Sinner Saint Burlesque, "Long Kiss Goodnight"

In the “golden age of burlesque”, the women of bump & grind would perform for upwards of 20 minutes at a time.  The drawn out art of the tease, blended with a profuse amount of choreography or improvised dance meant that a single artist was an entire ‘Act’ all to herself.  Today the standard burlesque piece averages at about 5 minutes.  With YouTube, Netflix, Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets dishing out instant gratification we are mentally geared toward shorts.  This isn’t necessarily bad! It’s just a new standard. Personally I love it when a performer can tell an entire story in the course of a single song, and can get bored if the ‘reach’ of an act extends the performer’s ‘grasp’.

With this in mind the concept of a burlesque show devoted entirely to contemporary long form burlesque, that is acts averaging 10 minutes or more, and involving varied elements of performance, is a risky one.  However, if you have been following my sporadic posts over the past 10-12 months you may note that one troupe in particular has been getting its kicks tackling risky concept shows!

I am, of course speaking of Sinner Saint Burlesque.

photo by Danny Boulet of WittyPixel Photography

The first of SSB’s 2013 season is called “Long Kiss Goodnight” and is composed of four feature acts, and a sprinkling of shorter group numbers.  Of the troupe’s five primary members, four participate in each night’s performance.  The themes of the individual pieces are surprisingly diverse, sharing only a joint dedication to a longer-form of act structure.  This diversity of theme provides the necessary variety needed to maintain the attention of a typically distracted audience and was, for me, very satisfying.

The show’s host, Cherry Manhattan, spun a story built around a decadent party.  Sporting a lovely RP dialect, a variety of evening and ‘after-evening’ outfits, and playing the role of a gracious, candid, professional party girl, Cherry was delightful and engaging!  Her mixing of borderline adolescent obsession with kissing, a peppering of pop-culture references, sophisticated innuendos, and obscure allusions allowed her to connect with the varied mob that is The Noc Noc’s usual crowd.  This was my first opportunity to enjoy Cherry’s hosting style and I very much hope to experience her again!

The first of SSB’s featured act was Polly Wood’s 'extended edition, director’s cut' of her Elizabeth Taylor Tribute.  Polly’s approach to the longer form structure of the show was to provide, in sequence, strip tease, reverse strip, strip tease, reverse strip, and final reveal.  In her interpretation of the famed Hollywood diva, Polly explored two of Taylor’s most remembered roles: Cleopatra and Maggie the Cat, and executed the costume changes necessary to play those roles, all without revealing her… well ‘lady apples’?  Polly’s take on Ms. Taylor leans more to the lighthearted than to the smoldering, walking the line between tribute and good natured parody, but she successfully captured moments of iconic Liz Taylor sexiness that the audience very much enjoyed it!

Second was Dona De Couri’s three part sketch/burlesque act involving a kissing booth, an Andrew Sisters’ style performance between herself, Polly Wood and Jesse Belle-Jones, and finally a classic strip tease.  The kissing booth sketch was hysterical! Dona’s initial revulsion, followed by decided enthusiasm provided the audience with vivid images of her ‘clients’.  The musical performance that followed was a delightful surprise.  I love it when performers open up in other ways!  Finally, Dona’s skills as a dancer, and consummate teaser, successfully pleased, entertained and titillated the audience, in the third movement of her piece.

Next up, Jesse Belle-Jones becomes the medium for a Grecian Goddess with her interpretation of Actaeon and Artemis.  Okay this was one of my favorite acts, but I am a huge myth buff! The act begins with a rendition of SSB’s harem girl group act, a piece that evokes popular images of Sapphos and the Isle of Lesbos.  Then with a little exposition from our gracious hostess, we are transported to a forest pool where the Goddess Artemis is caught in the act of bathing.  I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say that this little furry yiffed, the audience was left spell bound, and Julie Taymor would have approved.

Finally, Evilyn Sin Claire channels the majesty of the peacock, the mystery of a masquerade, and the allure of reflection.  Have you ever had a conversation with someone in a mirror?  There is something fascinating about reflections.  They capture our attentions, and our imagination.  Even as self aware individuals there is a child-like feeling of looking into another world. (Well that could just be me.)  Ms. Sin Claire utilizes this fact beautifully, teasing herself and allowing us to more fully experience the voyeuristic thrill that is watching a burlesque act.  This has to rank as one of my favorite piece performed by Evilyn.  There was a calm control about her that dominated the audience in a way I’m not sure they were fully aware of.  Few performers have the effect on me that Evilyn does (I’ll let you interpret that as you wish), and I am happy to say that once more she left me speechless!

