Burlesque at its raunchiest and most imaginative as Moon leads us on the Stairway to Swedish Heaven
The Swedish Housewife tried something new last night, and it is always refreshing to see artists refuse to rest on their laurels and repeat what works, but attempt something new - and in doing so take a risk of failure.
With that in mind, I attended House of the Unholy - An Evening of Led Zeppelin Burlesque last night at the Triple Door. An eight piece band performed on an elevated rock like formation at the back of the stage. That's right performed live. The five of the musicians were the Mighty Arms of Atlas (Loren Dutton, Tim Sharpe, Nick Rheinhart, Tor Mitskog and Charlie Lorme), and in front of the were the Sirens on the Rocks, Scott Shoemaker, Nick Garrison and the small but perfectly formed Jen Ayers.
In front of them, but restricted to half the stage they are used to at the TD, some of Seattle's best known Burlesque performers produced something far more risque, and far more unashamedly sexual, than I have seen before. Not that Burlesque is ever for the easily offended, but this show is a little more brazen, but all the more enjoyable for it. They did say it was going to be Unholy.
Some of the city's best known performers were on the roll call, and it was a too rare privilege to see two of the best, Miss Indigo Blue and Lily Verlaine, performing together in "In My Time of Dying", perhaps on the night just about my favourite turn, but I am admittedly partial to both these ladies. I will admit to not being a Zeppelin aficionado although I did appreciate the giant Hindenburg behind the performers.
Whereas, Paula the Swedish Housewife produced the show, much of the choreography can be attributed to a Seattle burlesque legend, Waxie Moon. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything choreographed by him previously, but it House of the Unholy is anything to go by, I think would remember. Waxie unashamedly put the boat out on this one, with acts of sexual pleasure occasionally though tastefully portrayed. No combination of the genders was missed, but it was never superfluous, and on every occasion fitted it in neatly with the music and the rest of the number. I'm glad to say that despite his duties as choreographer, he didn't drop his adoring public's demand to see him perform. He graced "Dazed and Confused" especially but like a true pro, he allowed other stars to shine, and this is one of the things I like best about burlesque. Whether it's Waxie, Paula or Lily Verlaine producing the show, they are always over generous in making sure everyone has a place in the spotlight. Lastly on Mr Moon, in a genre where it's still the females who normally pull in the numbers, Waxie, perhaps along with Ernie von Schmalz, remains an attraction and a star to every demographic, gender and orientation.
Several other numbers caught the eye, "Kashmir" starred Lily Verlaine, Paris Original, Hetro-Flexable, Polly Wood, and Heidi Von Haught.
Leroi the Girl Boi, a New York based performer with burlesque roots in Seattle, was a welcome addition. Such is Seattle's reputation as a burlesque town, that there seems to be a regular flow of outsiders willing to travel here to perform, transforming Seattle into a kind of "Off Broadway of Burlesque". With Indigo Blue, she shared in "Lemon Song", another of the night's most enjoyable turns, containing their unashamed portrayal of the line, "Squeeze me baby, till the juice runs down my leg." Look out for it, girls have such fun at our expense!
Inga Ingenue was the last of the familiar names and she graced a couple of the numbers including "House of the Holy". Overall, this was inventive and sensual, fans of burlesque will not be disappointed, because there is plenty of the traditional burlesque-style material to leave you satiated, but the live band, the interaction and the general raunchiness of the choreography ensure that this could never be just another burlesque show, if there is such a thing.
The finale (pictured above) was both hilarious and very very Swedish. Rather like Monty Python's Spam sketch meets Cabaret meets the Emmanuel film they never quite got round to releasing. Quite quite imagintaive, and incredibly funny.
You have two days left to see this. Those re-runs of Law and Order will still be there when you get back. Get out your own house, and enter Paula's House of the Unholy tonight.
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