Everyone was awesome to travel with and I would definately recommend any of the for a road trip or a touring show.  The entire experience was awesome for the performers, the audience, the crew and the promotors.  Everyone is super excited about the future of shows and classes for Jackson!