So there we have it. Four featured acts, with a sprinkling of group participation, all skillfully performed with appropriate flash, flare and sex appeal.  It is a simple but risky concept. It was a show that I believe worked beautifully.  It was a show that I hope inspires and encourages other burlesque artists to up their game, go deeper into their art and make the antici.....PATION last longer for Seattle's burlesque fans.

Sinner Saint Burlesque is one of Seattle’s oldest, longest, continually operating burlesque troupes, and can be found at The Noc Noc Every Thursday Night.  I strongly encourage you to attend their run of a “Long Kiss Goodnight” which plays through March 14^th!

Loves! ~ Fosse Jack

Sinner Saint Burlesque, "The Hot Seat"

First, Ladies and Gentlemen, I must apologize for my absence.  I feel as if I dropped off the face of the world a couple of months ago.  Life happens, or so they say, but it does feel good to be back!

For those who have read my blog before, it will come as no surprise that my first review in months is of a Sinner Saint Burlesque show.  Over the years I have had the opportunity to experience, and chronicle many of the adventures of this group of ladies.  I have seen members come and go, and I have witnessed the troupe grow from an alliance of individual performers into the solid performance entity they are becoming today.  That is to say, not only are the ladies of SSB, extremely talented as individuals, they are solid as an artistic team.  They have grown from individual elements to full on Captain Planet. (Yes I was a wee one in the 90s.) Their most recent show proves it.

At first glance “The Hot Seat” may throw you for a loop.  While SSB has long established a reputation for its themed shows, and this past year delved into the art of narrative driven shows, “The Hot Seat” takes these two to a new level.  This is an entire show built around a chair.  You read that correctly, “The Hot Seat” is an ecdysiastic spectacle built around a piece of furniture.  I had no idea what to expect, but having seen it I only wish I had done so earlier.  This review doesn’t give y’all much time to check it out, so read quick and get to The Noc Noc next Thursday (Oct 12^th).

The narrative is spoken from the perspective of a humble burlesque prop, a curvy backed chair, painted silver and clearly marked by the SSB logo.  At the beginning the audience is told about how ‘The Chair’ was found and brought into the group to fulfill various needs of the Sinner Saints.  As the story progresses, we find out how the chair’s relationship with the troupe grew from humble prop, to coveted object, to confidant and sanctuary.  We see ‘The Chair’ become a safe place for the Ladies to find support, experiment artistically and live out their wildest fantasies.  We learn that the Chair is not just a simple piece of furniture, it is a “Hot Seat” that knows the Sinner Saints as intimately as any lover.

You might think that a story told from the perspective of a chair is a little odd, and at first glance you’d be right, but considering how many Pixar movies have told stories from the perspective of inanimate objects you should know that ‘odd’ often equates with artistic and entertainment gold.

Diva le Deviant, hostess and author of “The Hot Seat” gave voice to ‘the Chair’.  In her strongest piece of narrative hosting to date, Diva was through the show sympathetic and sexy, funny and clever, and believe it or not, adorably innocent.  Her commitment to the perspective of her character, kept her focused and the audience rapt.  Her jokes were cleverly executed and her attachment to the dancers ‘using her’ was clear and believable.  She did not simple tell us her story, she drew us in and allowed us to share it.

The Sinner Saints themselves brought some serious game to the table.  As was expected their acts revolved around, and used ‘the Chair’.  Each of the Ladies rocked at least one new piece, and the major group number was an amazing twist on one of their classic acts.  For those familiar with SSB material, “Meine Chair” will rock your world.

Lady Tatas provided both class and comedy.  In her first act she offered the audience a classic tease, and had the honor of being the first derriere to grace the ‘Hot Seat’.  Her second act was more of an actor’s monologue then a strip tease, but Tatas pulled it off where few could.  Have you ever seen a grown woman have an argument with a piece of furniture? Crazy great aunts, aside, you have to see this one.  Intel: Lady Tatas prefers her furniture butch.

