|
|
 |
| Volume 11, No. 49 |
September 1-7, 2010 |
|
|
| | Peepshow offers peek at things pretty, shocking | | By Danielle Urbina | | 
It is vintage yet seductive, and daring all the same; a show that brings back fishnets and curvy bodies boasting a whole lot of body art. It’s a sexy, fun show that the Pretty Things Productions burlesque performers are bringing to El Paso.
On Friday the traveling burlesque sideshow will be making a stop at Bombardiers in West El Paso as part of a 65-city tour that started off in May and will end in August in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“We kicked it off my birthday week and it has been a crazy party ever since,” says co-founder Go-Go Amy.
It’s easy to think of a burlesque sideshow as just a few performers made up to look like Betty Page, prancing around in corsets and tassles, but this particular vaudeville show is more like an entertaining circus for adults – with beautiful performers.
Run by Amy and fellow pin-up sensation Bettina May, the show is a thrilling collaboration of seduction and dangerous feats. They’ve been doing it since January of 2009.
“It’s a variety show, so it’s more of a vaudeville show then a straight-up burlesque or sideshow,” Go-Go Amy says. “It’s got a little something for everyone. Thrills, chills, fabulous costumes and beautiful ladies doing acts that will amaze you.”
Among the feats are fire eating, whip cracking, sword swallowing and a straightjacket escape performed by one of the male performers. The show also features what performers call the Chinese Execution Blade Box, in which a contortionist contorts her body around jagged blades (the audience is later invited to come up and see).
In addition to amazing stunts, the show also features a singer all the way from Fayetteville, N.C., who calls herself Bonnie Voyage.
“She sings up such a storm they just named a hurricane after her!” Go-Go Amy says.
Although some of the more modern acts are highly anticipated, the show does also adhere to the original, more traditional type of burlesque talent that was seen back in the ’30s.
“A lot of people are getting into the look and style of vintage burlesque and pin-up,” she says, “It’s been underground for quite some time, but it is really starting to break into the mainstream.”
Pretty Things Productions promises an exclusive, one-of-a-kind show for each city it passes through. What can El Paso expect? Without giving too much away, expect the full show, without any censors.
“We’ve done all-ages events and festivals that want us to do a tame version of the show, but you guys are getting the real deal since it will be at a night club,” she says.
All these acts are performed by Pretty Things’ stellar cast of burlesque starlets, who Go-Go Amy says are “more seasoned than chicken colonel.” They include a fire performer tattooed from head to toe, a petite sword swallower, the “midget of mischief” and many others.
The sideshow is on the road ten months out of the year, but that doesn’t stop them from making notable appearances elsewhere. Performers in the production have been seen in music videos with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and 50 Cent and in shows like “Miami Ink” and “Ripley’s Believe it or Not.”
“All the performers in The Pretty Things Peepshow are professionals. They work for me part of the year and also take other booking with other shows,” says Go-Go Amy, “One of the drawbacks of having the best in the business on your show is that you have to share them, but at least it makes the show different on every tour so people can keep coming back again and again. And they’ll always get a new show.”
Pretty Things Peepshow
Bombardiers, 109 E. Castellano,
Friday, July 30 – 9 p.m.
$10 at the door
For info call (915) 532-2292
return to front page |
|
|
|
