Last night I had the opportunity to perform at Café Metropolitan with the boys of GAZM, Seattle’s premiere boylesque troupe. With the exception of the no-show-host, the show went down without a hitch, and was well received.
Guest artist, Jinkxs Monsoon stepped up to the bat and hosted the show on the fly with a mixture of wit, and charm that the audience took to very quickly. As a performer, Jinkxs blends stellar cabaret pipes, and energetic style of dance, with a touch of musical theater camp that I enjoyed greatly. Her rendition of All That Jazz was amazing, and I want to be her back up boy sometime!
The remaining guest artists included Jack Hammer, and Captain Jakalof, two fantastic performers with very different styles. Jack Hammer is a solid bit of beefcake, tall, broad shouldered with classic All American good looks. His Private Eye number is an excellent story, which he tells start to finish with finesse, and sex appeal. The Captain, or in this case his cousin Aspen Switch, is a chic geek with some killer dance moves. His pop and lock routine as Aspen Switch is a clock-work precision piece of comedy, equally pleasing and teasing to the audience.
The four boys of GAZM performed next with Jean DuJour starting the set. Jean combines natural grace, Raver sensibilities and mouth watering sex appeal. He will take you on a bizarre journey that can leave you feeling good, excited, sleepy or at times slightly nauseous (like any recreational pharmaceutical one should be prepared when you experience Jean). His costumes are imaginative patch work pieces that could be described as haute or hot depending on your point of view, his prop use is equally imaginative, and his daringness often crosses the line of propriety. Art is risky, and Jean will gladly take those risks.
Paris Original, the Balletic Burlesque Performer presented a gorgeous piece en pointe that would be equally praised on both the classical and the burlesque stages, and set both the blood and heart aflame (and is apparently “SO Creole”). Capturing the ecstatic energy of mourning, Paris de-clothes first to tease and then to show respect for the departed. This piece is on YouTube but as one audience member noted last night, it can only be fully appreciated in person.
The Luminous Pariah offered up a piece of dystopian delicacy, a post apocalyptic themed number that combined fantastic costuming, a concise and interesting story, and a breathtaking physical mastery. It is his ability to balance his intensely creative imagination with a supreme self-control that makes the Luminous Pariah one of the top performers in Seattle. I have said it before, but he WILL go far.
EmpeROAR Fabulous!!! The creator of GAZM and the brains of the operation closed out the show, with an exercise themed number that spoke of many a skinny boy’s desire to get in shape, bulk up, etc. and the frustration with the process. EmpeROAR is a versatile performer, a talented singer/songwriter, a skilled EMCEE, and an utterly devoted artist with an unashamed and fearless stage presence.
Last night’s performance was a fund raiser for GAZM’s upcoming World Tour Show at the Re-Bar in mid September, and as an appetizer to the main event, was very promising. Merde mes amis! Stick with it and you will do well.
Love, Fosse Jack
No comments:
Post a Comment