SSB interns Nikola Teasela and Lotti Glitterati each shared their romances with the chair.  The latter, Ms. Glitterati showed that sometimes we only want something because everyone else does.  Usually, we want such things all to ourselves.  Lotti was beautiful in classic glamour, and while the chair may have slipped through her fingers in the end, she didn’t let the ‘one that got away’ faze her.  She’ll get what she wants eventually.  Nikola bore her soul, while on that chair.  She offered the audience a piece of what I call, “burlesque dramatique” a darker, more serious piece in which exposure is more important that titillation.  It was a risky choice, but she did it well.

Guest Artist Kylie Koyote stepped in to participate in the “poly-armchair-amory” (a Diva-ism, not original Fosse Jack!), and brought two of her signature pieces to the stage.  Her Flamenco inspired chair dance was the first.  I have seen this act before and I can happily say that Kylie never stops getting better!  It was a beautiful piece, and ‘the chair’ made for a very steady Latin Lover.  Her second act however, was the one that really got the crowd going.  From ‘imitation’ to ‘fellation’, Kylie made the audience pant.  This is why I’d like to dub her the “Diamond Dog” of Seattle.  (Seriously have you seen this girl drool over rhinestones? Ha!)

Finally, the senior star of SSB, Ms. Evilyn Sin Claire did not disappoint!  In both acts she made that chair work.  In the ‘Wild Child Tango’ she reveled in an abandon of passion and desperation.   Longing for forbidden love, all she could do was live out her fantasies in her mind, and on the chair.  Speaking of fantasies, Evilyn’s second act made me laugh and blush harder than anything I’ve seen in a long time.  Though short and sweet, the closing act of the show was as hot as a bolt of lightning.

If you haven’t gathered, “The Hot Seat” is a very strong show.  The individual acts are, across the board, solid and sexy.  The group acts blend classic SSB and the newer, more theatrical stylings the group has embraced.  The narrative is the strongest they have come up with, and the concept is one of the most unique I have seen.  I wish I had reviewed this earlier because I really think that every burlesque fan needs to see this.

Sinner Saint Burlesque performs every Thursday night at The Noc Noc, in Downtown Seattle.  ‘The Hot Seat’ runs for one more week, which means you have one more shot to see this romantic comedy about a group of girls and The Chair they share!

Loves!

~ Fosse Jack

PS: Stayed tuned, I have been promised some inside information concerning SSB’s next run and you’ll get the preview here, on The Scarlet Curtain. 

"Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic"

Sinner Saint Burlesque’s newest show, “Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic” is one helluva spell. While opening night was not without a few kinks, the over all effects of SSB’s sensual enchantments were strongly and positively felt.

The narrative of this piece follows the individual journeys of six mortal women in their quest to instigate the return of the goddess Ishtar to Earth.  Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of love, fertility, sex and war has fled to the Underworld in response to the ‘war on women’ agitated by 2012’s loud mouthed sexists in politics.  As a result lust has faded from the world, and with it the drive to propagate has diminished. The world itself stands on the brink of ruin, and the return of Ishtar is the only remedy against the extinction of life.

The story is a clever, if not so subtle piece of social commentary that draws on elements of ancient mythology to make a point.  The classical Ishtar was a powerful and important deity.  As a fertility goddess she was necessary to everyday life, she represented beauty, strength, and vitality, and the story of her descent into the Underworld is one of the most important and famous myths about her. She was also dangerous, as much daemon and deity, and other ancients myths tell of the ruin that came to the men that loved her. Even mighty warriors and fellow gods, lost virility and strength after tasting her love.  She was both loved and feared because she represented the strength, and aggression of women.

Considering the recent political movement against women’s rights, Ishtar is an appropriate icon.  But enough of that… it is not the intent of this article to analyze the politics of the show.  Just be aware that they are there.

While the Sinner Saints has been known for their thematic shows (Animalia being my favorite) this venture into story-based shows is still fairly new.  BSSM is only the second of their new narratives, but the Ladies have honed their theatrical chops since their first run earlier this spring.  BSSM is a strong story, and a more cohesive show.  The benefit of a narrative based show is that cohesion.  It allows an audience member a sense of total immersion.  Conversely, if an act doesn’t quite fit it sticks out a little bit more.  Over all, the acts in BSSM fit rather nicely.  That being said, don’t analyze too much.  A few cultural/geographic references used as introductory material seem out of place, or mismatched with the acts.  These did not take away from the show or individual performances, but for me at least, momentarily dispelled the suspension of disbelief.

