LittleMsSunshine
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New Noise: Dita Von Teese: Strip, Strip, Hooray!
Having never seen a true burlesque performance, I was looking forward to popping my “burlesque cherry” with a performance by none other than the reigning Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese. Ms. Von Teese and her cast performed at the Fillmore in San Francisco for four consecutive nights, and I was fortunate enough to catch the last night of her sold-out San Francisco performance.
Drag king, Murray Hill, hosted the show and warmed up the crowd with many jokes; it seemed like an extra special night, as Prop 8 had finally been overturned in California earlier that week. Once Murray got the crowd going, he quickly disappeared behind the curtain. The lights dimmed, the curtains opened to reveal a smoking Dita Von Teese leaning against a crystal encrusted martini glass. She was wearing a full tuxedo complete with top hat. She slowly looked up at the crowd and began singing her rendition of “A Guy What Takes His Time,” once performed by the legendary Mae West.
Von Teese sensually and methodically began unbuttoning her tuxedo jacket as she seductively strutted across the stage, each movement graceful and precise. Still singing, she coyly removed another layer with the assistance of her “Vontourage,” revealing a crystal adorned corset, accentuating her famed 16.5 inch waist. With each ribbon she untied, she playfully looked at the crowd as they yearned for more, slowly stripping down to display a pair of crystal pasties (with matching panties), exhibiting her flawless body.
On the stage, you could see Von Teese’s famous martini glass, covered in over 250,000 Swarovski crystals. As she finished singing her song, she elegantly ascended the steps next to the martini glass and slowly slid in. She finished the act by merrily splashing around in the martini glass, periodically squeezing a giant sponge-like olive over her.
As the curtains closed, the audience applauded, and Murray Hill took the stage again to introduce the next performer – the voluptuous Dirty Martini. Ms. Martini definitely knew how to work her curves and proved it by displaying her amazing tassel twirling skills; so amazing, she even managed to accidentally twirl one tassel completely off! But as Murray Hill reminded us, “Hey – that’s showbiz!”
The vaudevillian performance included burlesque artists from around the world, also featuring: Catherine D’Lish, Lada Nikolska, Selene Luna, and even some “Boy-lesque” for the ladies – Monsieur Romeo and Prince Poppycock. Each performer added their own unique element to the show. While some performances were a bit more comical (such as those by Selene Luna, Prince Poppycock, and even the end of Monsieur Romeo’s bit), each performance was tasteful, elegant, and extremely sexy.
Von Teese performed three other acts that night including the “Rhinestone Cowgirl,” the “Gilded Birdcage,” and the closing act, “The Opium Den.” I spoke with various fans and staff members at the venue and was disappointed to learn that the act performed that night (and the three nights before that) was exactly the same as last year – jokes and all. A few fans who had caught her performance last year had stated that had they had known the performance was going to be the same as it was last year, they probably would not have come out to see her perform this year. However, it should be noted that each person I spoke with thoroughly enjoyed the show and thought the $40 ticket price was well worth it.
Each performance, costume, and set was so intricate it must be difficult (not to mention expensive, as some sets cost up to $80k!!!) to create a new set performance. For example, the “Rhinestone Cowgirl” act featured Von Teese in a full cowgirl outfit covered in Swarovski crystals, while she rides a mechanical bull that boasts of six foot long pink Swarovski crystal encrusted horns.
All in all, I enjoyed the performance a lot and would recommend seeing it if it comes to your town.
Word of advice: Wear comfortable shoes. I decided to don my four inch heels and regretted that decision before I even got in the door. Thankfully, the Fillmore served plenty of booze so that I could drink the pain away during the 90-minute performance.
pocketvenus.wordpress.com
Having never seen a true burlesque performance, I was looking forward to popping my “burlesque cherry” with a performance by none other than the reigning Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese. Ms. Von Teese and her cast performed at the Fillmore in San Francisco for four consecutive nights, and I was fortunate enough to catch the last night of her sold-out San Francisco performance.
Drag king, Murray Hill, hosted the show and warmed up the crowd with many jokes; it seemed like an extra special night, as Prop 8 had finally been overturned in California earlier that week. Once Murray got the crowd going, he quickly disappeared behind the curtain. The lights dimmed, the curtains opened to reveal a smoking Dita Von Teese leaning against a crystal encrusted martini glass. She was wearing a full tuxedo complete with top hat. She slowly looked up at the crowd and began singing her rendition of “A Guy What Takes His Time,” once performed by the legendary Mae West.
Von Teese sensually and methodically began unbuttoning her tuxedo jacket as she seductively strutted across the stage, each movement graceful and precise. Still singing, she coyly removed another layer with the assistance of her “Vontourage,” revealing a crystal adorned corset, accentuating her famed 16.5 inch waist. With each ribbon she untied, she playfully looked at the crowd as they yearned for more, slowly stripping down to display a pair of crystal pasties (with matching panties), exhibiting her flawless body.
On the stage, you could see Von Teese’s famous martini glass, covered in over 250,000 Swarovski crystals. As she finished singing her song, she elegantly ascended the steps next to the martini glass and slowly slid in. She finished the act by merrily splashing around in the martini glass, periodically squeezing a giant sponge-like olive over her.
As the curtains closed, the audience applauded, and Murray Hill took the stage again to introduce the next performer – the voluptuous Dirty Martini. Ms. Martini definitely knew how to work her curves and proved it by displaying her amazing tassel twirling skills; so amazing, she even managed to accidentally twirl one tassel completely off! But as Murray Hill reminded us, “Hey – that’s showbiz!”
The vaudevillian performance included burlesque artists from around the world, also featuring: Catherine D’Lish, Lada Nikolska, Selene Luna, and even some “Boy-lesque” for the ladies – Monsieur Romeo and Prince Poppycock. Each performer added their own unique element to the show. While some performances were a bit more comical (such as those by Selene Luna, Prince Poppycock, and even the end of Monsieur Romeo’s bit), each performance was tasteful, elegant, and extremely sexy.
Von Teese performed three other acts that night including the “Rhinestone Cowgirl,” the “Gilded Birdcage,” and the closing act, “The Opium Den.” I spoke with various fans and staff members at the venue and was disappointed to learn that the act performed that night (and the three nights before that) was exactly the same as last year – jokes and all. A few fans who had caught her performance last year had stated that had they had known the performance was going to be the same as it was last year, they probably would not have come out to see her perform this year. However, it should be noted that each person I spoke with thoroughly enjoyed the show and thought the $40 ticket price was well worth it.
Each performance, costume, and set was so intricate it must be difficult (not to mention expensive, as some sets cost up to $80k!!!) to create a new set performance. For example, the “Rhinestone Cowgirl” act featured Von Teese in a full cowgirl outfit covered in Swarovski crystals, while she rides a mechanical bull that boasts of six foot long pink Swarovski crystal encrusted horns.
All in all, I enjoyed the performance a lot and would recommend seeing it if it comes to your town.
Word of advice: Wear comfortable shoes. I decided to don my four inch heels and regretted that decision before I even got in the door. Thankfully, the Fillmore served plenty of booze so that I could drink the pain away during the 90-minute performance.
pocketvenus.wordpress.com
