REVIEW: Oh La La “Vaudezilla Presents Beads! Boobies! Booze! Burlesque!” at Blue Bayou Thursday Feb. 12
photos courtesy of Red Hot Annie and Wham Bam Pam
Do the winter blues have you down? Well there’s nothing quite like a lil burlesque to heat you up on these cold Chicago nights. Case in point, Vaudezilla Presents Beads! Boobies! Booze! Burlesque!, and let it be known that, these are a few of my favorite things.
Blue Bayou at 3734 N Southport Ave hosted their debut of a Chicago Burlesque outfit that was new to me and pleasantly surprising. Combing the old school allure of traditional burlesque with the New Orleans atmosphere is nothing short of genius.
I entered the establishment at 915 PM for at10PM show and already the bar was at capacity. I took a table for myself that 4 patrons were leaving while it was still uncleaned and I opened my tab with their specialty ale Abaita (Louisiana brewed) beer. When in Rome, right?
At 10 PM the lights dimmed and the music switched gears and within moments as the anticipation grew, the announcer came on the PA and introduced Red Hot Annie. And Red Hot was right on the money. The statuesque beauty climbed up ON to the bar and began her routine. An amazing opener and well trained dancer, this lady sincerely had her act in check. I was about to learn that absolutely none of the talent were amateurs. And it was more than a relief.
The entire set was an over the top fun-filled erotic cabaret that featured Wham Bam Pam, Bizarre Sally, Donna Touch and The Honey Buns (Lola Getz & Natasha Minsk) that is sure to pack it in for their entire month long run.
I can’t really say that any one performer stood out as they each owned the bar as they balanced atop of the wooden structure, a feat worthy of praise at that simple fact alone. But there are a few highlights I’ll point out this week as I fully intend to bring an entourage of friends in next Thursday for a closer look.
Bizarre Sally performed twice in the first set but floored me when she took the spotlight for Joe Cockers “You Can Leave Your Hat On”. A number that I discovered in one of my favorite flicks which featured Kim Basinger doing a tease for a younger Mickey Rourke thus I’ve never gotten over that mind blowing sonic platter.
Bonny Babs who I would later learn creates a good many of the costumes for the ladies did a number in what I call a “lobster girl” get up. She’d make a smokin’ Little Mermaid in my opinion.
And I have to give major kudos for anyone that can dress as Jessica Rabbit and pull it off. And that is exactly what Wham Bam Pam delivered, and then some. Without exaggeration I’m sure I wasn’t the only person in the room whose jaw dropped.
Do you get the feeling that maybe I’m a little into cartoon characters come to life? My inner geek has never been shy of rearing his head.
For myself the show ended a little to soon, but by demand and well deserved, the ladies did an extended encore, much to the delight of the packed house.
The hardest part to believe is the show is actually FREE! My suggestion to anyone intending on attending, given the seating availability of teh debut night, get there AT LEAST an hour early.
In all the Beads! Boobies! Booze! Burlesque at Blue Bayou proved to be highly entertaining and very couples friendly which should keep the bar at capacity for it’s duration, which I only hope gets an extended run that it is worthy of. If not for that alone, for the Windy City patrons who could use something fresh and exciting in a neighborhood over populated with sports pubs.
I should go onto say that Blue Bayou is surprisingly affordable, the food is delicious, the decour is something to behold, and the service deserves a big thank you especially considering how busy the limited number of ladies who worked the floor.
Next week I’ll return with a more in depth expose’ of each and every performance along with exclusive photographs. My hat off to everyone involved in the performance, as they have a new fan and are sure to accrue may more.
Next week on the 19th the line up consists of - Red Hot Annie, Donna Touch, Bonny Babs, Wham Bam Pam, The Honey Buns (Lola Getz & Natasha Minsk), Paris Green, Lady Jack, Salome Slaughter.
Special thanks to the ladies for taking time to chat and give me some insight after the show. - alex zander
www.vaudezilla.com/vaudezillaproductions.htm
www.redhotannie.com
www.thehoneybuns.com
www.bluebayouchicago.com
www.limebarb.com