BSSM features four of Sinner Saint’s Principles; Evilyn Sin Claire, Dona de Couri, Lady Tatas, and Polly Wood; as well as two new interns, Lotti Glitterati and Nikola Teasela.  Host Dive le Deviant serves in the role of Ishtar, and much to my pleasure the Sweethearts (Briq House and Penelope Rose) are as much a part of the storyline and show as the rest.  (Way to give props to the ‘hardest working girls in show business”!) 

With 6 solo artists, Seattle’s “Bitch in Charge” and the lovely Sweethearts all sharing the stage, there is a LOT of girl power rocking The Noc Noc this run.  The individual performances are all solid, and while opening night had a few costume glitches, and some difficulty with a hanging prop (keep your props simple to rig folks!), the ladies of SSB handled it all like pros. 

The highlights of the show, however, are the group acts.  That’s right, it’s plural!  While SSB has long performed group finales, the addition of an opening group act really gives this show a sexy kick-start!  Would Wicked be nearly as spectacular without its opening number?  How about a classic like Guys and Dolls, or contemporary burlesque shows like Land of the Sweets?  The opening of the show is what hooks the audience, and this show has a great hook!

So Ladies and Gentlemen, if you like stories about love goddesses being seduced into returning to Earth from the Underworld, revel in watching mortals find sexual enlightenment, or just happen to be a fan of T&A, Sinner Saint Burlesque’s “Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic” is right up your alley.  For you burlesque aficionados, BSSM has a bit of classic, a bit of neo, a spoonful of theatricality, a pinch of punk rock and a healthy dose of raw, in your face sexuality.  I said it before, it’s one helluva of spell, and the Sinner Saints cast it well.

You can catch Sinner Saint Burlesque every Thursday night at The Noc Noc in Downtown Seattle, and I suggest you do!  “Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic” will run through July 26^th! More information at: http://www.facebook.com/events/188558204603273/

Loves!

~ Fosse Jack

Behind the Pasties: A Burlesque Mockumentary

For the next five weeks you have the opportunity to experience an artistic experiment as conceived by Seattle’s longest running weekly burlesque revue.  Sinner Saint Burlesque, at The Noc Noc, is branching out, theatrically speaking, with a new, entertaining and highly promising show.

Behind the Pasties: A Burlesque Mockumentary gives the audience a peak behind the scenes of Sinner Saint Burlesque.  Host Diva le Deviant dialogues with the audience and with ‘BQ1 interviewer’ Aman, the Chocolate Boy-Wonder, about the history, pre-show rituals, inner secrets and foibles of this troupe of glittering artists.

The audience is told the tale of how Evilyn Sin Claire became known as ‘The Wild Child.’ We are shown how Dona De Couri overcame her insecurities, and like in the story of the ugly duckling, discovered her own beauty, and glamour.  We learn a bit about the secret kinks of the Debutante of Derriere, Lady TaTas, and are made privy to the hard work and the various trials that burlesque artists undertake in training, glamorizing and making their onstage personas… stick.  And for last night's audience, we were given a "where is she now" look at one of SSB's former Sweet Hearts, the 'Martha Graham of Hip Hop', Randi Rascal.

On the surface, Behind the Pasties is standard fare for those who have become accustomed to Sinner Saint’s work.  The individual performances are well executed, sexy, fun and appropriately rhinestoned.  Diva le Deviant is her usual, “Bitch in Charge” self, full of biting wit, and good-natured, over-sexed humor.  Fellow performers, and those intimately connected to burlesque artists will be rewarded with some humorously acted inside jokes, and asides.  In fact the addition of comedic tableaus and mini sketches were my favorite parts of the show.

The emcee-interviewer dialogue added depth to the audience experience, as did, the participation of audience members in a ‘love poem’ from SSB to their fans.  These together with Diva's 'motherly' and affectionate overtures to the audience gave the show the feel of Roxie’s parting line from Chicago, “Thank you, we could not have done it without you!”

Look a little closer, and you might find that ‘Behind the Pasties’ is not yet a finished product.  It is an experiment, or test run, a first draft of something really awesome in the making.  While it is a fun and entertaining show in its current state, it is my hope that the ladies of Sinner Saint Burlesque will continue to develop this show.  I would love to see more history (or comedic pseudo-history), more group sketch work, and eventually I would love to hear the individual voices of the Sinner Saints themselves.

I would encourage Seattle burlesque fans, and fellow performers, to check this show out.  Sinner Saint Burlesque is an ongoing part of Seattle burlesque history. It is due to both the hard work and dedication of the artists, and the love of viewers like you that theirs is a story of success.

