"Let My Bunnies Go"

Last night I had the opportunity to volunteer at "Let My Bunnies Go" a show produced by Miss Indigo Blue (The Academy of Burlesque) and Heidi Von Haught, featuring Dangerous Curves from NYC.  The show, combined (loosely) elements of both the Jewish Passover and the Pagan/Christian Easter celebrations with acts from Dangerous Curves' spring  tour.  Hosted by Miss Indigo Blue, the show was equal parts irreverence, raunchy humor, and sexy fun.

Dangerous Curves, the troupe consisting of GiGi La Femme, Anita Cookie, Clams Casino, Darlinda Just Darlinda, and Minni Tonka presented a variety of pieces both neo and classic, comedic and sexy.

Anita Cookie's first act fit in with both Orthodox and Catholic traditions of Easter (though it wasn't presented as such) and Lent.  Mixing dough on stage, flour, sugar and beer, Anita indulged in sensual preparation of a staple of life, only to reveal to the audience that it was a guilty pleasure a thing she longed for but was for her a forbidden thing (just ask anyone on a no-carb diet).  Taking a real life situation and finding the sex and the tease in it, Anita's act was, in my opinion the most clever of the evening.

Anita would return to the stage later in the show with Clams Casino, to perform what was definitely the funniest act of the night.  Re-enacting the sex/pottery scene from the movie Ghost, these two ladies quickly won the crowds approval.  Slow, sensual and hilarious (especially considering the Charlie Brown ghost costume), the act was an excellent pop culture reference.  Then taking a page (perhaps unintentionally) from Family Guy, they turned it on its head by adding a bit of Ghostbusters (and Minni Tonka) into the act.  Fortunately for the audience, the Ghost won, and the pair teased once more while going in for the girl-on-girl kiss only to break away to bow to the house.

Another crowd favorite was GiGi La Femme's second act, a fetish piece that left her cheeks red.  GiGi's simple but sexy costume came off fairly quickly, for it was the reveal of the leather paddle and its intended use that was the climax of the act.  GiGi teased the audience by teasing herself, making good use of the typical burlesque goers voyeuristic tendencies.  My one suggestion to GiGi is that she can slow her choreography down.  While stripping her movements were frenetic, and while well timed seemed nervous.  Sometimes less is more.  She has a great figure and stage presence, and it would have been nice if they could be better appreciated; the audience allowed to savor it just a little.

Another "tease the audience by teasing yourself" act was a performance by Darlinda Just Darlinda, and was, in my opinion, the most intriguing (and dirtiest) act of the night.  Her gown, open in the back, displayed her assets nicely, and was a beautiful nod to early modern dance.  Her isolations, chair work, and later floor work were all beautifully executed and when she was done, I felt as though I had just watched Martha Graham masturbate (vigorously) on stage.  That being said.... I am glad that I have never actually seen Martha Graham masturbate on stage, but I did actually enjoy Darlinda's performance.

It was evident that the Passover/Easter theme was contrived by our local producers, and at times it felt that the acts performed were forced into place, even to the point of adding bunny ears to a performer's costume just to fit the theme.  The major exceptions to this were a performance by The Schlep Sisters (sp?), Darlinda Just Darlinda and Minni Tonka, that enacted through comedic interpretive dance, and simple strip tease, the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, a piece that felt custom tailored for the show, Indigo's Seder Plate piece, and Heidi Von Haught performing the "passion" of Jesus to "F*ckin' Rock n' Roll". (Which was a surprising mix reverence and irreverence; a nice balance and that more then impressive.)  While it did not detract from the show, and Indigo made good use of non-sequitur to keep things flowing, it was not expected and threw me at first.

That being said, Let My Bunnies Go was an entertaining introduction to East Coast Burlesque, and was well received by the audience. If you did not get a chance to see Dangerous Curves last night, I understand they will be performing at The Pink Door this evening, and some of them will be modeling at Dr. Sketchy's on Sunday so you may still have the opportunity. :-)

Loves,
Fosse Jack