Wait, a burlesque vaudeville? What do you mean? I hear you ask. Let me tell you. The story is told as a standard play - talking, moving about in character, dialogue, then suddenly it stops and a character (or two or three) step forward and do a number. What sort of number? Well, mainly burlesque (a very classy and sometimes hilarious strip tease), but sometimes a pole act, or silks, or lyra (a single hoop suspended like a trapeze), or even a bellydance. Now, does this act contribute to the story? Sometimes, yes. Does it contribute to the character growth, or the arc of the character? Again, sometimes, yes. If you are thinking - well, it only sometimes moves the story along, or makes the characters more interesting so why do it - let me tell you. It is amazing fun!! And what more could you want? A very fun story, with large characters that sometimes stop the show and strip....then put a layer of clothing on and continue with where they left off. Sometimes that is exactly what you need in your theater-going life, and possibly just in life in general.
You all should know the story of the film. Various people who are totally unrelated are invited to a spooky mansion on a rainy night. They are told to not reveal who they really are but instead to go by code names - all in various colors. During the course of the evening they find out they are all being blackmailed by one person - Mr. Boddy, who ends up being killed. The rest of the evening is them all trying to figure out who killed him, and who is killing off other characters, and why. Leading and controlling this whole evening is the butler Wadsworth.
For this production a few characters were created and added, including a great love triangle. Beyond that the script sticks fairly close to the film. You have Mrs. White (Hussy Hautepants) has a great burlesque (strip tease) to "Kill of the Night." If you ever get a chance to see her perform, do it. You can't take your eyes off of her. The butler Wadsworth (Tiff Dynamite) has the final number of the show. A unique take on Sinatra's "My Way" that I'm certain you won't forget. Mrs. Peacock (Tawny John) gets a chance to take some layers off, get some things off her chest, and chair dance to "Bourbon in your eyes." The things she does during this number...wow. Professor Plum (Harlett O'Scara) starts of the show with a wonderful burlesque to the song "Two Ladies" - and yes...he dances with two ladies. Such a fun number and a great way to start the show. Following her is the very talented and very funny Mr. Green (Kit Vicious) doing a chair/strip to another Kander & Ebb song "Razzle Dazzle." And wow - does he dazzle. Mr. Green does some amazing moves during this number - so hot and so fun. Colonel Mustard (Haywire) and Miss Scarlet (Jac Fatale) have a fantastic duet to the Post-Modern Jukebox version of that classic song - "The Thong Song." The energy between these two performers is so good! It rolls off both of them and energizes the audience. Those are the main characters that you would know from the game and mostly from the film.
The secondary characters are no less interesting and fun. Beyond being in a great group number towards the top of the show, some of the secondary/new characters also had their own numbers. For example, the cook (Velvet Vendetta) closes act one with a burlesque to "Corns for my country" - I believe by the Andrews Sisters. I had never heard the song before but it worked out perfectly, and was unexpected, and seeing what was done with that number...I won't be forgetting that song. The maid Yvette (Dalliance Doll) is a joy to watch at anytime. To see her do a fan dance is something everyone should experience at one point in their lives. Such a flirt, yet keeping it so classy and gorgeous. The motorist whose care breaks down and needs to make a phone call - well he also gets to strip. Ace Splay does a charming burlesque to the Chuck Berry song "No Money Down." You have the Singing Telegram girl (Lily de Brasserie) comes in towards the end of the show, finds the house supposedly empty and take advantage to show off her burlesque skills to Sinatra's "Live till I die." The final character from the film who also makes an appearance on stage is the cop. Played by The Real Matt Davis, the cop gets a fantastic number with so much comedy in it. The song is "Hell" by the Squirrel Nut Zippers - which is an appropriate band name considering how much the cop pulls out of his pockets, digging into them as if digging for nuts. I never thought one man could wear and take off as many layers of underwear as he did in this number. Classic and hilarious....all in prep to climb the pole and show off his incredible skills and muscle. I always enjoy watching him perform - so inventive.
There are a few more characters that were added to provide some other skills, as well as utilize more of the Wicked Wenches troupe. There is a love triangle between the Scottish gardner (Pussy Willow), a Russian bodyguard (Lo Blo), and Rose - a fortune teller (Candelora). The three of them do something I have never seen which is a trio...except they were all using different skills. The song was "Bad Romance" as performed by the Post Modern Jukebox. Rose was bellydancing, the bodyguard (whose character name I honestly don't know as there was no program) was doing magic on the red silks, and the gardner (whose character name I actually forgot...sorry) was on the lyra. All three doing their thing while also interacting with each other and all ending on the lyra. What a great idea for a number. The other added character was Prince Azure (Raven De'Mure) who has a number during the re-enactment. Remember that part of the film when Wadsworth is running around the house showing how all the murders took place and who was responsible? Well that plays out on stage with the very fast-talking Wadsworth leading the cast around the set. He (and the cast) get a break while Prince Azure does a burlesque (and a few lewd looking actions to a prone Boddy) during a jazz version of Fiona Apple's song "Criminal."
Here is the clincher for me - there is SO MUCH creativity on that stage. I have seen a lot of shows at the Minnsky Theater. Every time I have seen a Wicked Wenches show there, they totally transform the space. Physically (for this show) they set a small half-door in the vom, as well as covering up the usual first tier of playing space to create one large space at the top of some stairs. This attic is labeled, as well as each room being labeled on the floor so it reminds you of the board game, while also keeping you in mind of where everyone is at one time. The Wenches continually show creativity in their space, and in all the various parts of the production. From the standard burlesque to adding a brief pole number, to a trio between three different skill sets - each show I have seen is smart, funny, sometimes heartwarming, and sexy as hell. So if you have never experienced a Burlesque show and don't know if you want to see act after act after act (as you may at some 'standard' Burlesque shows), please go see a show by the Wicked Wenches Cabaret. You will see some great Burlesque Art while having a great time. And if you want to know more about how to learn those skills... ExperTease Fitness is one place to start.
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