Sinner Saint Burlesque performs every Thursday night at The Noc Noc, in Downtown Seattle. Behind the Pasties will run for another five weeks.  For more information you can check them out at http://www.facebook.com/SinnerSaintBurlesque.  As a self-declared SSB fanboy, I don't ask you take my word for it, but I do ask you to see for yourself.

Loves!

~ Fosse Jack

Upcoming Shows to Start the New Year!

Happy New Year Dear Ones!


So after a tumultuous end to 2011, I am back and am excited to make my first post of 2012. What better way to start off the New Year with a sneak peak at an upcoming show? Well a sneak peak at several upcoming shows, of courses!

The first coming up is the closing night of DARK MATTER, Sinner Saint Burlesque’s latest burlesque revue. Thursday night will be the last performance of this run, and the last time you will get to see the Ladies of SSB before they jet-set to London for a 2 month run at The Brickhouse! Join host Delilah, and performers Evilyn Sin Claire, Lady Tatas, Jesse Belle-Jones, and Polly Wood as they explore the darker side of the universe, world, and femininity.

DARK MATTER

I know you are asking yourselves: What?! The luscious ladies of Sinner Saint Burlesque are going to be gone for TWO MONTHS? What will we do on our Thursday’s nights? Well the answer is simple, you are going to keep going to SSB’s weekly revue and see some pretty awesome guest artists

! To start this extravaganza of Sinner Saint’s Friends and Family will be another of Seattle’s hottest troupes: MOD CAROUSEL!

Join the Luminous Pariah, the Paris Original, the Trojan Original, and the lovely Leeni, with SSB’s Dona de Cuori rounding out the line up with those luscious hips and shapely legs! With so much sexiness on stage, this is a show you don’t want to miss!


MOD CAROUSEL

Finally, one more show to put on your calendar will be your first chance to see me performer this year! Resolutions: A Burlesque and Drag Review Show is the lasted production by Vixen Valentine and Beatrice Belladona. This one is going to be a performer’s choice show, so anything could happen. The lineup includes: Vixen Valentine, Beatrice Belladona, Ursula Major, Sara Dippidty, Chesty LaRue and more. And hosting this grab bag of burlesque will be The Glamorous Gal With The Golden Gullet, Gams Galore!

Resolutions: A Burlesque and Drag Review Show

A lot can and will happen this year so make sure you get out and make the best of it! Hope to see you at one or all of these shows!

Loves!

~ Fosse Jack

Sinner Saint Burlesque Presents: DARK MATTER

Sinner Saint Burlesque’s current show DARK MATTER is an exploration of the darker side of the soul; a journey through the “cosmos” in search of something that cannot be found externally because it only exists within our minds. It features a variety of burlesque acts, a few old favorites and several new pieces. Last night Evilyn Sin Claire, Dona Dei Cuori, Jesse Belle-Jones, and Polly Wood performed (Sorry I missed you Tatas!) with internationally known belly dancer, Delilah as host.

As a host Delilah is charming, if a little scattered. She approached the audience with good natured humor and shared some interesting “dark matter” facts. I would have liked a little more introductory info with certain acts, Dona’s especially could have used some extra set up (I thought the Alistair Crowley bit and “the beast” would have been great to elaborate on!). I would have also loved for her to play more with the “woman of the night” and less with the pirate captain schtick, but I have never been able to share Seattle’s obsession with pirates. I also feel that in act three when she let the piratic-affectation go to talk of life and death she seemed the most natural and comfortable. More please! Also more dancing, I very much enjoyed watching you!

Jesse Belle-Jones’ acts, her “Straight Jacket” number and her “Cycles” act (not sure what she calls it) were both exquisite. She explored and embraced the 'dark' aspects of femininity such as the strictures that society and psychology put on the female mind and the fact that women’s bodies rebel against them once a month. I have long believed that by embracing the difficulties pressed upon you, the evils so to speak, rather than fighting them, causes them lose their power over you. These were excellent and beautiful examples of embracing these trials and finding empowerment in them.

Polly Wood’s acts, the “Whore of Babylon” and “Soldier’s Wife” also explored the dark aspects of the soul. In one she delivers death to the “faithful” and finds pleasure in their blood, in the other she prepares both herself and her love for the death that is inevitable. I would have really liked to see a 'body' in the first act, but I'm not sure if thats in the 'sweet hearts' job description.  (Hey Polly, let me know if you want to kill me on stage!)  The Soldier’s Wife is especially powerful and I am glad she brought this one back. It makes me cry every time I see it.

Dona De Cuori explored the dark side of spirituality (or perhaps spiritual identity?) and the transformative power of death. In her “Beast” act she portrayed a shamanistic revelry or ecstasy as first, she was the beast, and then found her passion in the beast. Her “Black Feathers” act featured a fan powered ‘inferno’ and showed the dark, bestial, side of her being burned away to reveal her humanity beneath. I would have liked for her to take her head piece off, and complete the transformation.

Evilyn Sin Claire showed us the dark side of everyday life, specifically the extent to which our society will seek excuses for ‘illicit behavior’ in this case, Ambien. Fortunately Evilyn doesn’t need the excuse of “the pills made me do it” to tease and tantalize us with those vivacious curves! Her final act, embraces “The End”. An exploration of Mayan eschatology, and the movement toward the end of that calendar and the birth of a possible new age, this act is (and leads into) the piece de resistance of DARK MATTER.

As a whole DARK MATTER is an entertaining, and thoughtful revue. The individual acts are of SSB’s usually professional quality and with some polishing and streamlining of segues the show could be among their strongest.

In case you didn’t know SSB will be leaving Seattle for spell in January 2012 (to grace London with their presence!), so DARK MATTER will be the last run most of us will have the privilege of experiencing till they get back in early March. Check it out folks, this one makes you think! (I also have it on good authority that when Lady Tatas is back, she will be reprising her "Toddlers and Tiaras" act... which is one of these creepiest things I've seen on stage!)

Loves!

Fosse Jack

Upcoming Shows: Sinner Saint Burlesque

My name is Jim and I’m a Furry.

You might say that the first step in exploring your kinks is to admit you have them. I’m gonna admit the hell out of mine!

I’m a Furry. I use words like yiff, yiffy, scritch, pounce, paw and furpile. I have a fursona, a fictional incarnation of my inner critter. His name is Ash, and he’s a Vulpine. I think Anthros are sexy. When gene-tech is advanced enough I am seriously considering getting a tail, an upswept little number that matches my hair… the verdict is still out on the sheath… that’s a bit more ‘re-constructive’ than I’m ready to tackle.

Anyways, do you get it? Do you understand what a Furry is? Do they scare you? Well they shouldn’t because we aren’t scary. We’re a friendly bunch, and for the most part are yiffers not fighters.

If you understand my kink, you’ll better understand my excitement as I recommend Sinner Saint Burlesque’s next show: ANIMALIA!

SSB first performed the show about a year and a half-ago and my boyfriend and I went to see it (Qevin’s a total Furry too). We loved it. Seeing some of my favorite ladies rocking fur, feathers, scales and what have you, will be something I will always remember, and my tail is wagging furiously at the thought of seeing this show again.

From Jesse Belle-Jones’ purr-worthy, puma, to Lady TaTas delightfully goofy flamingo, and Polly Wood’s adorable fruit bat, to Dona de Couri’s own take on history, and Evilyn Sinclaire’s celebrity impersonation, it’s gonna be a yifftastic furpile of burlesque babes!

What’s even cooler is that, according to my intel, Flirty Sanchez is hosting this run. If you haven’t seen Flirty host, you should! She is amazing and I am really looking forward to seeing what she comes up with. Will she rock an inner critter? I hope so, cause I want to see what hers is! I’m thinking Coyote, personally but we shall see!

So ladies and gentlemen, friends and lovers, I do hope you get to see Sinner Saint Burlesque Present ANIMALIA! It opens this Thursday night, 9:30pm and will run for several weeks at The Noc Noc, Downtown. (Tixs are $15 at the Door.)

Scritches!

Fosse Jack

Sinner Saint Burlesque Presents "POP CULTURE"

After a month of being super broke (meh) I finally made it out to another show! Yeah.  Of course, the fan boy that I am Sinner Saint Burlesque was my destination, and just in time because opening night of "Pop Culture" was a really fun show.

The evening was hosted by guest comedienne/actor Adra Boo, who shinned on stage in all her curvacious glory.  Adra's banter with the audience was both excellently executed and very well received.  She stayed focused, filled time, and did all of the other things you expect a good host to do.  Sinner Saint lost a gem when Nicole Lucas moved to Texas, but Adra is a beautiful jewel to help decorate the SSB stage, at least for this run.  I am excited to see how various guest hosts work with the team as they progress this year.

(Ok so this review is turning flowery quick.  I apologize if my language turns all Cyrano on you.)

As one might expect "Pop Culture" covers a wide expanse of material.  Touching on music, dance, technology, celebrity, television, and even childhood memories, this show has quite the variety of performance.  One critique is that such diversity makes an arc or flow difficult to maintain.  It is the danger of "themed" shows, either they mesh really well together or they feel a little disjointed.  Pop Culture walked the line between the two, but this balancing act be no means distracted from the performances.

As for the performances themselves, I will highlight four of them.

As the first act of the show Dona De Cuori brought back to the stage a number I have reviewed in the past.  As Terpsichore, the Greek Muse of Dance, Dona took the audience on musical history tour of popular culture.  I feel that this number has greatly improved since I first saw it, the flow was smoother, and the motivations leading to reveals were more clear.  As a performer Dona has grown a lot this past year, and I have enjoyed watching this creative journey!

Polly Wood's first number of the evening started the ongoing banter about "sexting" that would provide a tenuous but well used arc for the show.  Appearing on stage as a stripper more interested in her cell phone and texts than in removing her clothes for the audience, it takes a rather special message to get her excited about both.  A friend of mine once said that the difference between burlesque and "stripping" was that strippers perform for the audience while burlesque perform for themselves.  Well in this number Polly stripped for the audience but the texts for her alone. :-)

Lady Tatas presented an act that wins "Most Disturbing Performance" of the evening, and likely one of the most disturbing that I've seen. Period.  Tatas comes out on stage in a long sleeved, short skirted ensemble, bedecked in sequins and performance a slightly awkward dance piece to Britney's Like A Circus.  At first you're like...WTF? But then down she falls, and out comes Polly Wood as the "quintessential" stage mother, and as money dangles just above reach, and Tatas goes from princess to stripper you realize just what she is commenting on, and while the audience laughed...I shuddered.  Well done Tatas, this was a great number, and as social commentary it was excellent.

Evilyn's second piece, proved that as with all aspects of pop culture... not everyone gets the reference, in this case hit television show LOST, Evilyn's number was wildly popular with the crowd, but unfortunately... I didn't know the show well enough to get it.  However, after I described the act to my boy, he filled me in, and in retrospect I applaud Evilyn for hitting the nail on the head.  I won't ruin any surprises, but if you are a Lost fan, you should definitely see this act.  For those who don't know Lost, take a friend who does so they can fill you in. :-)

Sinner Saint's Pop Culture is an evening of performances referencing things well known, and esoteric, obvious and obscure.  From favorite childhood Disney films, to Liz Taylor, to Tron... The Sinner Saints cover a lot of ground.  It's a ride with several scenic detours, but the journey is both enjoyable and informative, and the destination illuminating.

Loves,
Fosse Jack

SSB: Forces of Nature

Forces of Nature, the show currently running at the Noc Noc on Thursday nights is a tour de force for the ladies of Sinner Saint Burlesque.  Featuring a mix of new material, and a few old favorites, this show is sure to please their regular crowds as well as any newcomers. Hosted by Elsa Von Schmaltz, regular host of Seattle's NGR, this show is all about nature, the elements and the primal energy of the women on stage.

From SSB's newest member, Dona Dei Cuori demonstrating the effect that gravity has on apples... and brassieres, to its most senior member, Evilyn Sin Claire personifying the delicate beauty and raw sexual energy of spring, each member of Sinner Saint brings something unique to the table.

While each act, from Elsa's Bollywood performance, to Jesse Belle Jones' search for the perfect aphrodisiac, were superb, three numbers in particular are worthy of special attention. 

The first is a classic strip tease, by Lady TaTas, who steps on stage in a full length mermaid gown. A scintillating array of orange and yellows dazzling our eyes, and a billowy blue parasol lends the image of sea foam.  From her dress, and parasol various examples of vibrantly colored sea life are plucked off teasingly and tossed to the side.  At one point, from her cleavage she pulls... well I'll let it be a surprise, but if you sit in the front row you might find yourself moistened.  Embodying the vibrant life of a coral reef, Lady TaTas channels the energy of the sea with such conviction that even a pasty malfunction cannot distract her from the joie de vivre.

The second number of note, performed by Polly Wood, is a Graham-esque modern dance piece embodying the endless, whirling energy of a hurricane.  Though she remains "fully clothed" through the entire piece, Polly gives hints, and glimpses of her nakedness beneath the flowing circular dress that hangs gracefully from her body.  While not "burlesque" as it is typically understood this is a beautiful tribute to the art forms that have gone before and influenced the movement of neo-burlesque.

The third number is by SSB's own Wild Child, Evilyn Sin Claire. It is a number dedicated to one of the more powerful geologic forces in the world, the volcano.  Evilyn smolders, smokes, erupts and flows, following in the arc of her act, the threat, explosion and cool down of a great volcano.  Elements of her extensive belly dance background show through, as her hips, moving in a thick, fluid motion, give the audience the vision of a lava flow.  The use of beautiful flame colored fans provides an exiting flurry of motion and color, giving us a volcanoclastic explosion.  Finally, her majesty revealed, the volcano rests, but the subtle plumes of smoke remind us that she is not yet dormant.

There was a fourth act, performed by Jesse Belle Jones, that was particularly striking to me, and is likely my favorite of the piece performed over the course of the evening, but its place among the Forces of Nature still eludes me.  Described as "crumbling" this piece featured elegant and torturous isolations, beautiful extensions, and a sparkling jewel studded gown.  It seemed to be to embody the entropic forces of the world, or perhaps it represented the constant struggle and balance of the cosmos, stars and other forces pulling upon each other.  There were elements of pain in the body language, but not pain cause by decay, rather the pain of creation.  Or perhaps I am reading too much into it.  I have been promised by Ms. Jones to be let in on mind behind the act, and until then it will be the mystery of the Forces of Nature that I will ponder longest.

As anyone who reads my blog will tell you, I am an SSB fanboy, perhaps my praise of the show is biased, regardless I strongly encourage you to see Forces of Nature while it is playing.

Loves,

Fosse Jack

The NocNoc, Down Town Seattle

http://www.clubnocnoc.com/

Sinner Saint Burlesque

http://www.sinnersaintburlesque.com/

Sinner Saint Burlesque presents "VAUDEVILLE!"

Opening Night

As I sit down to write this review I find myself at a loss. How can you describe something which is best enjoyed in the moment, where the unexpected is so much a part of the experience? To describe in any detail the acts in Sinner Saints' new show would almost be a disservice, yet I feel the need to say more than just 'go see it' which you should!

Since I first started going to their shows about a year ago, Sinner Saint has been my favorite burlesque troupe, and several of the members of SSB rank among my favorite performers in Seattle. Talent, creativity and masterful stage presence... These women have it all.

From Nicole Lucas' wit, self deprecating, fearless humor, to Evilyn Sin Claire's powerful sensuality, smoldering eyes and aura of latent danger to Lolita 'Tatas' Valentino's natural charm, sass and affected awkwardness, to Polly Wood's class and expert versatility, there is something in this show for everyone.

While all of the women at Sinner Saint are noteworthy, I feel that this show highlights the talents of three in particular.

Dona Dei Cuori is a newcomer to SSB. Dona has shown herself equal to her peers in both talent and comedic timing. Her CanCan number is particularly enjoyable and her glove removal and boa wrangling in her strip tease act was awesome. I look forward to seeing what else she will bring to the table.

Jesse Belle Jones spreads her wings in this show highlighting talents only briefly explored before. Both her acts are flawless and as the Bitchy Belle of Savannah G A she is a solid class act. It is her non burlesque (in the modern sense) that is why I urge you to pay attention to the Modern Sexual Intellectual. I won't ruin the surprise but I fell in love with her a little because of it!

The final performer I will highlight is the Pint Size Powerhouse, Whiskey Bliss. I first saw Whiskey as the Punk Rockcoon in Animalia and I was very impressed, this show bumps my opinion up a couple of notches above a bar set high to start. Both her burlesque performances and her vocal (girl's got pipes!) one were superb. My favorite thing about her performances, in both cases, is the expressiveness of her face. She is hysterical!

My words do the ladies at Sinner Saint little justice but let me make clear my enthusiastic love for this troupe! Seriously, they are my favorite for a reason. I hope that you get a chance to see this show. It is an homage to the founding of burlesque and as I said there is something for everyone at VAUDEVILLE!

Sinner Saint Burlesque
Thursdays 9PM Door/9:30 Show

NocNoc
1516 2nd Ave
Seattle, WA

http://www.sinnersaintburlesque.com/#